Chris Stapleton will be front and center in everyone’s living room as he sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII when the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles.
He wasn’t always so recognizable: before releasing his debut solo album, Traveller, in 2015; he had written multiple songs for other artists. Whether they were album cuts or big hits, Stapleton’s pen and guitar were quite busy before he hit the road singing his own songs. Chris came to Nashville in 2001 to pursue a career in music and quickly signed a publishing deal as a songwriter.
Here are some of the many songs that Stapleton had a hand in writing for other artists.
"Love's Gonna Make It Alright" by George Strait (2011)
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This song was released in November 2011 as the second single from his album Here for a Good Time. Chris wrote the song with Al Anderson.
"Drink a Beer" by Luke Bryan (2013)
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Written by Stapleton and Jim Beavers, Luke has described “Drink a Beer” as “the coolest sad song ever” and notes he connects with the story after having lost both of his siblings. It was released in November 2013 as the third single from Bryan’s fourth studio album, Crash My Party, and became his seventh number-one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in February 2014.
"Crash and Burn" by Thomas Rhett (2015)
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This song, written by Chris and Jesse Frasure, was the lead single to Thomas’ second studio album, Tangled Up. The first song by Rhett about heartache, “Crash and Burn,” tells the story of the narrator whose relationship falls apart.
"Never Wanted Nothing More" by Kenny Chesney (2007)
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This song was released in June 2007 as the first single from Kenny’s 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. To date, it is his fastest-climbing number-one single, reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in its eighth chart week. Stapleton wrote it with Ronnie Bowman.
"Whiskey and You" by Tim McGraw (2007)
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An album cut on Tim McGraw’s ninth studio album, Let It Go, released on March 27, 2007. Chris co-wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller.
"Nobody's Fool" by Miranda Lambert (2011)
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An album cut from Miranda’s fourth studio album, Four the Record. The album became the highest-charting record of Lambert’s career at the time, reaching number three on the Billboard 200. It eventually sold over one million copies in the United States. Chris wrote this song solo.
"Your Man" by Josh Turner (2005)
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This song was released in July 2005 as the lead-off single and title track from Josh Turner’s album of the same name. The fourth chart single of his career, it became his first number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in early 2006. The song won ASCAP awards for Stapleton and co-writer Chris DuBois.
"Come Back Song" by Darius Rucker (2010)
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Darius co-wrote the song with Casey Beathard and Chris. It was released to country music radio in July 2010 as the lead single from Rucker’s second album of country music, Charleston, SC 1966.
"Homesick" by Sheryl Crow (2013)
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This is an album cut from Feels Like Home, Sheryl Crow’s ninth studio album and her debut country music record. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. Chris co-wrote the song with Crow for the project.
"Ready to Roll" by Blake Shelton (2011)
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An album cut from Red River Blue, Blake Shelton’s sixth studio album and is his inaugural No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Stapleton co-wrote the song with Jim Beavers and Jonathan Singleton.