Chris Stapleton - Higher

Higher is the fifth studio album by American country musician Chris Stapleton, released in November 2023 via Mercury Nashville.

Moving to Nashville in 2001 to pursue a music career, Stapleton had a successful career as a songwriter, signing with the publishing house Sea Gayle Music, writing six number-one singles, and being featured by artists as Adele, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and Dierks Bentley. In 2007, he became the frontman for the bluegrass group The Steeldrivers, recording two hit records; each peaking at #2 on the bluegrass chart, before leaving in 2010 to found The Jompson Brothers. He released his critically acclaimed debut solo studio album Traveller in 2015.

Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton, and Stapleton, Higher was recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A. Across its 14 songs, Stapleton showcases his supernatural voice and musical versatility with songs that span genres and defy easy categorization.

Alongside Stapleton (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide electric guitar), the album features Cobb (acoustic guitar, eclectic guitar), J.T. Cure (bass), Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Derek Mixon (drums), Morgane (background vocals, synthesizer, tambourine), and Lee Pardini (organ, piano).

One of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians, in the past year Stapleton was named Entertainer of the Year at the 58th ACM Awards — resulting in a prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award — and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards — his sixth time earning the award, setting the record for most wins ever in the category. Additionally, in February, he performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII and has collaborated in recent years with Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Santana, and many more.

The new album follows 2020’s acclaimed Starting Over, which went on to win three awards at the 67th Annual GRAMMYs: Best Country Album, Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave”) and Best Country Song (“Cold”) in addition to earning Album of the Year honors at both the CMA and ACM Awards. Called a “a sure-footed masterpiece” by the Associated Press, the album landed on “Best of 2020” lists at NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Esquire, Vulture, The Tennessean, and The New York Times.

This double album 2LP record set is on 180 gram black vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves, pressed in Europe via Mercury Nashville.