Chris Stapleton may be one of country music’s most celebrated artists, but at the heart of it all, he’s just a dad who’s grateful to make a living to support his family while doing what he loves. In Billboard’s 2025 Country Power Players issue, Stapleton opens up in an intimate cover story written by longtime friend and actor Josh Brolin. The feature arrived just in time to mark the 10th anniversary of Traveller, Stapleton’s groundbreaking solo debut project. As the album gets closer and closer to setting records on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, Stapleton reflects on the music, the journey, and the people who matter most in his life.
While spending two days with Stapleton, his wife Morgane and their children, Brolin was able to see first-hand how the country star remains humble despite his 11 Grammy wins, 16 CMA Awards and 15 ACM trophies (including 2025’s Male Artist of the Year), just to name a few of his many accomplishments.
Feeling “Grateful” For His Life As A Husband And Father
Part of the reason he’s able to stay so grounded is because he tends to keep his personal life as private as he can, especially when it comes to his kids. Stapleton and his wife tied the knot in 2007 and welcomed their first child, a son named Waylon two years later. Their second child, Ada, arrived shortly after, followed by twin sons Macon and Samuel in 2018. Their fifth child was born in 2019, however they have yet to reveal his name.
The word that comes to mind when talking to Brolin about where life has taken him, is “grateful.”
“I’m grateful I get to do this. I’m grateful for what it brings my family and that’s all that matters at the end of the day — those five people who call you daddy,” he told Billboard.
Putting Aside His Sports Dreams
He goes on to recall how his passion for music developed during his childhood. However his dream wasn’t always to become a country music superstar. In fact he also felt a strong pull to sports. When discussing his past, Brolin asked, “Were you a good football player?”
Stapleton responded, “I thought I was” before noting that nothing in particular happened to curb his future in sports, but it remains a bit of a sensitive subject. Luckily, music reared its head and took over, just as it was always meant to do in the end.
“I had no voice before, no guitar skills,” he admits. “But something drove me to it. My uncle had a regional band, so maybe that. My dad listened to all the great country too—Waylon, Willie, Merle Haggard—but he also played R&B: Otis Redding and Ray Charles. He loved all of it. So music was always there, but sports became less prevalent, and the music just stayed.”
That kind raw honesty is what has made fans fall in love with Stapleton and his authentic Kentucky roots. Whether he’s playing in front of a sold-out stadium or writing songs in his home, he stays grounded in what matters the most – his family and a genuine love for music.
2025 Tour Dates
Amid his busy schedule, Chris Stapleton has four remaining dates in stadiums around the country alongside George Strait. At the start of the year they announced the addition of five more shows in 2025. This run of one-off stadium appearances will welcome special guest Parker McCollum for stops in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Foxborough and Little Big Town for the only West Coast performance at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.
They already kicked things off with their performance in Philadelphia, PA on May 11 and this weekend they will return to the same city, this time at Acrisure Stadium on May 31. The remaining shows will take place in Buffalo, NY (June 14), Foxborough, MA (June 21), and Inglewood, CA (July 19).
Stapleton also has a slew of headlining shows locked in for the summer on his All-American Road Show Tour, running June 4 through July 23.
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