5 Ways the CMA Awards Duet Changed Chris Stapleton's Career

Traveller had been out for months without making a dent on the charts. The album was not a commercial success until after the performance.

Stapleton and Justin Timberlake performed “Tennessee Whiskey” at the 2015 CMA Awards. That single performance was the catalyst for the album’s success.

The album shot straight to number one after the duet. It went from obscurity to the top of the charts almost overnight.

One performance changed everything for Stapleton’s career. The exposure from the CMA Awards made him a household name.

The duet proved the power of a well-placed live performance. A single moment on national television can transform an artist’s trajectory.