Chris Stapleton’s ‘White Horse’ Makes Historic Debut At Country Radio
The song is the lead single from Stapleton’s forthcoming album, “Higher.”
Chris Stapleton; Photo by Becky Fluke
Within the first week of Chris Stapleton releasing his new single, “White Horse,” the song received 135 adds, marking the biggest add day of 2023 of country radio.
The tune’s success didn’t stop there. It also achieved the biggest add day of the last 12 months at country radio, the biggest add day of Stapleton’s career, and the biggest add day for Mercury Records since 1997. Additionally, this marks the highest chart debut for the country superstar at Mediabase with an entry at No. 31.
New Album Coming Soon
“White Horse” elevates Stapleton’s gritty vocals to new heights through the blazing intro of electric guitar riffs and hard-hitting drumbeats that builds into a traditional country sound featuring a hint of bluesy rhythms.
Lyrically, the song finds the 8x Grammy, 15x CMA and 15x ACM Award-winner being upfront about the fact that he’s not the kind of cowboy to jump on a white horse and ride off into the sunset for love. Instead, his heart looks for a way out of the kind of commitment that he says, “feels like a loaded gun.”
Without a hint of regret, Stapleton declares that the truth is, he’s just not ready to be the man that the love interest at hand desires.
“If you want a cowboy on a white horse / Riding off into the sunset / If that’s the kinda love you wanna wait for / Hold on tight, girl, / I ain’t there yet / No, I ain’t there yet / No, I ain’t there yet / White horse,” he sings on the chorus.
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Higher
Written by Dan Wilson and Stapleton, who had a hand in producing alongside Dave Cobb and Morgane Stapleton, “White Horse” serves as the first single from the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer’s just-announced album, Higher.
The collection was recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A and is set to arrive on November 10 via Mercury Nashville. Fans can expect to hear Chris Stapleton’s unparalleled vocals and versatile musical stylings highlighted throughout each of the 14 tracks as they transcend genre boundaries.
Alongside Stapleton who delivers on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and slide electric guitar, the album features Dave Cobb on acoustic guitar and eclectic guitar, J.T. Cure on bass, Paul Franklin on pedal steel, Derek Mixon on drums, his wife, Morgane on background vocals, synthesizer and tambourine, and Lee Pardini on organ and piano.
Higher Track List
1. What Am I Gonna Do
2. South Dakota
3. Trust
4. It Takes A Woman
5. The Fire
6. Think I’m In Love With You
7. Loving You On My Mind
8. White Horse
9. Higher
10. The Bottom
11. The Day I Die
12. Crosswind
13. Weight Of Your World
14. Mountains Of My Mind
The new album will follow 2020’s acclaimed Starting Over, which went on to win three awards at the 67th Annual GRAMMYs including Best Country Album, Best Country Solo Performance for “You Should Probably Leave” and Best Country Song for “Cold.” Additionally, the project was honored with Album of the Year at both the CMA and ACM Awards.
Prior to Starting Over, Chris Stapleton released a pair of Platinum-certified releases in 2017 — From A Room: Volume 1 and From A Room: Volume 2 — as well as his 5x Platinum breakthrough solo debut album in 2015, Traveller.
“All-American Road Show” Tour
Chris Stapleton is currently on the road for his extensive “All-American Road Show” tour. The headlining trek kicked off on April 26 at UTEP Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, and is set to include stops in Oregon, South Carolina, Montana, Tennessee, and more.
In March, he announced newly-added dates to the tour, revealing it now extends through October 26.
Allen Stone, Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Margo Price, Marty Stuart, Nikki Lane, The War and Treaty and more have been tapped to serve as support on select dates. Fans can also catch Stapleton on tour with George Strait as he joins select dates of the summer stadium run including two upcoming shows at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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