Chris Stapleton is continuing his reign as the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. The singer has won in the category a total of six times, since his first nomination in 2015. He also won the award in 2021. Other nominees in the category included Eric Church, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen.

“Thank you so much for this,” Stapleton said when accepting the honor. “Thank you. It means so much … All the guys in the category all deserve this award, and everybody’s killing it. I’m so honored to be a member of the country music community. I promised my daughter I’d give her a shout-out. It’s her birthday tonight, so happy birthday. She’s 12 tonight. I love you. This is for you.”

Stapleton was just announced as George Strait‘s touring partner for a series of stadium shows in 2023, with Little Big Town serving as the opening act.

“I love doing these shows with George about as much as I like doing anything,” Stapleton said of touring with the King of Country Music. “There’s nothing to compare it to. So many of his songs are in the ethos of what country music is. Playing these shows together is a great experience all the way around.”

Strait and Stapleton added a second Nashville show, at Nissan Stadium, on July 28 and 29, due to fan demand.

The Kentucky native also has an exhibit, Chris Stapleton: Since 1978, open now at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Chris Stapleton is a powerful and emotive singer, a prolific and poetic songwriter and a skilled and expressive guitar player,”  Kyle Young, Chief Executive Officer for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, says. “His rise as a successful artist may have seemed instantaneous to many, but he has been a force in country music for more than 20 years – whether writing hit songs for other country artists or contributing to studio recordings.

Stapleton headed into the ceremony with five nominations, including for Song of the Year and Single of the Year, for “You Should Probably Leave.” He was nominated for Music Video of the Year, for his “I Bet You Think About Me” duet with Taylor Swift, with that trophy going to Cody Johnson. He was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, with that trophy going to Combs.

See the complete list of CMA Awards winners here.