Chris Stapleton is the ACM Male Artist of the Year. Stapleton, who also won Album of the Year, for Higher, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year at the ACM Awards, praised his fellow nominees in the category, including Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen.

“When I listened to so many great guys in that category, I’m happy to just be included in such great company, and kind of get to hang out in this crowd for just a little bit longer,” Stapleton said. “Thank you to the ACMs for this. Thank you to my wife, Morgane, thank you to Red Light Management and Universal Music Group for putting out all these records we’ve been putting out. That’s what this is all about, putting out some music.

“I wanna say thank you to my mom tonight,” he continued. “She’s a little under the weather tonight, but thank you Mama. You’ve always shown me I could be whoever I wanted to be.”

Stapleton also gave a heartfelt speech when accepting the ACM Award for Album of the Year.

“Thank you to the Academy, thank you to my producer, my lovely wife, Morgane, and Dave Cobb, and all the guys in the band who have been with me so long making these records,” Stapleton said. “We do our best to make an album that’s a complete body of work all the time, and hopefully that’s what this means.”

Stapleton will get plenty of chances to show off his impressive vocal skills this year. In addition to headlining his own American Roadshow Tour dates, the father of five is also heading out with George Strait, performing in stadiums all over the country. After first touring together in 2023, Stapleton admits it was at least partly his idea to return this year as well.

“I think I halfway talked him into working more, but I really enjoyed doing that,” Stapleton conceded. “I think it’s a good show to come to because George has ten million number ones, and people can watch all that, and what a great thing to get to watch. I love to be the opener for that. I love to walk out on stage and sing a few with George.

“It’s just a really fun show with me, and Little Big Town is usually on those shows, and they’re all friends, and it’s fun,” he added. “And so, I want to keep doing that as much as we can, and I keep talking George into it, so it’s good.”

Find music and tour dates at ChrisStapleton.com.