Country music superstar Chris Stapleton is blazing a path to be remembered in country music right now. The year 2015 was year for Stapelton after releasing his debut album "Traveller," being nominated for three Country Music Awards and winning all three which included album of the year, male vocalist of the year and new artist of the year. He was also recognized at the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards, nominated for Album of the Year (along the likes of Taylor Swift, who ultimately won, The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar), Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Album and Best Country Song. He ultimately only won two of the four nominations. Chris is a well-renowned songwriter, having written over 150 songs for well-known artists such as Adele, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Luke Bryan, just to name a few.
However, I am not here to list all of Stapleton's accomplishments as an artist, even though they are substantial and impressive. I am here to talk about the man who never forgot his hometown.
Stapleton is from my hometown of Paintsville, Kentucky. Population 4,258, according to the 2014 government estimate. He attended the county school Johnson Central where he was Valedictorian in 1996. The same high school my mother, father, aunts and uncles attended. In fact, my mother graduated high school with his brother, Herb.
Anyone from around Eastern Kentucky knows that there is not much there for anyone wanting to pursue music. It's only natural that Stapleton had to leave to follow his dreams. However, it seems like a lot of people from small towns can easily forget about that town when they've "made it."
Stapleton is not one of those people. On Mar. 24th, he returned to Paintsville in order to perform two special concerts — one for Johnson Central students and teachers and one for the entire community. Tickets sold out in less than three hours.
Signs decorate our town in his honor, with the one below posted to Twitter by Jimmy Carter on Nov. 8, 2015:
Stapleton didn't just come back just to perform but is giving back as well. According to LEX18, he is also donating new instruments to the Johnson Central music program in which he participated in so many years ago.
This man is an inspiration not only to me but to my hometown. He is a breath of fresh air, and it's so wonderful to hear about something good coming from Eastern Kentucky when it seems all the media wants to dwell on are poverty rates, education (or "lack" thereof) and drug abuse.
He gives Paintsville and Johnson County something to be extremely proud of. A light in what seems like a world who only wants to tell us what's wrong with our area. An inspiration to the youth that they too can make something of themselves even though opportunity doesn't always seem to be knocking.
Most importantly, it feels good to know that our tiny town was not forgotten after shiny awards and fame. Stapleton also has not changed and is still the humble man he always has been. Yesterday he was spotted on Main Street of Paintsville just hanging out and talking to anyone who happened to spot him.
Stapleton is man of immense talent and character. The stardom he is claiming gives us something to be proud of and I find myself always butting in obnoxiously and saying "He's from my hometown!!" whenever I hear his name brought up in conversation.
He is a man that truly took to heart his friends and hometown jokingly saying "don't forget about us when you're famous." And that is something to be admired and something I respect immensely.
Thank you, Chris Stapleton, for showing the rest of the world that Eastern Kentucky is something worth remembering and we aren't just a stereotype.
