Though Chris Stapleton may not be the first person who springs to mind when thinking of Justin Timberlake, the strange coupling certainly has chemistry. Their raucous rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” at Timberlake’s Bridgestone Arena gig in Nashville, TN, was a great example of this.
This popular cover of Chris Stapleton’s song frequently makes an appearance in the country star’s live performances, so the pop legend naturally persuaded her to sing and play guitar on it. Stapleton sang the first line, and you better believe he can sing, after the duo jammed out some guitar chords to kick off the tune. Timberlake sang the second verse after they sang the chorus together. As expected, the pop sensation infused the timeless tune with pop and R&B, creating an ideal counterpoint to Chris Stapleton’s bluesy vocals.
Despite the fact that it was the pop star’s performance, Timberlake was truly classy in letting Chris Stapleton take center stage for the majority of the song, and the kid from Kentucky more than delivered. At the beginning of the song, Stapleton displayed his skill as a six-string player with a refined lead break.
“Stapleton sings like it’s as natural for him as talking,” one fan wrote under the video, expressing their admiration for the duet. Both “Something magical happens when Justin and Chris sing together” and “He really is as smooth as Tennessee whiskey” are accurate descriptions of him. They should up their game. In addition, their live performance of “Say Something” on Jimmy Fallon was a smashing success.
After meeting through common acquaintances, Timberlake and Stapleton began performing together at the 2015 Country Music Awards, performing “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away” by Timberlake. Stapleton has shown steady improvement since this high-profile performance helped bring him national attention.
“Say Something” was the third single from Justin Timberlake’s 2018 album, Man of the Woods, and it was the second time the two collaborated. The song became a global smash, with the two singers contributing to its composition; it was certified three times Platinum in the US.
