<\/p>\n
Chris Stapleton\u2019s career has earned a distinction \u201cas sweet as strawberry wine.\u201d <\/p>\n
Stapleton reached a historic milestone once his hit \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d became the first country song to be certified double diamond by The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)<\/a>, the association announced<\/a> Monday. <\/p>\n At 20 million units sold, Stapleton\u2019s track joins two others that have received the same honor. Bruno Mars\u2019 earned this title with his 2010 hit single \u201cJust The Way You Are\u201d while Post Malone and Swae Lee did the same with \u201cSunflower\u201d in 2018, Rolling Stone reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cChris Stapleton\u2019s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply \u2014 driving chart successes, earning major awards and most importantly, resonating with fans,\u201d RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement sent to Rolling Stone. <\/p>\n \u201cRIAA is proud to celebrate him alongside MCA as \u2018Tennessee Whiskey\u2019 today makes history, becoming the first country single ever to earn a Double Diamond certification with 20 million units in the U.S. alone,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable achievement and another defining moment in Stapleton\u2019s career.\u201d <\/p>\n Stapleton\u2019s \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d is a cover of the original song that was written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove. <\/p>\n The song eventually found its way to country singer David Allan Coe, who recorded and released it on his 1981 self-titled album. Coe\u2019s version became a modest country hit, peaking at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.<\/p>\n Country music legend George Jones also recorded his own version of \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d a few years later, and included it on his 1983 album \u201cShine On.\u201d <\/p>\n However, it was Stapleton\u2019s rendition that achieved astronomical success and critical acclaim. <\/p>\n After performing the song with his wife, Morgane, and Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards, the song catapulted to the top of the Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d has earned more than 1 billion Spotify streams and 880 million views on YouTube<\/a> to date.<\/p>\n Stapleton\u2019s \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d also landed<\/a> at No. 90 on Rolling Stone\u2019s list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the great country-soul performances of the 21st century, Chris Stapleton\u2019s breakout single from \u2018Traveler\u2019 is an object lesson in how R&B and country music swap sounds and spirit,\u201d Rolling Stone wrote of the song. \u201cIt became Stapleton\u2019s signature; his creaky, pained, acrobatic vocals \u2014 and honeyed electric guitar \u2014 branding him perhaps the greatest country soul man of his generation.”<\/p>\n Stapleton will kick off his \u201cAll-American Road Show\u201d tour<\/a> next month. The tour includes a stop at Fenway Park in Boston<\/a> on Aug. 14. <\/p>\n