Chris Stapleton to Join Luke Bryan Tour for Select Shows
Surging country music artist Chris Stapleton will join reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan on his upcoming 2016 Kill The Lights Tour for select dates. So far, two dates have been announced that will include Chris Stapleton in the lineup: July 16th a Gillette Stadium in Boston, and October 22nd at the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Irving, TX, just outside of Dallas. Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch are also scheduled to open many shows as part of the tour.
These two dates are added on top of eight previously released dates where Chris Stapleton will share the stage with Hank Williams Jr. during the month of August. Both the Hank Jr. and Luke Bryan tours are part of LiveNation’s Country Megaticket promotion. This development makes it less likely that fans will get to see Stapleton in smaller venues come summertime, if at all, and instead he will be slotted as an opener and co-headliner on much bigger amphitheater, arena, and stadium tours.
Meanwhile Chris Stapleton tickets have become one of the hottest commodities in country music. When tickets went on sale for two February shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, both nights sold out immediately. When a third night was added, it sold out immediately as well. A similar story transpired in Texas last week when tickets went on sale for the Hank Jr./Stapleton shows in Houston and Austin. Tickets appeared to sell out instantaneously.
Chris Stapleton does have some history with Luke Bryan. He wrote Bryan’s #1 hit “Drink A Beer” from 2014, and the two have performed the song on stage before. Bryan was quoted as saying her was very happy for Stapleton when he won three awards at the CMA’s in November, including defeating Bryan for Male Vocalist of the Year.
More Chris Stapleton tour dates could be added with Luke Bryan, or another top-tier country artist as part of LiveNation’s Megaticket promotion in the future.
READ: The Case Against Chris Stapleton As Country Music’s Savior
January 31, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
One of those shows where you leave after the opener ehh?
February 2, 2016 @ 5:44 pm
We have done that many times! 😉
January 31, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
Oh, boy. I’m not a fan of this at all. But, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m one of those guys yelling “sheep in wolves’ clothing” last summer. Then the CMAs happened and I got all caught up in his wins. Now this. I’ve seen Luke Bryan fan boys and I don’t want to run in those circles.
January 31, 2016 @ 9:13 pm
He’s had a good history with Luke. To me, this just seems like a friendly gesture to somebody who has been very supportive of hike through the whole process.
January 31, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
I don’t see the downside to this at all. We have all been through the “sheep in wolves” clothing talk here enough already, but I don’t see the downside to Chris Stapleton being heard by a larger audience. Furthermore, I don’t see how you can possibly “blame” Stapleton for this. He is being presented with a chance to open for the #1 act in Country music right now. Do I hate admitting that about Luke Bryan? Sure. Is it depressing as hell writing that? Sure, but it is a fact. This is a chance for Stapleton to get exposed to more press, media and fans than he would by doing a tour of clubs or theatres.
This is like getting upset about Isbell playing the “All For Hall” thing. I just don’t see the need to hate on this. Does it suck for Stapleton fans that hate Bryan? Sure, but that’s about the only downside I see about this news.
January 31, 2016 @ 10:34 pm
I think this is very different than the “all for the hall” benefit. The HOF show is about artists coming together for a cause, this is about making money, cashing in on playing country music,
I understand your argument about exposure. But, when I saw that GQ photo of Isbell, Simpson, and Stapelton with the country music insurgency tag line, I thought we finally got some warriors that would fight for country music and not be afraid to call out those who are like Luke Bryan. I think opening for Bryan hurts Stapleton’s brand and lessens his creadability. But, that’s just my opinion. And honestly I shouldn’t tell a man how to go about making his living.
February 3, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
You’ll feel better in ten years when Stapleton’s enjoying the large fanbase he’s currently cultivating and brings on a struggling Luke Bryan as HIS opening act as “thanks” for this. Or not.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:40 am
It’s pretty simple for me: when Chris Stapleton’s MUSIC starts to sound like Luke Bryan’s music, then I’ll raise a fuss. Until then, the music is all that matters to me.
January 31, 2016 @ 8:35 pm
This isn’t being done to get Stapleton fans to Luke Bryan shows. Luke has no problem selling tickets on his own. This is a chance for Stapleton to be heard by tens of thousands of mainstream country fans. It’s too bad that Stapleton’s fans won’t be able to watch him headline smaller shows, but it’s not a bad thing if lots of people get to hear good music.
January 31, 2016 @ 10:36 pm
Basically Luke Bryan fans are gonna get a trip back to 1st Grade to educate themselves on actual music.
February 1, 2016 @ 5:42 am
Most of them will hate it or they’ll still be in the parking lot funneling beers when Stapleton is on stage…
February 1, 2016 @ 7:14 am
I don’t agree. I think most of them like Chris already. The exposure will be great.
February 1, 2016 @ 10:58 am
I agree with this. I’m seeing a lot of people I know who are the stereotypical mainstream country fans jumping on the Stapleton train.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:14 am
Then that just proves the stupidity of those people because they fail to realize that Chris was the one who wrote a good chunk of Bryan’s hits.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:42 am
I think the point is right, unfortunately. The type of people who like Luke Bryan are not highly likely to also like Chris Stapleton’s music and style. There will be some crossover, but I think the audiences are very different.
February 1, 2016 @ 12:32 pm
Nah. Stapleton’s got universal appeal, with that voice.
People seem to be forgetting that his surge came on the backs of Timberlake fans saying “Who IS this guy?”.
Luke Bryan fans will love Fire Away and What Are You Listening To.
February 1, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
Most will hate it because the majority of the crowd will be screaming hormonal women wanting to see the pretty Luke shake his butt. Chris is not pretty enough and doesn’t shake it enough for that crowd.
January 31, 2016 @ 8:43 pm
I know a lot of people on this site get upset whenever these kind of stories are reported, but I’m personally all for them. Anything that gets more exposure to artist making good country music is a good thing. If he can turn a few of Luke’s fans to the light side, we shouldn’t complain.
January 31, 2016 @ 9:01 pm
Just imagine 10s of thousands of comatose people simultaneously waking up as soon as they hear Stapleton. I call this a win.
January 31, 2016 @ 9:19 pm
The only downside to this would be if there aren’t other ways to see Stapleton. I don’t mind seeing Luke Bryan but the stadium tour tickets are around ~$70, that’s a lot more than a regular amphitheater lawn seat (~$40)
January 31, 2016 @ 11:05 pm
I’m not surprised that he’s with people he has dealt with before.
That said, I’m curious about this Megaticket thing ? Is there anyone else on the LiveNation roster that would be a particularly good pairing ? Or does the Megaticket have a set roster ?
February 1, 2016 @ 3:05 pm
Not really. They’re all the upper-tier pop country stars. Stapleton doesn’t fit with any of them, and apparently they’re not interested in putting him on his own tour, at least not yet. I don’t think they have a clue with him. Stapleton should be on the road as we speak taking advantage of this momentum and building more.
February 1, 2016 @ 3:29 am
Bryan was quoted as saying her was pretty happy for Stapleton…yeah, that pretty well sums it up.
February 1, 2016 @ 6:13 am
Little Big Town is so bad that they ruin any tour that they partake in. I remember they were supposed to play Boots & Hearts 2015 and when they pulled out of the lineup, everyone was celebrating.
At least Luke has some entertainment value.
February 1, 2016 @ 6:20 am
Stapleton is a commodity. Puke is a star and friend. Musically, it makes little sense with their styles, but if it opens the ears of only one-third of Puke’s crowd, it’ll be a win for music. Just so long as Stapleton doesn’t start wearing skinny jeans and a backward hat.
February 1, 2016 @ 6:25 am
Good. may be luke’ll teech eem a thing or to
February 1, 2016 @ 8:36 am
Lil Dale, due eww still have that ressepee four muscrat fahndew?
February 1, 2016 @ 7:24 am
And Cue all the people crying “treason.”
Seriously, this is quite the interesting move. Most diehard Stapleton fans can’t stand the idea of a Luke Bryan show, but Stapleton has larger crossover appeal than does Isbell, so I don’t think we’ll see him be underappreciated like Isbell will be at “All for the Hall.”
February 1, 2016 @ 7:48 am
Chris Stapleton has “diehard” fans after one album?
February 1, 2016 @ 8:17 am
If you include the two Steeldrivers albums he actually has three. Many people have been Stapleton fans since the Steeldrivers first album.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:58 am
There’s also the Jompson Brothers album.
February 1, 2016 @ 9:18 am
I always see references to Stapleton appearing on two Steeldrivers albums, but was he actually in the band when they recorded the second album? Because I’m pretty sure he was long gone when it was released. I think of Chris Stapleton and the Steeldrivers the way I think of Vince Gill and Pure Prairie League. Vince Gill was in Pure Prairie League, sort of…
February 1, 2016 @ 9:47 am
He was in the band. Lead vocal. He’s in both band pictures without cowboy hat and there’s a solo picture of him with the hat looking like he does today. The listing of personnel credits him with “guitar, foot stomping and vocals.” Every song was written by him and Mike Henderson.
February 1, 2016 @ 12:34 pm
Yeah, the attempts to erase Stapleton from the Steeldrivers by people trying to paint him as a wolf-in-sheep’s clothing never cease to amuse.
(Not saying you’re necessarily doing that, RD, but I’ve seen it more than occasionally here).
February 1, 2016 @ 8:04 am
I view this very similarly to the Isbell For the Hall show. CS just needs to make sure he is the alpha dog, put on a show that outshines ol’ skinny jeans. Like Willie said once upon a time, “Good music never goes out of style” I feel that good music always wins when all things are equal. If you get the plaid shirt, John Deere cap wearing, have to sing along to every song to prove I am a good sheep crowd exposed to good music their asses will follow. If CS is a sheep in wolves clothing he still has already proven you can get noticed, sell records and have an impact without being on radio….. That is huge in and of itself. This shows me the Walls of Bro continue to weaken.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:21 am
I want to hate on Chris Stapleton for this but lets not forget Sturgill Simpson opened for ZBB in amphitheaters during their 2014 tour. Granted, this was before ZBB’s newest album so they had a bit more credibility, it wasn’t stadiums, and ZBB’s main fan base isn’t 13 year old girls (or at least it wasn’t at the time).
While I don’t think this is bad for music, I don’t think him opening for luke bryan will have much of a positive impact. It’s really the same as kane brown, mainstream music fans don’t like the music, they just want to be on top of the trend. I’ve seen people on social media express themselves as fans of chris stapleton but never see them delve any deeper into that world of country music, they just go back to quoting cole swindell lyrics.
February 1, 2016 @ 8:31 am
If I can put things in perspective, I think it’s safe to say that I compare Chris’s methods with getting noticed to a centuries old war treatise that’s still being used today. I’m of course talking about Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, they say this treatise had been influential in past historical wars and now-a-days people use it as a strategy for success in business.
I’m not saying Chris knew about The Art of War, let alone even read it, but the way I’m looking at his career success so far it’s given me the impression that he had at least adopted some principals from it.
I think a certain quote from that treatise should put this all in perspective:
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Sun Tzu- The Art of War
February 1, 2016 @ 12:32 pm
It looks like there are also some shows newly posted for Las Vegas and in California with Anderson East opening for Chris Stapleton.
February 1, 2016 @ 3:56 pm
I bet this really gets your goose, trig.
Sent you a few more emails, used the site’s contact me and all, never heard back.
Guess I’ll just do it here.
My brother is Eric Church’s utility player for the last 9 years or so.
He’s written 11 of Eric’s recorded songs, and been blessed to have cuts by Neil McCoy, Alan Jackson, George strait, luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Lee Brice, Charlie Worsham, Bobby Bare, Jimmy fortune, kip Moore, and several others.
Not everyone who is involved with marketable music is an untalented “write by formula” jerkoff. Sometimes enormously talented folks catch a great break, and the best way to get people like you to ever hear of them is to do what they can to make their living while doing what they love. You are just so much more likely to hear of the radio-friendly stuff.
Stapleton playing with Luke is a prime example of this. You do what you can to get your name out there to the greatest amount of people, then one day maybe your passion can shine through.
February 1, 2016 @ 10:47 pm
Huh…
Funny that article had no opinion, no personal commentary, just straight facts. Looks like someone’s hero ain’t all he’s cracked up to be. Wish you would have at least tried to defend it, then I wouldn’t feel so bad for rubbin it in. You feel that sting trigger, that’s pride f#@%ing with you. Don’t let it get you down, ol country Christ “the puppet” Stapletron, put on a good show, but I saw through it the whole time.
Saving Country Music you wanted to hand the key to the gate to the enemy. Hahaha, just kidding but I had to gloat, anyway traveller is an album of plagiarism but you would have to really love music to notice. Booo booo boo this man (Chris)
February 1, 2016 @ 11:20 pm
The reason I didn’t offer any opinion or commentary is because I don’t know how I feel about this. I do think there’s downsides to it for Stapleton, but I never called Chris my “hero” or anything close. From the very beginning I have been out and open about the baggage Chris Stapleton carries, and to some extent that’s why I covered this story. It’s two shows. It’s barely news at all. But I did think it was important to broach the subject and let folks give their own opinions, and come to their own conclusions.