It’s long overdue. This Chris Stapleton article is not for those who are over Chris Stapleton. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of Chris Stapleton slander, especially around the CMA Awards. Given that Stapleton is just shy of having 20 CMA Awards to his name, many feel that he’s over-rewarded for his talents, and to that I say… Have you heard this man sing? There’s a reason he’s won Male Vocalist of the Year eight times, folks. Not to mention that Stapleton spent many years working behind the scenes in the music industry long before his breakout as a solo artist, making his achievements very deserved. Before he became one of country music’s most soulful voices, he was already a songwriting powerhouse behind the scenes in Nashville, working with the bluegrass group, The SteelDrivers. He also played with a southern rock band called the Jompson Brothers. After moving there from his hometown of Paintsville, Kentucky, in 2001, Stapleton signed a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music, and it didn’t take long for him to start making his mark. In those early years, he wrote hundreds of songs for other artists, quietly becoming one of the most in-demand writers in town. Stapleton is responsible for crafting hits for big names like Kenny Chesney (“Never Wanted Nothing More”), George Strait (“Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”), and Darius Rucker (“Come Back Song”) — all before most people even knew his name. Stapleton was known for his raw, soulful writing style, often blending country storytelling with influences from blues and Southern rock. Even then, his peers recognized his rare combination of grit and heart, and they knew he was one of the best vocalists in the game. Dierks Bentley famously called him the “best singer in the world” way back in 2010. But there is another song from the vault I am still holding out for… and this one comes from 2006. Back in 2006, Chris Stapleton took the stage at Sandy Beaches Cruise 12 for a knockout performance of an original song called “Treat You Right.” Written by Chris himself, it was recorded by a band called Sixtyfourwest for an EP of the same name back in 2011, but other than that, we haven’t really heard it anywhere else. The steamy love song follows the lines of many of the love songs we know and love from Stapleton today, but it’s got a little extra spice on it as the lyrics talk about loving a woman right. Interpret that as you will, but it leans more into those warm and fuzzy feelings that are formed during intimate moments, and Stapleton is expressing how much this woman means to him in these lyrics. “I don’t wanna move too fast I just want to take things slow And if you let me take my time I’ll go where you want to go Let these arms just hold you tight I just want to treat you right Ain’t no way this love is wrong With the way I feel tonight Would you let me love you all night long I just want to treat you right…” Stapleton’s vocals were just as stellar nearly a decade before his 2015 debut album, Traveller, as they are today. He’s always been an out-of-this-world talent. It’s been almost 20 years since we’ve heard this tune… It’s about time we get a studio cut of this gem. Fire it up: The post I’m Still Hoping Chris Stapleton Blesses Us With A Studio Cut Of His Unreleased Gem, “Treat You Right” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.