From the archives. In case you haven’t noticed, we have a bad habit of digging up old videos here at Whiskey Riff. And frankly, it’s one of my personal guilty pleasures even outside of work. It’s so cool to see one of your favorite artists long before they were THE (insert artist name here) that we know and love today. If you’ve been a loyal reader of ours, you’ve probably noticed that we often share videos of Chris Stapleton long before he became the 8x CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. Long 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. 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. Of course, a decade after breaking out as a solo artist, we know Stapleton is still for his grit, heart, and vocals that chill you to the bone. There’s a reason he’s won Male Vocalist of the Year eight times, folks. Recently, a video of Stapleton from 1998 is making the rounds again online, proving once again that he always had a talent unlike any other. In honor of Chris Stapleton’s birthday earlier this week, Bill Jean Osbourne’s Kentucky Opry shared a video of their state’s finest performing Lonestar’s 1999 hit “Amazed.” Originally written by Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, “Amazed” was released by Lonestar on their 1999 Lonely Grill album. It spent over 40 weeks on the Country charts, the second longest of any song in the ’90s. Many video clips of this performance claim it occurred in 1998; however, since the song was released in March of 1999, it’s likely the performance took place shortly after it gained popularity. In the footage, Stapleton looks clean-cut without his long beard and hair, but still possesses a voice that captivates the room. Stapleton’s voice might sound a little different to some, as it has developed more over the years and now carries a richness that isn’t as prominent in this performance, but damn… He still knocks it out of the park. This is a good one from the archives. Check it out: And how about that original from Drew Womack and the boys: The post Watch A Young Chris Stapleton Perform Lonestar’s Hit, “Amazed,” Way Back In 1999 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.