Hey friend! If you‘re a fan of pop music and country tunes, you‘ve probably heard the names Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton. These two music superstars from different genres have been close buddies for years. Lately, they‘ve been making beautiful music together. Their collaborations have delighted fans and created some unforgettable on-stage moments.
In this article, we‘ll dive deep into JT and Chris‘ longstanding friendship. We‘ll look at how they met, their early work together, and their biggest collaborations to date. Read on to get the inside scoop on one of music‘s greatest bromances!
Two Talents Connect Through Music
Let‘s rewind to the early 2000s when Justin and Chris first connected. Justin Timberlake was a global pop sensation after his *NSYNC days. Chris Stapleton was the frontman for the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers.
Despite their different musical backgrounds, these two talents hit it off right away. What sparked their friendship? A deep love and appreciation for all kinds of music!
Chris has said that Justin has always been a true music geek at heart:
"He’s a music fan. He likes music. Country music, rock & roll, soul music. He’ll go see anybody. He’ll go down to the bluegrass festivals, and he’ll watch the obscure bands. He’ll go to rock shows, he’ll go to the pop shows. He just likes music."
In the mid-2000s, Justin heard Chris‘ work and became a huge fan. Here was this guy with a gritty, soulful country voice that reminded Justin of the roots music he loved. Soon the two 19-year-old rising stars were friends.
Over the next decade, both their careers blew up big time! But they always kept in touch and looked for chances to collaborate.
Early Musical Collaborations Fly Under the Radar
Before Chris Stapleton became a household name, he teamed up with pal Justin behind the scenes.
In 2013, the friends wrote a tune called "Drink You Away" for Justin‘s album The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. This bluesy track allowed Chris to lend his signature guitar work and vocals.
The next year, Chris went from the studio to the stage with Justin. During a tour stop in Nashville, Justin surprised fans by welcoming Chris to duet on "Drink You Away" live. Performing for thousands wasn‘t Chris‘ usual scene, but he couldn‘t say no to his buddy:
"He called me back and said, ‘You wanna come play that song in Memphis?’ And I said, ‘I don’t really play places that big, man.’ He said, ‘Well, it’s my hometown. You gotta.‘"
This early on-stage collaboration was a peek into what the future held. But Justin and Chris‘ biggest moments together were still to come!
"Say Something" Performance Goes Viral in 2018
Fast forward to November 2018 at the CMA Awards. Justin was the spotlight guest performer of the evening. For his three-song set, he pulled off a showstopping move.
In the final song of the medley, he brought out Chris for a stripped-down version of "Say Something," written by Justin for his album Man of the Woods.
Their back-and-forth vocals and guitar/piano accompaniment created an electrifying and intimate moment. Check out a few of the social media stats on their viral performance:
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18+ million video views across CMA‘s platforms
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34K mentions across social media within 12 hours
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Over 300K views on Youtube within 3 days
This bare-bones performance let both artists‘ insane talent shine. It introduced many pop fans to Chris‘ voice for the first time. And it had audiences begging for more music from the powerhouse pairing!
Friends Reunite for "Don‘t Threaten Me With a Good Time"
On the heels of their CMA Awards smash, Justin and Chris headed back into the studio together in 2020. They re-worked a song called "Don‘t Threaten Me With a Good Time" from Justin‘s Man of the Woods sessions.
Chris added his signature guitar licks and vocals to the tune. The result was a rollicking, country-rock track with major Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson vibes.
Here‘s how Justin described reimagining the song to highlight Chris‘ sound:
“It was another song we wrote for the last album, but we both agreed this song had a different vibe than anything else on the album. We recorded the version that‘s out right now last year. I sent it to Chris, who put his guitar and vocals on it. As soon as I heard it back, I knew he was the only person who could have finished it!”
Released in late 2020, the song now has over 5 million Spotify streams. It‘s another huge hit collaboration for this talented twosome!
Magic Moments Together On Stage
When Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton share a stage, their chemistry is undeniable. They‘ve wowed audiences by performing together many times over the years.
A few highlights include:
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Joining forces for a cover Willie Nelson‘s "Last Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning" at a 2017 tribute concert honoring the country icon.
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Teamming up to sing Stapleton‘s hit "Tennessee Whiskey" and Timberlake‘s "Drink You Away" at the 2018 iHeartCountry Festival.
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Stapleton shocking the crowd at one of Timberlake‘s Man of the Woods tour stops in March 2018 to duet on "Say Something."
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Appearing together on Saturday Night Live in 2017 to perform "Say Something."
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Partnering on stage at the 2021 ACM Awards for a medley of each other‘s smash hits.
Every time these two share a stage, it‘s clear their friendship runs deep. Their comfort and ease with each other creates stunning musical moments.
Why Does the Collaboration Between Chris and Justin Work So Well?
So what makes the partnership between Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake so successful and special? There are a few key ingredients:
Mutual Respect: With over 15 years of friendship between them, this collab goes deeper than just business. Their music shines because it‘s built on trust and knowing each other‘s abilities.
Vocal Blend: Chris‘ husky country rasp and Justin‘s buttery soul tone complement each other sublimely whether the song is a heartbreak ballad or honky tonk rager. Their voices are magic together!
Genre Crossover Appeal: Blending pop and country draws fans from both artists‘ worlds into new musical territory. It allows both guys to showcase different sides of their artistry.
Shared Influences: From Johnny Cash to Willie Nelson to Michael Jackson, Chris and Justin connect through their love for all styles of American music. This comes through loud and clear in their work together.
In short, when two insanely gifted friends who happen to be hugely popular join creative forces, the outcome is special every time. Justin and Chris‘ collaborations have proven that again and again!
An Epic Friendship Fueling Incredible Music
Behind all the hits and memorable performances, Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake‘s collaboration works so beautifully because it‘s built on a foundation of genuine friendship.
They met as hungry young musicians, supported each other‘s dreams, and achieved huge success, all while staying close through the years. Here are some quotes from Chris and Justin that provide a glimpse into the brotherly bond fueling their artistic partnership:
Justin on looking at Chris as a friend first:
“I don’t even see him as someone that I make music with, I see him as one of my friends, and that’s how it started.”
Chris on Justin‘s creative gift:
“I don’t know that I’ve experienced anybody that’s as good at hearing multiple parts and layers and putting things together as him. He’s really gifted at hearing completed records in his head.”
Justin praising Chris‘ songwriting talent:
"I think Chris Stapleton is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation… He‘s a hell of a guy too. We‘ve been friends for a very long time. He‘s very talented."
Chris on Justin‘s authenticity:
"He came at music from a different place than I did but with the same mission — to do something he loves. He wants to put something out that he‘s proud of, something real… There‘s no bullshit about him."
It‘s clear Justin and Chris truly value each other as musicians and friends. That foundation allows their collaborations to feel grounded, sincere and consistently fantastic.
With these two creative juggernauts supporting each other‘s careers, we can count on more mind-blowing performances and songs from them in the future. Their epic musical friendship still has so much left to give!
So there you have it, the inside story on Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton‘s awesome bromance and artistic partnership! What do you think about these two superstars joining forces? Let me know in the comments!
