Chris Stapleton won over the masses with his heartfelt performance alongside Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards, and now the "Tennessee Whiskey" singer is gearing up to do it again on Saturday Night Live. On Tuesday (Jan. 5), SNL announced its full performance lineup for January and it includes Stapleton alongside Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Adam Driver as well as Selena Gomez with UFC fighter Ronda Rousey.
SNL announced that Driver will be the first host of the new year during its final episode of last year (hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) but the musical guest for that evening was still a mystery - until now. The show tweeted out that Stapleton will be the first performer of 2016.
Excited to kick off 2016 with Adam Driver, @ChrisStapleton, @RondaRousey and @selenagomez! #SNL pic.twitter.com/J346nqL81z
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) January 5, 2016
Stapleton's inclusion on SNL this season should come as no surprise. Though he released his debut album Traveller in May 2015, the country singer gained more notoriety when he swept the CMA Awards in November. His album then vaulted up to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for two weeks.
Of course, Stapleton isn't the only singer due to take the SNL stage this month. Selena Gomez, who is still riding high off the release of her first "grown up" album Revival is also due to perform. Gomez has released a string of hits, including "Good for You," "Same Old Love" and "Hands to Myself," the latter two of which she is most likely to play on SNL.
Gomez joins fellow pop stars Miley Cyrus, Sia and Demi Lovato, all of whom have also performed on SNL this season. Other notable performers also include Bruce Springsteen, Adele, The Weeknd and Chance the Rapper.
