Opening 2016 with its first show of the new year, Saturday Night Live returned with host Adam Driver and musical guest, breakout country star Chris Stapleton performing "Parachute" and "Nobody To Blame."
Stapleton has been riding a wave of newfound popularity ever since his performance alongside Justin Timberlake at the CMA awards. It's that performance that has given him enough attention to be nominated for several Grammys, boosted his record sales dramatically and now landed him a spot on SNL. The variety show rarely brings on country artists, so it speaks to Stapleton's widespread appeal that he would be featured on the program in this way.
He used the stage to show off some of his less played tunes from Traveller, deviating from his go-to-song "Tennessee Whiskey."
Stapleton led with "Parachute," which is definitely a good song to show off his vocal capabilities. In true outlaw country fashion, Stapleton stood stoically on stage showing little emotion or any sense of importance to this particular performance. It was just another day on the road for him.
Normally, musical guests pick a more upbeat song for the first tune on the night and then slow it down for the second pick given that not everyone makes its late into the night for the latter performance. But that wasn't the case Saturday night, Stapleton hit hard again with the drunken-regret tune "Nobody To Blame."
It's always an odd thing to see the country singer's wife on stage with him as he sings "Nobody To Blame," which is about a drunken buffoon who ruins his relationship due to his drinking habits. The couple write together so it must be therapeutic, but, then again, who knows if these songs are from real-life experience or not.
