The man who brought roots back to country

Against the odds, Chris Stapleton helped bring an organic, old-school vibe back to country in the ‘10s. And he did it not only by breathing outlaw country fire on Waylon-influenced tracks like the swaggering stompers "Nobody to Blame" and "Hard Livin'," but also by blending that maverick sensibility with '60s soul influences, as on his chart-topping slow-burner "Tennessee Whiskey." The Kentucky native digs into a gritty Southern rock sound on "Parachute" and gives that huge, heart-stopping voice of his plenty of room to roam on stripped-down acoustic ballads like "Either Way."