Sturgill Simpson Will Join Chris Stapleton on Saturday Night Live (1-27)
Chris Stapleton is scheduled to make his second appearance on Saturday Night Live this Saturday evening, January 27th, and it appears he will be bringing fellow Kentucky native Sturgill Simpson along with him. Though Stapleton’s appearance has been booked for a few weeks with no word of Sturgill’s involvement, late Saturday Stapleton’s socials posted a short video of Sturgill appearing with Stapleton and stealing his hat, with the caption, “Tonight we’ve got some extra Kentucky in NYC.” Sturgill has since retweeted it (see video below).
I guess we’ll just have to see for ourselves if the collaboration will take place, and what it will be when the episode airs. Sturgill has some SNL history of his own. On his appearance in mid January, 2017, his second performance was marked by a raucous ending that saw Simpson smash his telecaster guitar during “A Call To Arms.” His appearance caused a huge sales boost to his music as the video went viral, and helped set a national narrative for Sturgill ahead of the 2017 Grammy Awards where he was up for all genre Album of the Year, and eventually won Country Album of the Year.
This SNL appearance could be the beginning of a very big run for Stapleton to start off 2018. Along with his performance Saturday night, he’s up for three Grammy Awards on Sunday (January 28th), which will also be held in New York City. Along with being up for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance, Stapleton will be up for Best Country Album, and will be performing with country legend Emmylou Harris on the primetime telecast.
Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson have never performed together before, so taking the stage together on the SNL set will definitely brighten the spotlight. Will Ferrell is hosting the episode.
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(NOTE: Saving Country Music will be reporting all day Sunday on the Grammy Awards, including on the pre-telecast awards {country, bluegrass, Americana, folk}, as well as conducting a LIVE blog during the telecast.)
Tonight we’ve got some extra Kentucky in NYC.
📷: Mary Ellen Matthews pic.twitter.com/BZIdS9Dptx— Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) January 28, 2018
Huntermc6
January 27, 2018 @ 8:27 pm
I never stay up late enough to see SNL but I am going to try my damnedest to do so tonight. Interested to see how this goes down.
hoptowntiger94
January 27, 2018 @ 9:37 pm
I got out of bed and made a hot toddy for this! Thanks for the heads up!
hoptowntiger94
January 27, 2018 @ 9:38 pm
It’s too late to call my drug dealer.
KSU
January 27, 2018 @ 9:55 pm
Wow this show sucks.
Dustin
January 27, 2018 @ 10:10 pm
And They’re slaying “Midnight Train to Memphis”
Trigger
January 27, 2018 @ 10:19 pm
Thought they killed it. Sturgill should perform with Stapleton more. He brought the fire out in Chris. Been waiting for that from Stapleton.
Gina
January 27, 2018 @ 10:17 pm
Epic! Those guys are on fire 🔥
Jeff Harrell
January 27, 2018 @ 10:23 pm
Just saw Chris on SNL. If Cris is leaving country music for that hard rock crap, you screwed up. I was a big fan.before tonight.
Trigger
January 27, 2018 @ 10:32 pm
“Midnight Train to Memphis” is a song from his latest record. Yeah, it’s probably his hardest rocker, but I don’t think performing it on SNL is some massive change in sonic direction. He’s just trying to play his most appealing material to a wide audience that includes more than hardcore country fans.
Gena R.
January 28, 2018 @ 7:46 am
I didn’t read this before tuning in to the show, so I was pleasantly surprised! 😀 Chris and Sturg sounded great together.
Was also surprised that they did MTTM and “Hard Livin'” — I was expecting “Millionaire” and “Scarecrow in the Garden,” or maybe one of those plus something from ‘Vol. 1’ like “Broken Halos” or “Second One to Know.” Great choices, though!
KSU
January 27, 2018 @ 11:07 pm
Listen to the original version of you’re worried about it. In the end, if people hear the music tonight and seek out the same style online, the country genre is in a much better place. SNL could have booked Sam Hunt.
hoptowntiger94
January 27, 2018 @ 11:14 pm
It was more southern rock. I’m ok with Southern Rock. Someone below commented they hear MTTM on their classic rock station. Do you know who else I constantly hear on my classic rock station? Charlie Daniels. So, it’s all good!
Andrew
January 28, 2018 @ 9:06 am
He recorded that song with the SteelDrivers a decade ago. It’s not exactly new.
Heather
January 27, 2018 @ 10:48 pm
It was awesome!!! They we’re so good! Love sturgill!
Dennixx
January 27, 2018 @ 10:50 pm
As long as JT don’t show I’m in.
Joe
January 27, 2018 @ 10:54 pm
I’ve only heard Midnight Train to Memphis twice…once on my local classic rock station, and now on SNL.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 10:43 am
JT Cure was there on bass. Did a great job.
Wait, what?
🙂
KSU
January 27, 2018 @ 10:51 pm
Two of my favorites sharing the stage. Pretty cool. Enjoy it, folks!
Johnny
January 27, 2018 @ 10:58 pm
Anybody catching the Jerry Lee reference in the 50s skin?
Dave
January 27, 2018 @ 11:03 pm
That’s exactly what I told my wife. Only part they left out was the girl was related to him.
hoptowntiger94
January 27, 2018 @ 11:04 pm
I spend most of my time dreaming about country music during its outlaw era in the 70’s. I listen, read, watch clips – in awe, wishing I could have been born a couple of decades earlier (although that would probably mean I would have been killed in Vietnam). Tonight during “Hard Livin'” I was like, “fuck, THIS is what it felt like.” Two guys not fully embraced by Nashville scene getting national exposure doing their own thing not giving a fuck about industry standards – that could have been Willie & Waylon tonight on the SNL stage.
Personally, I needed Stapleton to do something like this. That fucking Timberlake shit was wearing me down.
We wondered what would fill the Roots/Americana/Country void when David Letterman retired… SNL has been doing a great job.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 28, 2018 @ 6:28 am
Dude.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
KSU
January 27, 2018 @ 11:17 pm
I’d love to know how this happened. Did SNL book them both? Or did Chris say he was bringing Sturgill or it’s a no go? Loved it, either way.
hoptowntiger94
January 27, 2018 @ 11:25 pm
Stapleton was booked solo for some time. I think whatever went down, it happened fast.
I’d like to think Stapleton was feeling some heat over this Timberlake shit. More than likely, I think everyone is in town for the Grammys tomorrow and these two meet up and Stapleton (like Willie) never meet a collaborator he doesn’t like.
Stinks
January 27, 2018 @ 11:35 pm
Always enjoy seeing Cobb at these big shows with Chris and co. Not many folks look to share the spotlight like that with their producer and another artist
Chris will be on “Sunday today with Willie geist” on CBS this morning fyi
Marc
January 27, 2018 @ 11:55 pm
As the anti Stapleton critic on here I will say I still don’t get it. If I wanted Southern rock I will dust off my Molly Hatchet and Outlaws albums. To me Stapleton is a one trick pony a white blues singer. But hell no i wont compare him to SRV. Maybe my definition of country is much simpler, 3 chords and the truth. Jones, Haggard, Williams, Gosdin, Whitley, Travis even newer artist like Pitney, Denney, young cat by the name of Jon Bowlin they dont have the most powerful voices but sure as heck if those simple voices don’t rip your heart out. If Stapleton and Sturgil are today’s country saviors then I “got a vintage Victrola 1951
Full of my favorite records that I grew up on
They got ole Hank and Lefty and there’s B24.”
Michael
January 28, 2018 @ 2:30 am
Stapleton a one trick pony? You don’t know what you are talking Marc. And FYI haggard was a huge fan of Simpson before he passed
Jtrpdx
January 28, 2018 @ 3:08 am
If anyone on here tries to compare Stapleton to Stevie Ray, I’m pretty sure this website will break. So thank you. SRV has already rolled over in his grave enough.
Nicolet
January 28, 2018 @ 10:07 am
…hit em up Joe and play “Walking the Floor”
albert
January 28, 2018 @ 1:24 am
the first song came from an honest place . but its not country . more like a bunch of guys jammin in the garage . morganne was wasted as a ‘tambourinist’ . I wish I could get on board the sturgil train but until he gets his mouth fixed he continues to be a lyric’s worst enemy .
so……hmmmm
albert
January 28, 2018 @ 1:59 am
ditto the second song …points for conviction but still a it too jammy for my liking . but that’s just me . and like someone else said …. better than the Timberlake thing ….and most other SNL acts .
Jtrpdx
January 28, 2018 @ 3:13 am
Interesting. I love Sturgill as much as anyone and his talent as a writer and guitarist is on a different plane than Stapleton (not even comparable). But he really needs to invest in a vocal coach who can help him up his vocal clarity game. It’s time.
Stinks
January 28, 2018 @ 10:28 am
He sounds great when he just sings in his natural voice. But he seemed to not like getting so many comparisons to Waylon when he started getting a lot of attention and started doing this twangy (Whitley?) sound
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 10:45 am
He’s gotten pretty damn far with the voice he has. May not be for everyone, but I’m not sure he needs to go changing anything about it.
Gina
January 28, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
The last thing he needs is a vocal coach.
Gina
January 28, 2018 @ 3:20 am
It was also nice to see that much testosterone and muscle on stage again. yowza!
Cameron
January 28, 2018 @ 4:42 am
Performance was fine. Wasn’t all that great honestly. Sturgill can’t sing that song and probably shouldn’t have tried. Truth be told the bluegrass version is wayyyyyy better. Still was cool to see.
Jack Williams
January 28, 2018 @ 5:11 am
So Chris Stapleton, the biggest thing in country music right now, decided to share the SNL stage with Music Row nemesis Sturgill Simpson. I think I’d call that a statement. Oh. And the they kicked ass.
Stephanie
January 28, 2018 @ 10:43 am
I was kind of thinking that too. ANd that statement reflected well on Stapleton for me. Even if I’m not the biggest Sturgill Simpson fan.
albert
January 28, 2018 @ 10:43 am
It seems that CS will write ,play and sing with anyone who’s around or anyone who asks . That approach to surviving in the biz has worked out fine for Vince Gill .
Hmmmm…..Does anyone have Chris’ phone number ..? I have a few gigs coming up .
Jack Williams
January 29, 2018 @ 6:37 am
In this case, it’s Stapleton’s song and his slot on SNL. I sincerely doubt that Sturgill asked if he could join him on SNL. Also, Sturgill wasn’t up for any Grammys and so I doubt he just happened to be in the neighborhood.
Therhodeo
January 28, 2018 @ 5:50 am
That version of midnight train is a Jompson Brother’s rehash. About 1/10th as dynamic as the steeldrivers version. SNL missed an opportunity to have Ferrell come out as GWB and start yelling that this is America and we sing in English.
Sam
January 28, 2018 @ 6:22 am
Saw a comment from trigger saying that Sturgill brought the fire out in Chris. Been waiting for that from Stapleton. ABSOLUTELY TRUE. I love Chris Stapleton, but his concert was one of the most bland performances I’ve ever seen. He just went up and ‘did his thing’. I guess that’s the price of needing to please an arena of people.
Sturgill on the other hand… best concert I have ever been to. Sturgill was obviously having a blast with his band and broke away from performing songs verbatim off the album. Sturgill knows how to own a stage.
If they ever find a way to tour together it would be amazing.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 28, 2018 @ 6:30 am
This is truly unbearable. Give me Midland, with all their fakery, over this garbage.
Chad Perry
January 28, 2018 @ 10:40 pm
And then there’s this guy.
Seak05
January 28, 2018 @ 7:08 am
It would be great if stuff like this got played on country radio (& by someone not named Aldean), but it would stink if only stuff like this got played on country radio. Stapleton is one of the people in country, but he can’t & shouldn’t be the only one.
Interestingly, I’m about 70% that broken halos will be chris’ first radio #1. It will almost certainly see top 5. Think it’s a bit behind the curve to keep saying radio is ignoring Chris.
(Agree with others on sturgill, appreciate the passion, but I want to hear what you’re saying)
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 10:47 am
There will be a big sales boost from this performance, and possibly even more if Stapleton wins Country Album of the Year at the Grammys. Let’s see if radio responds.
seak05
January 28, 2018 @ 11:03 am
Trigger, I’m not sure how much more you want radio to respond right now? Broken Halos has started really moving up the radio charts, it jumped both Brett and Keith this week, and will shortly enter the top 10.
The only reason I’m slightly hesitant on it not going #1 is that Luke’s Most people are good is only a few spots behind it & exploding up the charts…looking like a big hit. But they’re also on the same label, so I imagine they’ll probably finesse it.
DJ
January 28, 2018 @ 7:34 am
I went to watch on you tube. Not impressed.
JB-Chicago
January 28, 2018 @ 8:31 am
I loved it! Sturgill added a little fire to Stapleton’s boring ass husband and wife act. I love the way Sturgill sings just the way he is.
Lil Dale (hat in hand)
January 28, 2018 @ 8:33 am
Alright, Trigg. Let’s hash this out. First off, I’m sorry I called you a cunt. I had a bad day at work and hit the brown water a little early and that wasn’t acceptable, so again, I’m sorry for saying that. I am, however, as loyal as any reader to this publication as you have, which says a lot considering that while I love country music, I’m not as passionate about it as the other folks around here as far as what is acceptable within the industry of it. That must go to show how much I enjoy your writing that I still read pretty much every day.
And while it’s probably annoying, misspelling words is a way to convey I don’t understand the industry or subject matter as much as everyone else commenting, and I usually don’t have anything to say, but was a way to say I’m still out there reading the articles, but certainly enjoy reading your work and the opinions of the other readers. I don’t have many friends to talk to about country music with so this is where I ended up. I’m sorry for turning “Lil Dale” into a creative writing project of some sort, that will likely never go anywhere, on your time, that only exists in your site.
With that all said, I would like to request a full reinstatement into Saving Country Music, effective immediately. Lil Dale being banned from SCM is the biggest travesty since Hank getting the boot from the Opry. I don’t know the password to my email account I use for “Lil Dale” so unlock it and let me use it again.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 28, 2018 @ 9:18 am
Trigger banned Lil Dale?!?!
That ain’t right.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 9:31 am
No, I didn’t. Maybe deleted one of his comments that went too far recently, but Lil’ Dale has always had a valued member of the Saving Country Music community, by me if nobody else.
Sam Cody
January 28, 2018 @ 10:14 am
Ha! Dude. No. This is unacceptable. It’s like suddenly seeing you with your pants off. Put that thing away and go back to your crazy ways. I always find it to be a nice break in the middle of all the “same-old-shit” that gets posted here!
R2D2
January 28, 2018 @ 12:14 pm
Lil Dale your my favorite commenter on this site!
R2D2
January 28, 2018 @ 12:15 pm
*you’re
Bill Weiler
January 28, 2018 @ 8:48 am
Reading posts here and elsewhere, many people seem to think this represents the be all and end all of country music. Compared to commercial county I guess I can see their point, but the reactions I see seem to think this is “The Big Bang of Country Music” Version 2.0. It’s not. I found it quite predictably uninteresting. Not bad, just kind of bland. I’ll take the Steeldrivers version of “Midnight Train to Memphis” any day. Can’t do the song without banjo.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Calling Chris Stapleton the savior of country music has always been more a mainstream media narrative sowed by journalists who only know country from the outside looking in. Same goes for Sturgill. I have never labeled these dudes as country music saviors, and the fact that so many are is the reason there is such an unreasonable backlash against them. Yes, there are better in country music. But the fact that Stapleton is leading the mainstream is such an incredibly better alternative than anything else we’ve seen in the last quarter century. Be happy!
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 28, 2018 @ 11:08 am
The last quarter century? That would be 1993.
Have you ever heard of the following?
Alan Jackson
George Strait
Vince Gill
Joe Diffie
Mark Chesnutt
Tracy Lawrence
Travis Tritt
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 11:19 am
The only person from that list that you could make a case as being the biggest artist in country in their time sales and impact wise would be Alan Jackson 2002-2003. And maybe Vince Gill, but only as an anti-Garth vote at awards. Joe Diffie? Come on…
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
January 28, 2018 @ 11:31 am
I thought we were talking about the best of the mainstream.
I thought you were saying that there has been no better mainstream act in Country Music in the last 25 years.
I was just giving you a short list of people who are all better than Stapleton, and more Country.
Anthony
January 28, 2018 @ 11:41 am
Lmaoo Joe Diffie. Thats awesome.
Dennixx
January 28, 2018 @ 9:04 am
Neede more Cowbell
Jimmy Row
January 28, 2018 @ 9:31 am
Saw it live, didn’t know ol sturg was joining Chris “one tempo” Stapleton. With that being said, that shit was fuckin BORING! Cmon guys “pick up the tempo”!
DJ
January 28, 2018 @ 10:00 am
just a little and take it on home. The singer ain’t singing and the drummers been draggin too long, time’ll take care of itself so just leave time alone, so pick up the tempo just a little and take it on home….I’m wild I’m mean I’m creating a scene I’m goin crazy, I’m quite, I’m loud, I’m gatherin a crowd and I like gravy…’bout half off the wall, but I learned it all in the Navy…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bokRf4wsyI
Key bein- “take it on home” if it’s a representation of country. IF I listened to radio I would change the channel or turn it off. And I’m a Stapleton fan. He may gain a few new fans, but, neither (he nor Simpson) did “Country” music a favor.
But hey, let’s keep praising it while pretending we want to “Save” it. Oh the irony….
North Woods Country
January 28, 2018 @ 9:36 am
I’d have loved to hear “Scarecrow in the Garden” with Sturgill playing lead. These performances were okay and better than pre-recorded tracks mimed by pop stars, but I feel that this could have been a bigger moment with more vocal clarity.
Colter
January 28, 2018 @ 10:53 am
Sturgill just pops up in random places around the world and kills shit.
Leroy
January 28, 2018 @ 11:17 am
Well Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas at the exact same time.
Gina
January 28, 2018 @ 3:57 pm
It’s because he’s a CIA assasin.