Watch CBS News

Behind The Song: Chris Stapleton- "Traveller"

By Brian Ives

"If you ever get the chance to drive through the desert, I think you should." Sound advice from multi-GRAMMY nominee Chris Stapleton, talking about the title track of Traveller.

In this Radio.com interview, he discusses writing the song. Stapleton's wife bought him a 1979 Cherokee Jeep, and they flew out to Arizona to pick up the car. Instead of having it shipped home, they drove it back to Nashville. It was a risky idea, he allows, given that the car is over three decades old. They also decided to film their trip, with no real reason to do so. "We were just going to do it to do it, which is the best reason to do things, because you feel led to do them."

He wrote the song before his father passed away, but after his father's passing "That became the time to sing the song." His father also inspired another song on the album, "Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore," which he discusses in the below video as well.

Related: Why Chris Stapleton's 'Traveller' Should Win the GRAMMY for Album of the Year

Those songs, and the album they came from, led Stapleton to the top of the charts. When the album was released in the spring, it debuted at number 14 on the Billboard album charts. It fell off the charts until this fall before a high profile television performance finally catapulted to number one.

Stapleton's Traveller is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Country Album, and the title track is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. Find out of he wins in any of these categories at the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 15. It will air on CBS at 8 PM ET.

Chris Stapleton's "Traveller" - Behind The Song by Audacy Originals on YouTube
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.