Chris Stapleton will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award at the 54th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards this year. The singer-songwriter will be honored with the award, which pays tribute to songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed country songs of 2015. Previous recipients include Third Day, The Civil Wards and Sara Bareilles, among others.

“Every so often, someone comes along with songwriting so masterful, a voice so powerful and a presence so captivating, that it stops you in your tracks,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams. “Chris Stapleton does just that. By distilling Southern sounds and themes into potent songs, he has brought raw soul back to the country charts, and established himself as one of the most respected and original artists in American music today. We are thrilled to honor him with the ASCAP Vanguard Award.”

The ASCAP Country Music Awards will take place at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium October 31st.
Chris is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year (“Nobody to Blame”), Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year (“Fire Away”), as well as Musical Event of the Year with wife Morgane Stapleton, for their performance of “You Are My Sunshine” at the 50th annual CMA Awards which will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 2nd at 8pm ET on ABC.

Chris is currently making his way up the country charts with “Parachute” from his award-winning album, Traveller.