Chris Stapleton Wins New Artist of the Year at 2015 CMA Awards

Chris Stapleton took home the New Artist of the Year honor at this year's CMA Awards.

Stapleton may not be considered a well-known name in country music, but we think you should get to know him. After all, many of the artists in the crowd just adore him, including Justin Timberlake.

Previous CMAs New Artist of the Year award winner Brett Eldredge presented the prize alongside country newcomer Cam. Stapleton humbly took the stage to accept his statue.

"I’ve worked hard a lot of years to do this," Stapleton shared. "This is an absolute thrill."

He went on to give great thanks to his wife. Earlier this year Stapleton released his debut CMA-nominated Album of the Year Traveller, but that wasn't his first interaction with music. Stapleton was the lead singer of an IBMA Award-winning bluegrass band called the SteelDrivers.

He is also a well known songwriter around Music City, penning hits for artists George Strait, Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan.

As well as being nominated for a CMA, Traveller has been dubbed one of Taste of Country’s 10 Best of 2015.

Stapleton later took the stage at the award ceremony alongside admirer Timberlake to perform a sensual rendition of his "Tennessee Whiskey," as well as an upbeat version of Timberlake's hit "Drink You Away." In addition to his other two nominations, Stapleton is also up for Male Vocalist of the Year

2015 CMA Awards Red Carpet Pictures

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