Country Music Icon Chris Stapleton's Timeless Anthem "Tennessee Whiskey" Becomes First Country Single to Reach Double Diamond Status
In a milestone moment for the music industry, Chris Stapleton's iconic rendition of "Tennessee Whiskey" has achieved double diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking a historic first for country music. The song, penned by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, was originally recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981 but it was Stapleton's breathtakingly emotive performance that catapulted the track to massive success.
With over 20 million units sold, "Tennessee Whiskey" has become one of the most successful country singles of all time, joining an elite group of songs that have achieved double diamond status. Only a handful of tracks have previously reached this level of certification, including Bruno Mars' hit single "Just The Way You Are" and Swae Lee and Post Malone's chart-topping collaboration "Sunflower".
The RIAA has hailed Stapleton as a masterful storyteller, whose powerful vocals and genre-bending style have connected deeply with fans worldwide. In a statement, CEO Mitch Glazier praised Stapleton's career-defining achievement, saying: "Chris Stapleton’s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply — driving chart successes, earning major awards and most importantly, resonating with fans... 'Tennessee Whiskey' today makes history, becoming the first country single ever to earn a Double Diamond certification with 20 million units in the U.S. alone."
The song's enduring appeal can be traced back to its humble beginnings at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, where Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove penned the track in just one hour. The song found its way to David Allan Coe, who recorded it in 1981, before being rediscovered by George Jones, whose version reached No. 2 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
However, it was Stapleton's soulful reworking of Etta James' classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" that cemented "Tennessee Whiskey" as a timeless anthem, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition. His 2015 performance at the CMA Awards with his wife Morgane and Justin Timberlake marked a pivotal moment in Stapleton's career, catapulting the track back onto the charts and cementing its place as one of the greatest country songs of all time.
Since then, "Tennessee Whiskey" has been covered by numerous artists, including T-Pain and Carín Leon. When asked about the track's enduring magic, Stapleton simply replied: "I don’t pretend to know how to explain magic or how to use it."
In a milestone moment for the music industry, Chris Stapleton's iconic rendition of "Tennessee Whiskey" has achieved double diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking a historic first for country music. The song, penned by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, was originally recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981 but it was Stapleton's breathtakingly emotive performance that catapulted the track to massive success.
With over 20 million units sold, "Tennessee Whiskey" has become one of the most successful country singles of all time, joining an elite group of songs that have achieved double diamond status. Only a handful of tracks have previously reached this level of certification, including Bruno Mars' hit single "Just The Way You Are" and Swae Lee and Post Malone's chart-topping collaboration "Sunflower".
The RIAA has hailed Stapleton as a masterful storyteller, whose powerful vocals and genre-bending style have connected deeply with fans worldwide. In a statement, CEO Mitch Glazier praised Stapleton's career-defining achievement, saying: "Chris Stapleton’s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply — driving chart successes, earning major awards and most importantly, resonating with fans... 'Tennessee Whiskey' today makes history, becoming the first country single ever to earn a Double Diamond certification with 20 million units in the U.S. alone."
The song's enduring appeal can be traced back to its humble beginnings at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, where Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove penned the track in just one hour. The song found its way to David Allan Coe, who recorded it in 1981, before being rediscovered by George Jones, whose version reached No. 2 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
However, it was Stapleton's soulful reworking of Etta James' classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" that cemented "Tennessee Whiskey" as a timeless anthem, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition. His 2015 performance at the CMA Awards with his wife Morgane and Justin Timberlake marked a pivotal moment in Stapleton's career, catapulting the track back onto the charts and cementing its place as one of the greatest country songs of all time.
Since then, "Tennessee Whiskey" has been covered by numerous artists, including T-Pain and Carín Leon. When asked about the track's enduring magic, Stapleton simply replied: "I don’t pretend to know how to explain magic or how to use it."
20 million units sold for a country single is insane 
!! chris stapleton's soulful vibe has captured the hearts of millions & he deserves all da props 
i mean, who else can make "tennessee whiskey" sound like a heartfelt ballad in one minute 
? dean dillon & linda hargrove must've been on somethin when they wrote dis song 
& now it's a timeless anthem 4 generations 2 enjoy 
double diamond status is da ultimate achievement & chris stapleton's got it 
, just saw that Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" is now a double diamond certified single and I'm freaking out 
. The fact that it's the first country single to reach this level of certification is a testament to Stapleton's mastery as a storyteller 
. His soulful reworking of "I'd Rather Go Blind" is pure magic 
. I mean, who else can make a song about heartache and whiskey sound so beautiful? 
The way he connects with fans on a deeper level is truly inspiring 
. And let's be real, the fact that it was originally written in just one hour at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe is just crazy 
. The man's got a gift! 
lol i just saw this thread and i'm like what took you guys so long? 
anyway, 20 million units sold is crazy for a country song! i mean, its not like hes rapping or anything but his voice is insane. i can see why people are hooked on that stuff 
yaaas! can u even believe it? 'tennessee whiskey' has gone double diamond 
that was epic! 'tennessee whiskey' might be a country song, but its impact is universal 
... and it's easy to see why Chris Stapleton's version is so iconic, his voice gives the song this soulful, emotional depth that just draws you in 
. And I love how his wife Morgane was on stage with him at the CMA Awards - as a parent, it's lovely to see artists sharing that kind of love and connection with each other 
what's good fam? So Chris Stapleton just broke a record with his song "Tennessee Whiskey" and I gotta say, it's kinda crazy that he's the first country artist to hit double diamond status 
. Either way, I think it's dope that Chris Stapleton is getting the recognition he deserves, and we should all be celebrating his creativity and talent 
. But I guess that's what makes it a classic - it taps into something deep inside us, even if we don't always want to acknowledge it 
. And let's be real, 20 million units sold is no joke 
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, 20 million units sold is insane! Country music has really come a long way since David Allan Coe recorded that song back in 1981. I mean, who would've thought Chris Stapleton's soulful take on "Tennessee Whiskey" would be the one to bring it to life? 
. Like, the man pours his heart out on that track and it's impossible not to connect with. It's like he's speaking directly to your soul 
.
. It's not like Chris Stapleton was some unknown artist who stumbled upon it, he was already kinda established when he recorded his version. And let's be real, Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" is an iconic song too, so it's not like Stapleton just came out of nowhere with a masterpiece 
Not saying he did a bad job or anything, but it's all about perspective, right?
. 20 million units sold is no joke, but I mean, it's not like he was the only one singing country music for decades... 
. Anyway, congrats to him and his team on making history! It's kinda cool how the song went through so many hands before Stapleton's version came along 
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it's like he's singing directly to your soul. and the fact that he won't explain how he achieves this magic makes him even more mysterious and awesome 
can't wait to see what he does next 
. im surprised it took him this long to reach double diamond certification tho, like over 20 million units sold? that's crazy