Chris Stapleton performs ‘What Am I Gonna Do’ at the 2024 CMA Awards

Chris Stapleton went triple at Wednesday’s CMA Awards in Nashville. The country singer opened the show with Post Malone, delivering their duet “California Sober” and later performed “What Am I Gonna Do,” the opening track from his Album of the Year-nominated LP, Higher. He also paid tribute to George Strait, who received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stapleton was up for several major awards at the 58th CMAs, including Entertainer of the Year, competing against Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen and current EOTY Lainey Wilson. He won Male Vocalist of the Year, taking the trophy for the fourth year in a row. He is already the most famous artist in the category with seven total wins.

Stapleton’s album Higher is nominated for album of the year, while the single “White Horse” won song and single of the year. (The LP won Album of the Year at this year’s competing ACM Awards.) “The best voice in Nashville doesn’t stray far from its tried-and-true formula on its soulful fifth LP, and that’s fine,” read a Rolling Stone review of the LP.

Stapleton is a frequent CMA Awards performer. He played Higher tracked “White Horse” for the show last year, and joined Patty Loveless, Darrell Scott and Stapleton’s wife Morgane for a rendition of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” the year before. Morgane joined him again this year for “What Am I Gonna Do.”