Chris Stapleton Performs ‘What Am I Gonna Do’ at CMA Awards

Chris Stapleton did triple duty 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 of 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 a fourth consecutive year. He’s already the most celebrated performer in the category with seven overall wins.
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Stapleton’s album Higher is nominated for Album of the Year, while its 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 his proven formula on his soulful fifth LP, and that’s fine,” read a Rolling Stone review of the LP.

Stapleton is a frequent CMA Awards performer. He played the Higher track “White Horse” at 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 prior. Morgane joined him again this year for “What Am I Gonna Do.”