Last week’s episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Ryan Gosling included musical guest Chris Stapleton, who returned to the show for his third appearance. He masterfully performed two tracks, including the multi-Grammy winning “White Horse” (Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance) featuring his band and his wife, Morgane, accompanying.
On a show known for making or breaking many a musical guest and in a setting ripe for sound issues and technical hurdles, Stapleton and his ensemble shined, choosing a music-centered, less-is-more approach to their performances and arrangements. Anchored by Stapleton’s gritty and grounded guitar playing, “White Horse” sounded just as good live as it does on Higher, which he released in November 2023.
The real showstopper, though, was Stapleton’s second number, “Mountains of My Mind,” which found the former SteelDrivers lead singer alone on the fabled Studio 8H stage – just a singer-songwriter, his guitar, and his lyrics. Live television can feel especially exposed and vulnerable for artists like Stapleton, but he and “Mountains of My Mind” felt right at home in the setting.
A five time nominee at this year’s 59th Annual ACM Awards, Stapleton also showcased his acting chops while stepping into a hilarious sketch with Gosling and SNL cast members Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, and Chloe Troast. The satirical music video, “Get That Boy Back,” delightfully skewers country tropes around heartbreak, betrayal, and comeuppance. This ain’t your mama’s “Before He Cheats,” that’s for sure!
All in all, Chris Stapleton once again showcased his particular brand of Good Country to the variety show’s vast audience – and did all of us who “knew him when” proud, yet again.
Photo Credit: Mary Ellen Matthews
