Chris Stapleton Almost Became an Engineer—Until He Found His True Calling
Chris Stapleton is one of country music’s most powerful voices, a five-time Grammy winner whose rich, soulful vocals and masterful songwriting have left an undeniable mark on the genre. But imagine a world where Traveller never existed, where Stapleton’s songwriting never shaped the careers of country music’s biggest stars, and where his legendary performances never took place. That alternate reality almost happened—because for a while, Chris Stapleton wasn’t planning on being a musician at all. He was studying to be an engineer.
In a 2022 60 Minutes interview, Stapleton revealed that music wasn’t always the plan. In fact, he wasn’t even aware that songwriting could be a profession.
“I did go to engineering school,” he admitted. “My major was biomedical engineering.”
It was a path that made sense at the time. His father was an engineer, and Stapleton, like many young adults, followed in his family’s footsteps without really knowing if it was what he wanted. But something about the structured world of engineering didn’t sit right with him.
Then came the moment that changed his life—a revelation that seemed almost too simple, yet had the power to shift the course of country music forever. Songwriting was a possibility.
“I didn’t even know it was a thing,” Stapleton confessed. “I just assumed when people sang songs on records that they made it up. And then I met somebody who was a songwriter, and it was just like—that’s a job? They’re going to pay you to sit in a room and make things up on guitar? I need that job. That's the job I want.”
And he got that job. More than that—he became one of the most sought-after songwriters in Nashville. Before he ever stepped into the spotlight as a solo artist, Stapleton was writing hits for some of country music's biggest names. His pen crafted modern country classics, and eventually, the music industry realized the man behind the words had a voice that was too powerful to remain behind the scenes.
The rest, as they say, is history. Stapleton’s transition from behind-the-scenes songwriter to household name was cemented with his debut album, Traveller, in 2015. His raw, blues-infused sound broke the mold of mainstream country, proving that authenticity and talent trump trends. Since then, he’s dominated the industry, winning countless awards, selling out arenas, and redefining what country music can be.
Had he stuck with engineering, country music might be missing one of its most iconic figures. There would be no Tennessee Whiskey as we know it, no soul-stirring live performances, no gravelly-voiced anthems that cut straight to the bone. It’s a world that’s hard to imagine now, given Stapleton’s impact on the genre.
Thankfully, fate—or maybe just the realization that songwriting is a job—intervened. And for that, country music fans everywhere can be grateful.