The song, penned by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove, was originally recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981
Chris Stapleton’s inescapable rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” has become the first country song to gain a double diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The organization announced the news on Monday, revealing that the track has sold more than 20 million units. Only two other songs have been recognized as double diamond including Bruno Mars’ 2010 hit track “Just The Way You Are” and 2018’s “Sunflower” by Swae Lee and Post Malone.
“Chris Stapleton’s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply — driving chart successes, earning major awards and most importantly, resonating with fans,” said Mitch Glazier, RIAA CEO, in a statement. “RIAA is proud to celebrate him alongside MCA as ‘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. It’s a remarkable achievement and another defining moment in Stapleton’s career.”
The song traces its roots to 1980 at the Bluebird Cafe, where Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove met and that same night penned “Tennessee Whiskey” in about an hour. The song would soon find its way to country singer David Allan Coe, who saw it become a modest country hit in 1981, and a few years later, to George Jones, whose more produced version reached Number Two on the Hot Country Singles chart.
Yet it was Stapleton’s intoxicating resurrection, which borrows the melody from Etta James’ 1967 song “I’d Rather Go Blind,” that has cemented “Tennessee Whiskey” as one of the greatest songs of the 21st century. His 2015 performance at the CMA Awards with his wife, Morgane, and Justin Timberlake was a landmark moment for Stapleton and the song, catapulting it back onto the charts, reaching Number One this time around.
The song has since been covered by numerous artists including T-Pain and Carín Leon. When previously asked by Rolling Stone what about the track transcends the confines of genres, Stapleton replied, “I don’t pretend to know how to explain magic or how to use it.”