Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey' Becomes First Country Song Certified Double Diamond
Chris Stapleton's version of 'Tennessee Whiskey' has been certified double diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), marking the first time a country song has reached that certification tier.
The song, originally written decades earlier and recorded by other artists before Stapleton's version became the definitive rendition, has had an unusually long chart and streaming life, continuing to draw significant listenership years after its initial release.
The milestone underscores a broader trend of catalog longevity in country music, where songs increasingly accumulate certification and chart activity over many years through steady streaming consumption rather than a single burst of initial popularity.
Stapleton's success with the track has also been credited with helping fuel renewed mainstream interest in more traditional, roots-oriented country and Americana sounds over the past decade.
For more on this topic, see our related article on how Americana's roots-oriented sound overlaps with mainstream country.