There is a real musical comparison behind the accusation, but the evidence here does not establish that Chris Stapleton stole Etta James’s song or that he never paid her. Stapleton recorded “Tennessee Whiskey,” a song written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove; listeners later pointed to similarities between his arrangement and James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The available account documents that comparison and the public accusation, not a legal finding or a payment record.
What are the songs, and who wrote them?
“Tennessee Whiskey” was written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove. David Allan Coe recorded it in 1981, and George Jones followed with a version in 1983. Jones’s recording reached No. 2 on Billboard’s country chart that year, as reported in the scholarly account.
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Stapleton recorded “Tennessee Whiskey” for his 2015 album Traveller. His version is a cover of an existing song, not a song he claimed to have written. Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind” was recorded at Muscle Shoals in 1968. The credits reported in the scholarly account do not identify James as a writer of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Why did listeners compare Stapleton’s version to Etta James?
The comparison is between recordings and arrangements, rather than between the two songs’ songwriting credits. Listeners noticed that the groove and harmonic foundation of Stapleton’s performance resembled James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The scholarly analysis likewise describes a close resemblance in those musical elements.
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At the same time, the analysis says Stapleton kept the lyrics of “Tennessee Whiskey” while substantially recasting its meter, melody, chord progression, and arrangement. Those observations explain why the performance could sound familiar to listeners while still being a distinct arrangement of a pre-existing song. Resemblance alone does not establish theft or decide a legal question. The 2020 scholarly article in the Journal of Popular Music Studies discusses the song histories, musical comparison, and public reaction.
Where did the accusation come from?
The article recounts a question posted by Christi Carter on Stapleton’s official Facebook page on 12 May 2015: “I have just one question … is it me, or does Tennessee Whiskey sound an awful lot like Etta James I’d Rather Go Blind?” According to the account, Stapleton did not reply to that post, and commenters accused him of musical theft without attribution.
Rank #2
- Current ACM Entertainer of the Year, Chris Stapleton is set to release his 5th studio album Higher on November 10, 2023
The post shows that the accusation circulated publicly. It is not evidence that a court or a rights holder substantiated it, and the available account does not establish a court ruling or a licensing determination.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there evidence Stapleton never paid Etta James or a rights holder?
No payment record, licensing statement, settlement, or rights-holder account establishing whether Stapleton or his label paid James, her estate, or a rights holder of “I’d Rather Go Blind” is documented in the cited account. It describes the song history, musical resemblance, and public reaction; it is not a payment ledger or a complete record of rights arrangements.
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Rank #3
- Chris Stapleton to release his brand-new studio album, Starting Over, on November 13th
That means the specific claim that Stapleton “never paid her a cent” cannot be verified from this evidence. It would also be inaccurate to conclude that a payment definitely was or was not made. The available account does not establish every rightsholder or royalty arrangement for “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
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- Chris Stapleton will release his follow-up to his 2017 GOLD certified album- From A Room: Volume 1 on December 1st
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- Chris Stapleton will be releasing his brand new record "From A Room: Volume 1" on May 5th
What can be concluded—and what cannot?
- Established: Dillon and Hargrove wrote “Tennessee Whiskey”; Stapleton recorded a cover, and listeners and a scholarly author described similarities to elements of James’s recording.
- Not established: That a court found infringement, that the recording was legally determined to require a license on the basis of the resemblance, or that Stapleton or his label did—or did not—make a related payment.
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