BITTERSWEET, Ky. — For those of you who watched the recent Country Music Assoc. Awards show, there were the typical performances by a who’s who of country superstars. A great show all in all, I would say.

But, for me, there was one performer who stole the show and walked away with a handful of awards that may have surprised some.

The name Chris Stapleton is relatively new to radio listeners out there, and right now he is taking the music world by storm. Now, I don’t just like him because he is a fellow Kentuckian; I like him because he is off-the-charts good with a mix of country, blues and southern rock in his music.

His first album is one of the best first-albums I have ever heard, and for an old dog like me, that is saying a lot because I’ve enjoyed a lot of great first-albums.

This guy left the CMAs with the New Artist of the Year award, something many expected; Album of the Year, for his debut solo set titled Traveller; and if those honors weren’t enough, he was named Male Vocalist of the Year beating out the likes of Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan.

No small feat for a "newcomer," and I’m not sure anybody expected that.

Stapleton may be new to many fans but he has been around for a number of years and is known to the music world as a great songwriter. Some of his works have been recorded by the best in the business including Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Darius Rucker. And let’s face it; if George Strait is recording your songs, you have to be good at it.

I think it is his experiences as a creative writer that transcend into his vocal performances. His songs are powerful and tell stories of love and hurt and real life. Traveller is powerful from one end of it to the other.

There are artists that sound good, and then there are artists that make you believe they’ve lived every word they are singing. Chris Stapleton has surely lived every word.

His songs are thought provoking, and his voice is the icing on the cake.

To say I sound excited about this performer and his music would be an understatement. I think he is one of the most unique performers to come around in decades, and it is an artist like him that can transform country music into a whole new realm – bold words for a bold performer.

Chris Stapleton, I don’t have a grade high enough to give you so an A+ will have to do. I can’t wait for album No. 2.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.