Adele’s Stunning Cover of Chris Stapleton’s “If It Hadn’t Been For Love”

If you’re going to cover Chris Stapleton, you better bring your “A” game. Fortunately for Adele, that’s all she has. Chris Stapleton, known for writing hits for country legends like George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Josh Turner, has also penned songs for artists outside the country genre. These include Justin Timberlake, Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and, notably, the great Adele.

Originally recorded with his band The SteelDrivers for their debut album in 2008, one of Stapleton’s songs was eventually included as a bonus track on Adele’s award-winning “21” record. During a live performance at Royal Albert Hall in 2011, Adele described Chris Stapleton as having a voice like “caramel”. She introduced the song with a story about Dolly Parton and her own feelings of wanting to “murder” her ex-boyfriends.

“I f***ing love Dolly Parton, and I read the most amazing interview today… she has the best lines ever. But I’m going to do a cover now by a band called the SteelDrivers. I fell in love with ’em, his voice is just incredible, it’s like caramel, it’s lovely. I love this song; the sentiment is about killing his wife. I would certainly kill some of my ex-boyfriends for f***ing sure.”

Adele’s sense of humor and genuine admiration highlight her love for Stapleton’s work. Here’s a glimpse of that memorable performance:

[Video of Adele’s performance]

For those who want to hear Chris Stapleton’s solo acoustic rendition, check out this link:

[Video of Chris Stapleton’s performance]

When Adele and Chris Stapleton teamed up for a bonus version of “Easy On Me,” fans were ecstatic. Available exclusively through Target’s deluxe edition of Adele’s “30” album, this collaboration quickly became a sought-after track. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for it to surface online.

As two of the best vocalists today, Adele and Chris Stapleton deliver a performance that feels almost divine. Some might have hoped for Chris to lead an entire verse, but his harmonization with Adele proves that sometimes less is more.

If you’re thinking about iconic duets, this collaboration should top the list. If CMT’s “Crossroads” show still exists, Chris and Adele should be a priority. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their performance one for the books.

[Video of Chris and Adele’s performance]

Source: Various sources