Almost two years after Chris Stapleton’s career launched into the stratosphere with a duet with Justin Timberlake on the 49th CMA Awards, the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer returned to Bridgestone Arena to make his headlining debut Friday with the first of two sold out shows.

He also slid in his new album announcement. From the stage, Stapleton revealed “From A Room: Volume 2” will be in stores Dec. 1. “From A Room: Volume 1” was released this spring.

The floor vibrated with the first note his band struck on “Might As Well Get Stoned” and he followed up with audience favorite “Nobody to Blame,” which morphed Into a thousands-strong sing along.

“How we doing in Tennessee?” Stapleton asked fans. “We’re all about to have some fun. Are you ready?”

Stapleton’s two-hour show was highlightetd by many of his most popular songs including “Fire Away,” “Traveller” and “Parachute.”

He honored victims of the Las Vegas shooting with “Broken Halos,” explaining it has been a pretty rough week for country music in Las Vegas. Then he paid tribute to his lost “hero” Tom Petty with a cover of his “Learning to Fly.”

“The last thing he said to me was he ‘was good hoped we get to do more (‘jamming).” Stapleton said of Petty.

In addition, Stapleton shared gritty, Southern rock-inspired “Midnight Train to Memphis” from his upcoming new album, wowed with an acoustic version of “Whiskey & You,” and covered “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Devil Named Music.”



