Chris Stapleton Ties Gregg Allman to the Whipping Post at Skyville Live Taping

Southern Rock icon Gregg Allman may have been the honoree at a star-studded tribute concert in Berry Hil Friday night, but to the surprise of absolutely no one, country music's latest red-hot burly breakout star Chris Stapleton stole the show, a taping for the Emmy-nominated Web series Skyville Live. Camera phones popped up like LCD prairie dogs when the recent CMA Awards Seabiscuit and current multi-Grammy nominee joined Allman and blues legend Taj Mahal for a take on the Blind Willie McTell classic “Statesboro Blues," which Mahal and The Allman Brothers Band both cut their own classic versions of in 1968 and 1971 respectively. 

“He has a lot of energy, this young man,” Mahal told the Scene of Stapleton at a pre-show press call. “He’s ready to go and it’s nice to see. Because sometimes you wonder what’s going to happen in Nashville. You put up with the milquetoast for a while, then somebody comes along and says, ‘Enough of this!’ And boom! He’s that guy.”

Mahal's own memorable version of “Statesboro Blues” appeared on his 1968 self-titled debut. But it was Gregg Allman’s late brother Duane who turned the song into a cranked-up slide-guitar spellbinder when it opened up the Allmans' game-changing double-live LP At Fillmore East three years later.

Grammy-winning “Girl Crush” hit-makers Little Big Town again proved why they’re worthy of their many accolades with a rendition of “Midnight Rider” that made the haunting song of bottom-dollar desperation even more so with spot-on, four-part vocal harmonies. LBT ditched the house band’s muted trumpet from “Midnight Rider” for a church organ performing their contemporary slow-dance staple “Girl Crush,” drawing the audience (heavily composed of Music Row insiders) to its feet. 

“We knew about Chris Stapleton before you did,” vintage Allman Brothers-tee-sporting LBT co-singer Karen Fairchild bantered, joining the chorus of country luminaries singing Stapleton's praises these days. “I know y’all did too, but now the world knows!”

The moment of the night came when Stapleton took center stage for an absolutely stunning performance of the Allman Brother’s slow-grinding blues-rock masterpiece “Whipping Post.” It's a demanding song that’s brutally unforgiving to timid performers, but Stapleton is not — repeat: not — a timid performer.

Perhaps he takes his confidence from his cowboy hat’s magnificent feather headband, or his beard of glory that, among other inspiring qualities, could give many an East Nashville hipster something to aspire toward. Or, perhaps closer to the truth, his confidence comes from the many pre-solo-success chart-toppers he penned for the likes of Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, George Strait and Josh Turner. It’s conceivable that it comes from the three Grammy nominations he received earlier this month. But most likely, it comes from his road-tested talent and years of standing in front of a microphone — either as his own entity or as singer for bluegrass faves The SteelDrivers — in venues of varying degrees of repute, cleanliness and payouts. Whatever forces forged Chris Stapleton the up-and-comer into Chris Stapleton the lumbering country badass, the results were apparent as he belted his way through “Whipping Post,” reliably captivating the crowd much the way he did dueting with Justin Timberlake on "Tennessee Whiskey" at the CMA Awards last month. 

“It’s wonderful, man,” Gregg Allman told the Scene. “There’s almost no words to describe how incredible the feeling is to have your peers come and honor you and your songs.”

Friday's tribute show was a hometown gig of sorts for Allman, who attended the now-defunct Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tenn.

“I was born at St. Thomas Hospital and grew up in Belle Meade,” Allman tells the Scene. “Not the real wealthy section; we lived on the outskirts.”

He recalled a recent visit to his Nashville childhood home.

“I went out to my old house, and met the guy who lives here now,” he says. “And he let me come in. As the matter of fact, he asked me if I wanted to buy it!”

The Allman tribute was the third installment of Skyville Live. Organizers hinted that enduring, endearing ’80s icon Cyndi Lauper would headline an installment of the show next month. Previous performers include Jason Isbell, Gladys Knight, Kris Kristofferson, Lady Antebellum and Martina McBride.