David Allan Coe introduced “Tennessee Whiskey” to the world in 1981, marking a significant moment in country music. However, its resurgence came decades later when Chris Stapleton reinterpreted the song with a soulful R&B twist on his 2015 debut album “Traveller”. This interpretation sparked a wave of social media covers and sparked a trend in which musicians gave their own interpretation of Stapleton’s execution.
In 2017, a standout cover was created that transformed a Home Depot parking lot into an unexpected stage. Kris Jones, who was encouraged by his daughter Dayla to show off his vocal prowess to her friends, delivered a rousing rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey”. The performance was captured in a video that quickly captivated audiences and garnered an incredible 70 million views across social media platforms in just 14 months, according to Country Music Family.
What made Kris Jones’ performance so special was not only his singing talent, but also the warm dynamic between father and daughter. Her touching appearance, which was initially shared on Facebook, caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who invited her to appear on her popular talk show “The Ellen Show”. This exposure catapulted Jones into the spotlight, where his 2018 EP featuring another popular Chris Stapleton song further fueled his meteoric rise in the digital realm.
So “Tennessee Whiskey” continues to weave its way through the fabric of modern music through its various versions and covers, resonating with every interpretation and every viral moment it inspires.