Chris Stapleton took the fast track to fame when he became a three-time CMA Awards winner in 2015. The singer-songwriter with an instantly-recognizable tenor vocal delivery solidified his star power when he took the stage with Justin Timberlake during the show, introducing him to an audience that extended far beyond country music fans. But long before that now-famous duet ever took place, Chris had another singing partner: his wife, fellow country singer Morgane Stapleton.
Today, Chris and Morgane are one of the most beloved couples in country music. Since the pair first met in 2003, they've continued to create beautiful music (and a beautiful family) together. Between their onstage chemistry, incredible songwriting and otherworldly harmonies, this musical duo became one of the industry's best-known power couples in just a few short years. And like most great country music love stories, Chris and Morgane's enduring marriage all started with a song. Here's everything you need to know about Chris Stapleton's wife and their relationship timeline.
2003: Chris and Morgane Meet
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Before he became an international superstar, Chris was penning hits and album cuts for George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley and more. He was working at a Nashville publishing house, Sea Gayle Music, where a fellow singer-songwriter named Morgane Hayes liked to hang out. Morgane worked at a nearby publishing house and she had a friend who just happened to work with Chris.
Morgane told The Washington Post she would wait around the offices for Chris to show up. Her persistence paid off: "Eventually he asked me to write a song with him, and that ended up being our first date. We didn't get much writing done that night."
October 27, 2007: Chris and Morgane Get Married
From their first date on, the pair was inseparable. They officially tied the knot in October 2007. Morgane once revealed to Rolling Stone that she had the words "You are my sunshine" inscribed on the inside Stapleton's wedding ring prior to their wedding. The couple performs "You Are My Sunshine" at every show, and they recorded a version for producer Dave Cobb's Southern Family compilation album.
2009: They Have Their First Child
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Two years after they married, Chris and Morgane expanded their family with the birth of their first child, a son named Waylon, in 2009. Their second child, a daughter named Ada, arrived about a year later. The Stapletons don't share too much about their children, as they wish for them to lead private lives despite their parents' notoriety.
"I signed up for this, my children did not. I am a very private person, and in that respect, I keep my children out of it. They're children, and they deserve the chance to be children," he once told The Boot.
The protective parents typically keep their children out of the public eye, though they're occasionally featured on Morgane's Instagram page. However, Chris and Morgane's oldest son and daughter, Waylon and Ada, made a rare appearance at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards. Chris was named Male Artist of the Year that night, and his children adorably jumped out of their seats to celebrate their dad when he was announced as the winner.
2013: A Trip Inspires Stapleton's Breakout Country Record
After Chris' father passed away in 2013, Morgane suggested they take a road trip from Phoenix back to Nashville in a 1979 Jeep Cherokee. The trip ended up being the inspiration for Stapleton's debut solo album Traveller.
The country singer said nearly every song on Traveller was handpicked from his catalog by Morgane. The album swept the 2015 CMA awards, where the couple was further catapulted into the spotlight for their "Tennessee Whiskey" collaboration with Justin Timberlake.
2016: The Couple Start Their Charitable Endeavor
Chris and Morgane Stapleton don't just bring joy to country listeners with their music, but the two also do their best to contribute to society. They started a charity called Outlaw State of Mind in 2016, which supports "causes that are close to their heart."
October 2017: They Share They Are Expecting Twins
Chris and Morgane weren't done expanding their family with the birth of their second child. On October 30, 2017, Morgane shared an Instagram post celebrating their 10-year anniversary, and within it, she revealed they are expecting two more babies.
"14 years, 2 babies, & 2 more on the way," she wrote. "Happy 10 year anniversary babe! You make my whole world go round."
In an interview with Today, Stapleton said he certainly wasn't expecting the news that he and Morgane were having twins.
"I think I laughed for about 20 minutes straight when they told us," he told host Willie Geist. "I was just shocked."
April 15, 2018: Chris and Morgane Welcome Twins
In April of 2018, Chris and Morgane welcomed their twin boys. The babies arrived earlier than they were expecting, and the couple had to miss the 2018 ACM Awards due to their arrival. The exciting news was announced by Reba McEntire during the show. She took the stage to accept Stapleton's award for Album of the Year on his behalf, and she shared the news with the in-person and TV audience.
"Those little rascals came a little bit early ... Hot off the press! ... Twin boys," she said.
A couple days later, Morgane shared a photo of the twins and revealed that they were born a month early and spent a week in a NICU.
"Thank you for all the love! We're so grateful to finally be home with our sweet family," she wrote alongside a sweet photo of her holding the babies. "We would like to say a special thank you to all the incredible nurses & doctors at Centennial Women's & Children's Hospital in Nashville. At more than a month early, we had a week long stay in the nicu & the incredible people there kept our boys healthy & happy. Words cannot express our gratitude for you all & what you did for our family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!"
November 2018: Stapleton Announces Another Pregnancy
Seven months after the birth of their twins, Stapleton revealed that they were expecting yet another baby. During a show at New York City's Madison Square Garden in November 2018, the singer dropped the news.
"Some of you may know that we have four children," he said, according to People. "We just had twins, about seven months ago. Now there's four for us, but we're gonna make it five!"
May 2019: They Become a Family of Five
In May 2019, Chris and Morgane welcomed their fifth child — a boy. They did not share the baby's exact birth date, but it was some time around Mother's Day. They also haven't shared their fourth son's name, but Morgane has posted a few photos of the little one.
"The most perfect Mother's day," she captioned the first photo introducing their new baby. "I wish all you Mama's the happiest of days today!"
October 2022: They Celebrate Their 15th Anniversary
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Chris and Morgane marked a huge milestone in their relationship in 2022 when they celebrated their 15th Wedding Anniversary. Morgane shared a simple post on Instagram for the occasion, writing, "You're a keeper. Happy 15th, babe!" She also shared a few photos: one of Stapleton at home in a funny hat, one from their wedding day, and a sweet selfie of the two of them.
Stapleton also shared an adorable post on his page. He wrote, "15 years. I love you more today than I ever have."
Happy anniversary, Morgane!"
Country stars, musical partners, and, most importantly, a devoted husband and wife—Chris and Morgane Stapleton are proof that country music isn't just about heartbreak. This pair has a beautiful love story indeed.
This story was originally published in 2018. It was updated in November of 2023.
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