Higher cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Higher Songwriting Credits by Chris Stapleton

2023 Mercury Nashville 14 tracks 54 min

Produced by Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton  ·  Engineered by Vance Powell, Gena Johnson

Mercury Nashville CountryBlues RockSouthern Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Chris Stapleton carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by Chris Stapleton 0 tracksoutside writers
Chris Stapleton's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
17
Lyricists
2
Producers
500,000
US Copies Sold
2023
Released
Data Insight

Higher is Chris Stapleton's strongest authorship statement: for the first time on a solo album he wrote or co-wrote every track, with no covers anywhere on the record. His co-writers range from his own band, Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, and Derek Mixon, to his wife Morgane Stapleton and outside names like Miranda Lambert and Dan Wilson, but his pen is on all fourteen songs, the purest expression of his writing-first identity.

Higher is the fifth solo studio album by Chris Stapleton, released in November 2023 and the first to add his wife Morgane Stapleton as a co-producer. Co-produced with Dave Cobb, it leans into a warmer, soul-tinged take on his country and blues-rock sound. It is also the rare Stapleton album with no covers: he wrote or co-wrote every one of its fourteen tracks, often with his touring band and Nashville partners, and with guests like Miranda Lambert and Dan Wilson. The lead single 'White Horse' became one of his signature songs, and the album reached the top of the country chart. Certified gold, it marked the highest songwriting authorship of his solo catalog.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
What Am I Gonna Do
Chris StapletonMiranda Lambert Chris StapletonMiranda Lambert Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
2
South Dakota
Chris StapletonDave CobbDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Chris StapletonDave CobbDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)
3
Trust
Chris StapletonSteve McEwan Chris StapletonSteve McEwan Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
4
It Takes a Woman
Chris StapletonRonnie BowmanJerry Salley Chris StapletonRonnie BowmanJerry Salley Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
5
The Fire
Chris StapletonDave CobbMorgane StapletonDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Chris StapletonDave CobbMorgane StapletonDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
6
Think I'm in Love with You
Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)
7
Loving You on My Mind
Chris StapletonKendell MarvelTim James Chris StapletonKendell MarvelTim James Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
8
White Horse
Chris StapletonDan Wilson Chris StapletonDan Wilson Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
9
Higher
Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)
10
The Bottom
Chris StapletonLee Thomas Miller Chris StapletonLee Thomas Miller Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
11
The Day I Die
Chris StapletonCarolyn Dawn Johnson Chris StapletonCarolyn Dawn Johnson Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
12
Crosswind
Chris StapletonDave CobbDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Chris StapletonDave CobbDerek MixonJ.T. Cure Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
13
Weight of Your World
Chris StapletonTim LarssonTobias LundgrenJohan Fransson Chris StapletonTim LarssonTobias LundgrenJohan Fransson Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)Morgane Stapleton (Background Vocals)
14
Mountains of My Mind
Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton Dave CobbChris Stapleton Chris Stapleton (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 17 contributors

CS
Chris Stapleton
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album14 written
DC
Dave Cobb
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
DM
Derek Mixon
Writer
On this album3 written
JC
J.T. Cure
Writer
On this album3 written
CD
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Writer
On this album1 written
DW
Dan Wilson
Writer
On this album1 written
JS
Jerry Salley
Writer
On this album1 written
JF
Johan Fransson
Writer
On this album1 written
KM
Kendell Marvel
Writer
On this album1 written
LT
Lee Thomas Miller
Writer
On this album1 written
ML
Miranda Lambert
Writer
On this album1 written
MS
Morgane Stapleton
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Higher

Who wrote Chris Stapleton's Higher?
Chris Stapleton wrote or co-wrote all fourteen tracks. It is the rare Stapleton album with no covers, his most fully authored solo record.
Are there any covers on Higher?
No. Unlike his earlier albums, Higher contains no covers; Stapleton has a writing credit on every song.
Who produced Higher?
It was co-produced by Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, and his wife Morgane Stapleton, her first time as a credited co-producer on his album.
What is the lead single from Higher?
'White Horse' was the lead single and became one of Stapleton's signature songs.
Who are the co-writers on Higher?
They include his band members Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, and Derek Mixon, his wife Morgane Stapleton, and outside writers like Miranda Lambert and Dan Wilson.
How well did Higher sell?
It is certified gold in the United States and topped the country albums chart.

Sources

Wikipedia: Higher (Chris Stapleton album) MusicBrainz: Higher (release group) Cover Art Archive: Higher Cover Art Archive: Higher by Chris Stapleton