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White Horse (Chris Stapleton song)

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"White Horse"
Single by Chris Stapleton
from the album Higher
ReleasedJuly 21, 2023
StudioRCA Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre
Length
  • 4:27 (album version)
  • 3:52 (radio edit)
LabelMercury Nashville
Songwriters
Producers
Chris Stapleton singles chronology
"We Don't Fight Anymore"
(2023)		 "White Horse"
(2023)		 "Think I'm in Love with You"
(2024)

"White Horse" is a song by American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton, released on July 21, 2023 as the lead single from his fifth studio album Higher. It was written by Stapleton and Dan Wilson and produced by Dave Cobb, Chris and Morgane Stapleton. The song stayed at the number two position for two weeks on the Country Airplay chart, behind Nate Smith's "World on Fire". It was nominated and won the Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance and Country Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[1] It also won Single of the Year and Song of the Year at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards.

Background

Chris Stapleton stated via iHeart Country:

"White Horse" was a song that I wrote with my friend, Dan Wilson. We were out in Los Angeles, it was about I think probably late 2012, early 2013, and there was a movie called The Lone Ranger that was coming out, and I walked in the room to write with Dan at his house, and he said, "Hey they're looking for songs for this Lone Ranger movie." I said, "Cool. Let's write something. What do you know about it?" He goes, "Well, we don't really know anything." I was like, "Well, let's just make a song that might sound like that." And so, that's kind of where that came from, and we got to talking about how it would be cool to have a kind of rock-driven-western-themed song, and that's kind of where the song came from and we kind of built it around a guitar riff, really.[2]

Composition

"White Horse" is a blues rock-inspired country song,[3][4][5] featuring an intro of electric guitar riffs and drumbeats.[5] Lyrically, Stapleton tells his imaginary partner that he needs time to open his heart to her[3] and confesses he is not ready to be the man she desires, so she must wait: "If you want a cowboy on a white horse / Ridin' off into the sunset / If that's the kinda love you wanna wait for / Hold on tight, girl, I ain't there yet".[3][4][5][6][7] However, he also wishes this is not the situation.[3]

Music Video

On November 12, 2025, Stapleton released a music video for "White Horse" featuring actor Josh Brolin, model and designer Mae McKagan, actor Tommy Martinez, and guest appearances by Stapleton and his wife and collaborator, Morgane.[8] The video was filmed in Marfa, Texas and directed by Running Bear Films, the western-inspired video features a couple on the run from the law, with the added complexity of a parental relationship between the woman running from the law and the sheriff.[8]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "White Horse"
Organization Year Category Result
Grammy Awards 2024 Best Country Song Won
Best Country Solo Performance Won
Country Music Association Awards 2024 Single of the Year Won
Song of the Year Won
Academy of Country Music Awards 2025 Single of the Year Nominated

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "White Horse"
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Australia Country Hot 50 (The Music)[9] 6
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[10] 14
Canada Country (Billboard)[11] 1
Global 200 (Billboard)[12] 76
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 12
US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[15] 20
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16] 2
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 5

Year-end charts

2023 year-end chart performance for "White Horse"
Chart (2023) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[18] 55
2024 year-end chart performance for "White Horse"
Chart (2024) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 77
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[20] 35
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 23

Certifications

Certifications for White Horse
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. "Chris Stapleton | Artist". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  2. Fisher, Kelly (July 21, 2023). "Chris Stapleton Kicks Off New Era With 'White Horse,' Reveals Album Details". iHeart Country. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  3. Dukes, Billy (July 21, 2023). "Chris Stapleton, 'White Horse' Lyrics Describe a Smoldering Love [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. Nicholson, Jessica (July 21, 2023). "Chris Stapleton Releases 'White Horse,' the First Glimpse at Upcoming Album 'Higher'". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  5. O'Connell, Madeleine (July 25, 2023). "Chris Stapleton's 'White Horse' Makes Historic Debut At Country Radio". Country Now. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  6. Pointer, Flisadam (July 21, 2023). "Chris Stapleton's 'White Horse' Single Is Readying Fans For His Emotionally Raw And Brutally Honest 'Higher' Album". Uproxx. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  7. Wade, Noah (July 27, 2023). "Chris Stapleton – Wild Horse". Euphoria. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  8. Crabtree, Mary Claire (November 12, 2025). "Chris Stapleton Releases Thrilling "White Horse" Music Video Starring Actor, Josh Brolin". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  9. "Countrytown Hot 50 – 2024, Week 21". Countrytown. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  10. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  11. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  12. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  13. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 31, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  14. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  15. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  16. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  17. "Chris Stapleton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  18. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  19. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  20. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  21. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  22. "New Zealand single certifications – Chris Stapleton – White Horse". Radioscope. Retrieved January 7, 2025. Type White Horse in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  23. "British single certifications – Chris Stapleton – White Horse". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type White Horse Chris Stapleton in the "Search:" field.
  24. "American single certifications – Chris Stapleton – White Horse". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 27, 2026.