The ACM Awards were somewhat different from many star-studded entertainment events in that 1) almost-canceled Morgan Wallen won an award, define the wokies that want him gone, and 2) one of the stars stayed behind after the event was over to help clean up. That was Chris Stapleton, who won the “Entertainer of the Year” award and then was seen with a leaf blower helping clean up the streamers, as photographed by John Shearer.
Breitbart, reporting on the wonderful, humility-filled moment, said:
Country music star Chris Stapleton stayed behind after the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday to help clean up after winning his first Entertainer of the Year trophy.
The act of humility was captured by photographer John Shearer, who posted a photo of Chris Stapleton wielding a leaf blower following the ceremony at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Stapleton, when he won the entertainer of the year award, said, “By any imaginable metric, I don’t deserve this, but thank you. There are so many other great people in this category. I stand up and I play music. That’s what I try to do every night. I write songs and make records. I’ve never thought of myself as somebody who would win this award.”
An incredible moment, an incredible speech and an even more incredible ⭐️ ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR ⭐️
Congratulations, @chrisstapleton! #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/LBwVl7m5u4
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) May 12, 2023
This isn’t Stapleton’s first time helping out. He did so as well when serious flooding hit Eastern Kentucky. One local called attention to his helping at the time, saying, “Chris Stapleton is loved in eastern Kentucky b/c he’s from Johnson County and he’s immensely talented. But also b/c of this. That’s Chris in the Prestonsburg Walmart buying stuff for folks and cleaning houses in Knott County. David Smith said Chris went unnoticed for awhile. 😀”
Chris Stapleton is loved in eastern Kentucky b/c he’s from Johnson County and he’s immensely talented. But also b/c of this. That’s Chris in the Prestonsburg Walmart buying stuff for folks and cleaning houses in Knott County. David Smith said Chris went unnoticed for awhile. 😀 pic.twitter.com/WbS1dMT2cP
— Phil Paige (@Phil_JKD) August 2, 2022
WKYT added to that in its report on him helping out Kentuckians, saying:
Country music star and Kentucky native Chris Stapleton is helping his home state heal.
His ‘Outlaw State of Kind Fund’ is donating to the Red Cross and Appalachia Crisis fund through the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.
Knott County Schools posted a picture of the singer helping people in one community move items out of a house.
Stapleton, posting about Kentucky on Twitter at the time, said, “Our hearts are with Eastern Kentucky & everyone who has been affected by the devastating floods throughout the region. The Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund is donating funds to the Kentucky Red Cross and Appalachia Crisis Fund to aid those in need.”
“We will be sharing links to additional resources and information, and ask that you please consider a donation to support recovery efforts if you’re able,” he added.
We will be sharing links to additional resources and information, and ask that you please consider a donation to support recovery efforts if you're able.@osok
— Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) July 30, 2022
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video of Stapleton’s ACA speech
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