Watch Chris Stapleton Cover a Kris Kristofferson Classic While Playing a Guitar Once Owned by Hank Williams

Earlier this week, Marty Stuart donated a collection of more than 20,000 country music artifacts to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Among those artifacts were more than 100 instruments previously owned by some of the most historically significant artists in the genre. During a ceremony celebrating the donation, a few current country stars brought those instruments to the stage. For instance, Chris Stapleton played a guitar previously owned by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams during his performance.

Many layers of country music history came together when Stapleton took the stage at the CMHoF’s Ford Theater. He played a Martin D-45 owned by both Cash and Williams while he sang Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me.” The performance starts at the 24:49 mark in the video below.

[RELATED: Marty Stuart Donates His Massive Collection of Country Music Artifacts to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]

Backed by a group of time-tested musicians—Mike Bub (bass), Shawn Camp (acoustic guitar), Charlie Cushman (banjo), Jimmy Stewart (dobro), Johnny Warren (fiddle), and Jeff White (mandolin)—Stapleton nailed the country-gospel classic. Is soulful voice was the perfect fit for the song that saw Kristofferson crying out to God for help.

Chris Stapleton Covers Kris Kristofferson’s Biggest Hit

“Why Me” isn’t just a great country-gospel song. It was also Kristofferson’s lone No. 1 single as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also peaked at No. 16 on the publication’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, giving Kristofferson a crossover hit.

Kristofferson wrote the song and released it as the third and final single from his 1973 album Jesus Was a Capricorn. The original recording featured backing vocals from Rita Coolidge and Larry Gatlin. Kristofferson would later marry Coolidge. Additionally, Gatlin’s song “Help Me (Lord)” inspired him to write “Why Me.”

Marty Stuart’s Generous Donation

According to a press release, the Marty Stuart Collection represents 100 years of country music history. It includes more than 100 instruments, 1,000 pieces of stage wear and clothing, and several original song manuscripts, among other priceless items. These items were once owned by such greats as Jimmy Rodgers, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline. It also includes photographs taken by Stuart over the years.

Pieces from the collection will be on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Sing My Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present public exhibition.

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