Chris Stapleton Roars Back with “Bad As I Used To Be” and Fans Say It’s His Rawest Song Yet

Chris Stapleton Unleashes Gritty New Track “Bad As I Used to Be” Ahead of F1 Movie Soundtrack

Chris Stapleton is back with a bang. The country powerhouse has just released “Bad As I Used to Be,” his first solo track since dropping his 2023 album Higher—and fans are already buzzing.

This new release is part of the official soundtrack for the upcoming racing blockbuster F1 starring Brad Pitt. The film follows a veteran Formula One driver coming out of retirement to mentor a rising young talent, according to its IMDb page.

While the full soundtrack won’t debut until the movie hits theaters on June 27, Stapleton’s song is giving fans an early taste of what’s to come—and it’s turning heads.

Written solely by Stapleton himself, “Bad As I Used to Be” is the only country track featured on a lineup packed with global stars like Ed Sheeran, Tate McRae, and BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ. True to form, Stapleton brings the soul, grit, and edge that only he can.

An official visualizer for the song dropped alongside the track, and the comments section lit up with praise. Fans couldn’t get enough of his signature voice and raw delivery.

“His sound is truly one-of-a-kind,” one listener wrote.

Another chimed in: “It’s like the Rolling Stones met the Deep South.”

One fan summed it up perfectly: “Stapleton’s on another level—pure genius.”

With this surprise release, fans are starting to wonder if more music is on the horizon. While no new album has been announced, the door is definitely wide open.

ACM Honors Continue Rolling In for Stapleton

Even without a recent album rollout, Stapleton is still racking up accolades. Earlier this month, he took home Male Artist of the Year at the 2025 ACM Awards—one of six nominations he received that night, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year.

Ready to hear what all the hype is about? Check out “Bad As I Used to Be” below and see why Stapleton continues to stand in a league of his own.