Chris Stapleton Passes on Bizarre Australian Concert Tradition

Chris Stapleton isn’t taking part in one of Australia’s most infamous concert traditions.

The 10-time Grammy winner, who is currently on his first-ever tour of the country, has made it clear that he won’t be doing a shoey—drinking beer from a shoe—despite the custom being a fan favorite at major performances.

“I’ve heard about this. I asked somebody before I went on for the first night, ‘Is there anything that I should be prepared for?’” Stapleton said according to news.com.au.

“And then they’re like, ‘Yes, a shoey. They’ll want you to drink beer out of a shoe’. And I said I will graciously decline to do that. But no one has asked me to do that yet and maybe this interview will make someone want to do that. I don’t know. But I’m probably going to decline that request.

“I mean is there some kind of penalty if I don’t do it? Are they going to throw things at me?”

The country star joins a growing list of artists who have opted out of the tradition, which has been embraced by performers like Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen. While Stapleton remains appreciative of his Australian fans, he’s keeping the focus on his music rather than sideline antics.

Stapleton’s tour has been a massive success, with tickets selling out in minutes. His impact on the country music scene has been undeniable, with five No.1 albums and collaborations with Adele, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. His latest single, “Think I’m In Love With You”, saw renewed success after he performed a special version with Dua Lipa at the Country Music Awards in Texas.

In between sold-out shows, Stapleton has been making time to promote his Traveller Whiskey, which has just launched in Australia.

Partnering with Kentucky distillery Buffalo Trace, he emphasized that this isn’t just a celebrity-branded product, but a passion project.

“I don’t look at it as a side hustle, this is a company that makes some of the finest bourbons in the world and a bottle of something that master distiller Harlen Wheatley has made has been in the studio for every record I’ve ever made,” he said.

“This is a point of passion for me and you know it’s a bit of a hindrance, the perception that it’s a side hustle that somebody makes something somewhere and they get a celebrity to slap their name on it But I’m not into that and I really believe in what’s in the bottle and the people that are making the whiskey and they’re very serious about it and I am too.”

Stapleton’s Australian tour continues with back-to-back sold-out performances at Brisbane Entertainment Centre before heading to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on March 4 and 5.