Sure, Kentucky still loves Chris Stapleton. But what does country music think of him?

It’s easy to get a little jaded around these parts when it comes to Chris Stapleton. The Lexington-born, Staffordsville-reared song stylist has been viewed as a new generational torchbearer for traditional country music ever since his debut album, “Traveller,” shook up the charts in 2015.

Since then, the sense of pride Kentucky has shown Stapleton has not abated. Three years after “Traveller” got to travelling, he sold out Rupp Arena lickety-split. Then in 2019, he announced plans to headline the first full concert to be staged at Kroger Field. That was put on the books for April 2020. Then April 2021, thanks to COVID-19. Then again to this coming April, setting a record of sorts for anticipatory build-up for a show.

The bottom line is Stapleton has always been a hero on home turf. Even before, “Traveller” hit, he was igniting club audiences at the old Cosmic Charlie’s on Woodland Ave. with his band of electric brethren known as The Jompson Brothers, spreading the word on a soul-stirred country vocal sound that began gaining national attention with the initial lineup of the progressive bluegrass-and-more band The Steeldrivers.

With the stadium concert now looking like it will survive the hopefully retreating Omicron phase of Covidmania, the swelling popularity that Stapleton has amassed regionally is as strong and passionate as ever.

One can’t help thinking, though, how the world outside the country music Mecca of Kentucky still feels about Stapleton. Sure, everyone was on board once “Traveller” exploded. There were appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” a transformative performance with Justin Timberlake at the 49th Country Music Association Awards that sent record sales into outer space and enough Grammys, CMA and ACM honors to fill a trophy room.

But what about now? Three albums have followed since “Traveller” – the two volume “From A Room” in 2017 and “Starting Over” in 2020. How is Kentucky’s top country ambassador fairing in the rest of the world these days?

The answer: Just fine, thank you.

Last week, the ACM (Academy of Country Music) handed Stapleton five nominations for its upcoming 57th awards ceremony (to be telecast on March 7). Those will go along with the Grammys that Stapleton is up for at their 64th awards show (which was postponed to April 3 over COVID concerns).

If nothing else, Las Vegas will serve as a second home of sorts for Stapleton this spring. It will be the host city for both events.

Here’s the nomination rundown:

▪ At the ACMs, Stapleton is up for five awards – Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (twice, as artist and producer of “You Should Probably Leave”) and for Video of the Year (for harmony vocals on Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me”). Several of Stapleton’s band and studio crew are also up for individual awards, including guitarist and producer Dave Cobb.

▪ At the Grammys: Stapleton is up for three awards – Best Country Album (“Starting Over”), Best Country Song (“Cold”) and Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave.”)

Okay, now let’s confront the inevitable question. How does an album released in 2020 make Stapleton eligible for so many awards in 2022?

As far as the Grammys are concerned, recordings being considered had to have been issued between Sept. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021. “Starting Over” came out Nov. 13, 2020, so we’re good there.

The ACM situation is a bit foggier. Nominations were considered for recordings released between Jan. 1, 2021 and Nov. 15, 2021. Two categories (Entertainer and Male Artist of the year) aren’t tied to specific recordings, while the single/videos in question surfaced last May (“You Should Probably Leave”) and November (“I Bet You Think About Me,” right under the gun on Nov. 15). So there. Clear as Tennessee Whiskey.

Now that we have the awards delegation covered – and with it, an affirmation that a sizeable chunk of the music industry is still taking Stapleton seriously - what about his peers? Specifically, how do similarly minded artists with their own solemn sense of tradition, view Stapleton in 2022?

Well, one of the very artists Stapleton is bringing with him to the Kroger Field concert on April 23, seems to think very highly of his music. For his forthcoming album, “A Beautiful Time,” Willie Nelson has cut a new tune co-written by Stapleton and veteran Americana songsmith Rodney Crowell. Titled “I’ll Love You Till the Day I Die,” the work is robustly old-fashioned – a gentle acoustic meditation expressed through the calming, conversational demeanor of Nelson’s singing and the patient, acoustic and largely jazz-like phrasing that have long been trademarks of his guitar playing. The tune is the leadoff song and first single from “A Beautiful Time.” The album will be released just after the Lexington show on April 29 – Nelson’s 89th birthday.

We will give the final word on the state of Stapleton’s current country popularity outside of Kentucky to another traditionalist he has shared the stage with - Marty Stuart. Along with Georgia songwriter Brent Cobb, Stuart opened Stapleton’s last Lexington concert – the sold-out Saturday night outing at Rupp Arena in October 2018.

Prior to his January return to the Lexington Opera House, I asked Stuart what he thought of the current state of country music. His answer was politely diplomatic, stating, “It’s a case-by-case thing, like it always has been.” But he didn’t hesitate in naming the first and finest “case” that came to mind.

“If I had to point to one person in the dead center of the parade right now that can do it all and represent it all, it would be Chris Stapleton. He has the goods for the long haul. He is so good. For my money, Chris is your man.”