Chris Stapleton sings new song on Sesame Street with Elmo and friends

Kentucky native Chris Stapleton added an offbeat venue to his latest tour.

After playing two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Stapleton stopped by 123 Sesame Street to sing along with Elmo and friends. Stapleton and a group of Sesame Street residents — Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover and Abby Cadabby — serenaded viewers with a song titled “You’ve Got a Friend in Music.”

“Just remember when you’re sad, or on the best day you’ve ever had, whatever you do, you’ve got a friend in music,” Stapleton and his choir of characters sang to the audience of Sesame Street, which has been on air since 1969.

“I’m singing to you, you’ve got a friend in music,” Stapleton continued, ending the song by himself with a slow strum of his guitar and a wink to the camera.

Stapleton joins a star-studded lineup of country musicians who have appeared on Sesame Street, including Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn who have brought country twang to the popular children’s show, according to Sesame Workshop.

Stapleton, an 11-time Grammy winner and country music star, was born in Lexington and grew up in Johnson County. He’s touring the country on his “All-American Road Show” tour, with upcoming dates in Noblesville, Indiana, Phoenix, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah.

He’ll return to the Bluegrass in September, headlining the Healing Appalachia festival in Ashland alongside fellow Kentuckian and country star Tyler Childers.