I Am Somewhat in Love With Both Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton After This CMA Duet

By Jia Tolentino | November 5, 2015 | 7:35pm

Entertainment

Last night, at the CMA Awards, rising country star Chris Stapleton and former Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake performed a duet, in which Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” slides into Timberlake’s “Drink You Away.” It’s so good I am feeling actual longing in my heart right now, likely related to my overpowering weakness for watching men display unconscious manual competence (in this case both of them), or specifically for watching men (in this case Timberlake) play guitar with the type of specific off-handedness that comes from doing it behind the scenes.

Uh, not to digress from the video, though! These songs go together perfectly; Stapleton and Timberlake are sharp, warm, and along with the whole band—maybe the whole room, it seems like—in a halo of tight, generous synergy. Please enjoy watching this 17 times.