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Singer Chris Stapleton releases ‘Arkansas,’ a tribute to the Natural State

Singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton debuted “Arkansas” during his All-American Road Show Tour last year, and on Friday he released the studio version of the hard-charging song.

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Stapleton, 42, said his wife bought him a car in Oklahoma City last year, KATV reported. He picked up the vehicle and took a road trip through Arkansas en route to Nashville, Tennessee, the television station reported.

“We drove like a bat out of Hell through the Ozark Mountains," Stapleton told KATV. “And that’s what this song is all about.”

The song is part of Stapleton’s fourth album, “Starting Over," which is scheduled to be released Nov. 13, KATV reported.

Stapleton, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, who has been based in Nashville since 2001, co-wrote the song with guitarist Mike Campell of the Heartbreakers.

“Arkansas” includes Campbell on guitar and fellow Heartbreakers member Benmont Tench on piano, Rolling Stone reported. Other members include Stapleton’s core lineup of drummer Derek Mixon and bassist J.T. Cure, the magazine reported.

The song documents Stapleton’s trip through the Natural State, and he references Little Rock, Fayetteville, West Memphis, the White River and the Ozark Mountains, KATV reported.

“Arkansas” is the third song released from “Starting Over,” following the title track and “Cold,” Rolling Stone reported.