Chris Stapleton Gives This Australian Tradition the Boot Ahead of Tour Stop

Mar. 15, 2025

Chris Stapleton in Nashville in November 2024.Photo:Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage

Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage

Chris Stapletonwon’t be a shoo-in for this Australian tour tradition.

Ahead of his tour stops in Australia, the country star told revealed that he that he wouldn’t participate in a “shoey,” which is when beer is drunk out of a shoe. PerThe New York Times, the drinker is meant to wear the wet shoe for the rest of the evening.

Stapleton, 46, will “graciously decline” participating in the tour tradition that has become customary. “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, per Australian news outletnews.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.”

Chris Stapleton in New York City in September 2024.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Stapleton added, “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.”

The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer also joked about any backlash he might get for saying no to the likely unhygienic trend. “I mean is there some kind of penalty if I don’t do it? Are they going to throw things at me?”

Luke Combs,Lainey Wilson, andMorgan Wallenare among the country singers who have done a “shoey” on tour.Harry Styles even did one in 2023.

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“I feel like a different person,” Styles, 31, also said. “I feel ashamed of myself. It feels so personal. Such an intimate moment to be shared with so many people.”

Lizzo participated in a shoeyin 2023 as well. After fans shouted at her during a Sydney show to drink from a shoe, she obliged, pouring tequila into her own boot. “A reminder that this is f––ed up,” she said before sipping from her shoe.

Chris Stapleton in Nashville in November 2024.Jason Davis/WireImage

Jason Davis/WireImage

Stapleton has eighttour datesset in Australia and New Zealand for February and March before he performs a series of concerts stateside in May, starting in Philadelphia. Stapleton will conclude his All-American Road Show Tour in October in Hollywood, Fla.Joining him throughout his U.S. tour stops are Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Marcus King, Nikki Lane, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose, Brittney Spencer, Allen Stone, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and The War and Treaty.

source: people.com