MUSIC BOMBSHELL: George Strait Joins Forces with Chris Stapleton in the Recording Studio — Fans Are Going Wild Over the Surprise Collaboration!

Introduction

Released on April 19, 1993, “When Did You Stop Loving Me” was written by Donny Kees and Monty Holmes and performed by George Strait as the third and final single from his soundtrack album Pure Country . Recorded on April 15, 1992, the song embodies Strait’s signature neotraditional country and honky‑tonk style. Though it didn’t reach the top of the charts, it peaked at No. 6 on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Canada’s RPM Country Tracks charts.

Pure Country served as both a soundtrack and a film starring George Strait, marking a pivotal point in his career . The project was produced by Tony Brown alongside Strait, setting the tone for his future albums . As a deep and introspective ballad, “When Did You Stop Loving Me” explores the raw aftermath of a relationship’s collapse, capturing the narrator’s pleading confusion: he desperately questions when and why his partner’s love faded .

Behind the scenes, Donny Kees—who moved to Nashville in 1984—earned acclaim as a songwriter; the song was even nominated for a Music City News Songwriter Award and featured in a Nissan ad campaign . The track’s enduring appeal is also reflected in later covers, including a version by George Jones on his 1998 album It Don’t Get Any Better Than This

Beyond the studio version, Chris Stapleton has delivered stirring live renditions. Notably, at the 2017 ACM Honors, Stapleton paid anthem-like tribute to Strait by performing this song at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium . The emotional weight of the song, combined with Strait’s heartfelt delivery and Stapleton’s tribute performances, has cemented “When Did You Stop Loving Me” as a modern country classic—timeless in both its vulnerability and vocal profundity.

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