A Powerhouse CMA Performance: Chris Stapleton and Bassist J.T. Cure Bring ‘Bad As I Used to Be’ to Life
Chris Stapleton shook up the 2025 CMA Awards with a standout run through “Bad As I Used to Be” and bassist J T Cure came away as one of the quiet stars of the moment. The cameras kept finding him throughout the song which almost never happens for the bass world and it felt like a small victory for all of us who live in the low end.
Cure laid down a steady wide pocket that gave the whole band its lift. His Guild Starfire bass through a Matchless setup delivered a warm growl that filled the room with this earthy weight that you could feel in your chest. Every note had shape and intention and he kept the whole tune moving with a confident flow that locked the groove in place.
A memorable moment for Stapleton and an unexpectedly great night for bass fans who are not used to seeing that much attention on the low end during a prime time awards show.
No Treble CEO Jody Miller is a Chicago-based bassist, guitarist, engineer, and producer best known for his bass gear demo videos and as the co-host of The Bass Nerds podcast.
