Chris Stapleton’s “Fire Away” was announced as the winner of the CMA Award for Video of the Year on Good Morning America this morning (Nov. 2) from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the site of tonight’s 50th annual CMA Awards.
The powerful video, directed by Tim Mattia, addresses the growing concern over mental health awareness. “Fire Away” is part of Chris’ award-winning debut album, Traveller, and the singer/songwriter teamed with the Campaign to Change Direction for the project.
Chris plays a bartender in the video, while actors Ben Foster and Margarita Levieva deliver moving performances as a married couple with what seems like a perfect life. They’re happy in the beginning after moving into a new home and beginning to fix it up, but something begins to shift in Margarita’s character.
The Campaign to Change Direction says there are five signs of someone who is suffering emotionally, and they’re clearly shown in the “Fire Away” video: change in personality, agitation, withdrawl, decline in personal care and hopelessness. Through a heartbreaking conclusion, it shows just how serious mental health issues can be.
Check out the video below.
