‘Girl Crush’ Songwriters Used Chris Stapleton’s Old Guitar to Pen Little Big Town Hit

Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" are two of country music's most buzzed-about topics as of late -- but as it turns out, the rising country singer-songwriter and the country quartet's smash hit share more in common than just their awards nominations.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose reveal that the guitar with which they penned "Girl Crush" used to belong to Stapleton, although they didn't discover that fact until after the song had been written.

"We've always used that guitar," Rose explains. "I got it from Stapleton, like, six years ago ... Maybe more. Ten years ago?"

Lindsey, who says that she had no idea that the guitar was at one point Stapleton's, quips, "I'm stealing that damn thing."

While the tune's success is likely due more to McKenna, Lindsey and Rose's writing skills and Little Big Town's delivery, it's entirely possible that the instrument is some sort of good luck charm. "Girl Crush" stayed at the top of the charts for a record-breaking 13 weeks and has sold more than one million copies. Its a success made that much sweeter because of — and a success at least partially propelled by — the controversy surrounding the sexy single, with some radio stations allegedly refusing to play the song because of its perceived message.

“I think we got a tweet from Boy George. We definitely never heard from him before!” Kimberly Schlapman reveals. “So many people, in the shows, we’re seeing a diverse crowd who comes to the show. And the way they sing “Girl Crush,” louder than I could ever sing it, it’s really thrilling. So, yeah, it’s brought us to places that we could only dream of.”

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