Eric Church

At 47 years old, Eric Church has this physical status:

Kenneth Eric Church (born May 3, 1977) is an American country music singer-songwriter.

He has released six studio albums through Capitol Nashville since 2005.

His debut album, 2006's Sinners Like Me, produced three singles on the Billboard country charts including the top 20 hits "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines", and "Guys Like Me". His second album, 2009's Carolina, produced three more singles: "Smoke a Little Smoke" and his first top 10 hits, "Love Your Love the Most" and "Hell on the Heart".

2011's Chief, his first No. 1 album, gave him his first two No. 1 singles, "Drink in My Hand" and "Springsteen", and the hits "Homeboy", "Creepin'", and "Like Jesus Does".

His third No. 1 single was "The Only Way I Know", which he, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan recorded for Aldean's album Night Train. A fourth album, The Outsiders, was released in February 2014.

It produced five new singles between 2013–15 with the title track, "Give Me Back My Hometown", "Cold One", "Talladega" and "Like a Wrecking Ball".

"Talladega" and "Give Me Back My Hometown" each reached number one on the Country Airplay chart.

Eric Church got his sixth No. 1 hit with Keith Urban in May 2015 with the single "Raise 'Em Up".

His fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood, was released in November 2015 and went on to produce two number one singles with "Record Year" and "Round Here Buzz".

On July 13, 2018, Church released the first single and title track of his newest album Desperate Man, which was released in October 2018.

Early life

Church was born on May 3, 1977, in Granite Falls, North Carolina (Dudley Shoals area), to Ken and Rita Church. Church worked with his father at Clayton Marcus, a furniture upholstery company where his father was president. At 13, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time. He played many Jimmy Buffett cover songs and a few of his own original songs in some dive bars. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage. For a few years, the band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. The band "Mountain Boys" consisted of his college roommate, brother, and a fellow guitarist.

Before moving to Nashville, Eric graduated from South Caldwell High School and then Appalachian State University with a degree in marketing. Upon graduation, Church became engaged to a Spanish teacher in the town of Lenoir, North Carolina. The future bride's father attempted to persuade Church into a corporate career, which he rejected as an aspiring musician (and later referenced in his song "What I Almost Was" from his debut album). She broke the engagement and he headed to Nashville with his father's financial backing. His father also provided the opportunity to make contacts, and more importantly, time to focus on developing his songwriting ability.

Personal life

On January 8, 2008, Church married music publisher Katherine Blasingame at West Glow Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. At the wedding, Church performed "You Make It Look So Easy", a song he wrote for Blasingame. On October 3, 2011, their first son, Boone McCoy Church, was born; he is the subject of Church's song "Three Year Old". On February 15, 2015, their second son, Tennessee Hawkins "Hawk" Church was born. Their home (along with Church's "man cave"), located in Nashville, was featured in an episode of CMT's Cribs.

The Chief Cares Fund is a foundation organized by Eric and Katherine Church in 2013. The non-profit organization has been used to help underprivileged families in Tennessee, North Carolina, and even as far as helping orphans in Nepal receive clothing, proper bedding, and schooling. The foundation has also delivered Bibles to Haiti and helps fund Humane Society no-kill animal shelters. People can donate to the foundation on Eric Church's website by simply donating or by purchasing exclusive Chief Cares Platinum Tickets to his concerts where money from the tickets go to the Chief Cares Fund.

Church wears his signature aviator sunglasses as a result of wearing contact lenses. When his career was getting started, he was forced to deal with the heat from the stage lights drying out his contacts. As he began performing in larger venues, his aviators and Von Dutch denim trucker hat became his trademark.

Church has become an avid advocate for the use of cannabis, reflected in songs such as "Smoke a Little Smoke"; at the time of that song's release, Church's record label urged him not to release the song, though it had minor success as a single. Church has also referenced marijuana use in other songs like "The Joint" and "I'm Gettin' Stoned", and has even been the subject of a marijuana joke at the 49th ACM Awards where Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan referred to Eric Church as the Willie Nelson for the new-country generation and compared Eric Church's dressing room to a cannabis dispensary.

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Music career

Terri Clark co-wrote Terri Clark's 2005 album "The World Needs a Drink" and Dean Miller's "Whiskey Wings" on his 2005 album Platinum.

He started working with various producers. Capitol Nashville sparked an enthusiasm and watched him perform, but no one was yet to be convinced enough to commit a recording deal. "They" did not think his music was "interesting" enough, according to the autumn House-Tallant. After starting to work with producer Jay Joyce, the record company's attitude changed. "Eric scored a meeting with Nashville heavyweight Arthur Buenahora, a Sony Music publisher who has also signed Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert," Doyle says. After watching the film The Green Mile," Church wrote "lightning," a ballad he wrote after watching the film "The Green Mile." (p. 5) The good sound and direction the two artists created together in Washington, Tennessee, convinced Capitol Nashville that he was ready. "How 'Bout You," his first album, debuted at No. 1. 14 on Hot Country Songs and opened his debut album Sinners Like Me. For the first time in April 2006, he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.

"Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me," the album's other two singles, made it to the top 20 as well. The fourth single, the title track, debuted at No. 4. 51. Despite not being released as a single, an additional track from the album, "Lightning," was turned into a music video. The song was written shortly after arriving in Nashville and inspired by the film The Green Mile. Following the album's success, Church toured with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. Despite repeated warnings, Churchill was banned from opening for Rascal Flatts after consistently performing for longer than his allotted time. Taylor Swift, who was just starting her career, was able to replace him. Church and Swift chatted with Swift about how they would prosper on the tour and joked that she could give him her first gold record as a thank you. Swift later made her first gold record on the Flatts tour with a note attached. "Thanks for playing too long and too loud on the Flatts tour." I sincerely appreciate it. Taylor is a student at the University of On Friday, I was asked to join the army in a new way.

In 2008, Church released "His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)" as its fifth single to country radio. It debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In early 2008, 55 people reached their record of No. 8 by the end of the year, and that the No. 1 spot in the world reached its high point of No. 557. In August, there were 46 people on the planet. "His Kind of Money" was originally planned as the lead single on a new album but instead was featured as a bonus track on albums sold at Best Buy.

"Love Your Love the Most" was his first single from his second album Carolina and debuted in early 2009 and was the first single from his second album Carolina. During a "release party" performance on the night before the official release, Church and Capitol Records distributed copies of the album on the campus of Church's alma mater, Appalachian State University. Carolina was entirely composed of songs that he co-wrote on his debut album, and it was entirely composed of songs he co-wrote. For the first time, "Love Your Love the Most" led Church to the top ten, peaking at No. 1. In September 2009, the number ten in September was down from ten. "Hell on the Heart," the album's second single, debuted in October 2009 and then debuted in the top ten in May 2010. "Smoke a Little Smoke" was the third single from "Carolina" and was the third single.

Church migrated to EMI Records Nashville in June 2010, becoming their second artist. Caldwell County, a four-song EP, was released on January 14, 2011.

In early 2011, the church broadcast "Homeboy" to country radio. The album Chief, produced by Jay Joyce, debuted at No. 66 on July 26, 2011, debuting at No. 1 on the charts. Both Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200 are on display at 1 on both Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200. In its first week, the album was out of 145,000 copies. Chief was named a nominee for the 2012 Grammy Awards for Best Country Album on November 30, 2011. "Drink in My Hand" became his first No. in January 2012. There was only one single one. "Springsteen" was the third single from Chief for two years in February 2012. Church said in an interview with an American Songwriter that the song was about "a passion affair that takes place in a two-person amphitheater." It didn't happen with Springsteen, but it did happen with another artist." The song progressed to become a No. 1 in the United States. The Billboard Hot 100's first Top 20 single as well as his first Top 20 single. On July 16, 2012, the album's fourth single, "Cheepin'," was released to country radio. With Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, Church lent his vocals for a song titled "The Only Way I Know." This song appears on Aldean's album Night Train, from which it was released as the second single. "Like Jesus Does" Chief's fifth single was released in January 2013 and peaked at number six on the Country Airplay chart in June 2013.

Church revealed in September 2012 that he planned to release his first live album in 2013, which would feature recordings of performances at the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 8 and 9, 2012. The live album's title was revealed on February 8 as Caught in the Act, with a release date set for April 9. In 2013, Churchill said he plans to devote some time away from music to concentrate on his songwriting and musical direction. The 2012 CMA Awards in November announced that Church's album Chief received Album of the Year. In November, it was revealed that Church would co-headline Kenny Chesney's No Shoes Nation Tour with Chesney, Zac Brown Band, and Eli Young Band. Eric was named as one of the CMT Artists of the Year Awards in December. Kid Rock accepted his award, and Metallica's James Hetfield sent him a video message of congratulations.

"The Outsiders" was the Church's new single on October 22, 2013. On February 11, 2014, his fourth studio album, also titled The Outsiders, was released. This album, as well as Church's previous three albums, was produced by Jay Joyce and released on the EMI Records Nashville label. "Give Me Back My Hometown" was the follow-up to "Give Me Back My Hometown" in January 2014. This single debuted at number one on the Country Airplay chart, marking his fourth overall. In June 2014, "Cold One" was released, followed by "Talladega" in September. In February 2015, the latter debuted at number one on the Country Airplay chart, the first in the country. On March 9, 2015, the fifth single, "Like a Wrecking Ball," was introduced to country radio.

Mr. Misunderstood, Church's latest surprise album, arrived in the mailboxes of his church choir members on November 3, 2015. The album became available on iTunes the following day. There was no fanfare and no commercial advertisements on the album, making it a surprise. It was directed by Jay Joyce and executive producer Arturo Buenahora, Jr. On November 9, 2015, the first single, the title track, was released on radio. The track's first live performance and debut at the 2015 CMA Awards was the first live performance and debut of the track. The album reached No. 1 on the charts. On February 6, 2016, there were 15 on the airplay chart. The album's second single, "Record Year," is the album's second single. "Three Years Old," the album's last track, honors all the lessons Church has learned from his three-year-old son, who was also credited with naming Church's guitar "ButterBean" in honor. The album was produced with the word "ButterBean" by the Church. At the 2016 ACM Awards, Mr. Misunderstood was nominated for Album of the Year, and the year's title track was named for Video of the Year. Mr. Misunderstood is one of ten self-written and co-written books on the subject of liberty, lessons learned, and loyalty. Jason Hall of St. Charles in Nashville produced the album. In March 2016, "Record Year" was announced on radio, reaching No. 1; In August 2016, there was 1 on the Country Airplay. "Kill a Word," the album's third single, was released on August 29, 2016. Church was selected as one of 30 artists to appear on "Forever Country" in a mash-up version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "On the Road Again," and "I Will Always Love You" which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards.

With his Holdin' My Own Tour, he achieved his highest solo tour to date, with 62 shows in 61 towns from January to May 2017. The tour was kicked off by two sold-out shows at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with the Friday night performance smashing the arena's capacity record before being one-upped by the Saturday night show, which had a record of 19,020 people.

Church performed a song he had written for Sonny Melton, who died in the Las Vegas shooting tragedy on October 4, 2017. "Why Not Me" was a hit song at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

In November 2017, the Church of St. Louis brought a limited run vinyl box set titled 61 Days in Church, which will be published in monthly installments through 2018. The collection features 124 tracks, all of which were recorded live on his 2017 Holdin' My Own Tour. With the exception of the final two Nashville shows, which feature three songs from each night, there are two songs from each tour date. In September 2017, he had already started releasing the album in stages for free on digital streaming platforms.

On July 12, 2018, Church revealed on social media that his sixth album, Desperate Man, would be released on October 5, 2018. The following day, he unveiled the album's first single and title track.

Church received the Entertainer of the Year Award at the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 11, 2020.

At Super Bowl LV, he appeared on "The Star-Spangled Banner" alongside Jazmine Sullivan.

On April 20, 2021, Church released Heart and Soul [Heart & Soul [Eric Church album] and Soul [And|&]] on April 20, preceded by the album [Heart & Soul (Eric Church album) and Soul [And]]. In total, the three-album set contains 24 songs, including singles Heart On Fire and "Hell of a View."

In October 2021, after two of his bandmates tested positive for COVID-19, Church performed two solo concerts on his The Gather Again Tour in October 2021. On October 8 and September 9, the solo shows were in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on October 9. On February 22, 2022, Church was announced to compete at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on March 7, 2022.

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