Breaking: Eric Church Pulls Out of GRAMMY Awards Appearance Due to Illness
“I’ve tried everything possible to be there in person…”
Eric Church; Photo by Anthony D’Angio
Eric Church will not be attending the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The country superstar shared the news with fans on social media, revealing that he fell ill and is unable to make the trip to the ceremony.
“I’m so disappointed to miss the GRAMMY Awards tonight due to illness,” Church wrote. “I’ve tried everything possible to be there in person and unfortunately I just can’t do it.”
Despite his absence, Church took a moment to wish his fellow nominees well, adding, “I wish best of luck to all the nominees and respect greatly what this honor means and stands for in the music community.”
The news comes shortly after the launch of the second leg of his Free the Machine Tour, which kicked off in late January at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. Church is currently scheduled to return to the road on February 5 with a stop in Omaha, Nebraska, and remains hopeful he’ll be well enough to make that date.
“I’m gonna rest up and see everybody in Omaha next week,” he said in closing.
Church is nominated for Best Contemporary Country Album for Evangeline Vs. The Machine, alongside Patterns by Kelsea Ballerini, Snipe Hunter by Tyler Childers, Beautifully Broken by Jelly Roll, and Postcards From Texas by Miranda Lambert. The winner will be announced during the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards broadcast later this evening.
The GRAMMYs will feature performances by Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Andrew Watt, Brandy Clark, Chad Smith, Clipse, Duff McKagan, Justin Bieber, KATSEYE, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Lukas Nelson, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Olivia Dean, Pharrell Williams, Post Malone, Reba McEntire, Sabrina Carpenter, Slash, SOMBR, The Marías, and more.
Additionally, those confirmed to present during the star-studded ceremony include Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor. Plus, an additional surprise presenter will be revealed during the show.
According to the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Awards stand alone as the only music honors voted on by peers, with winners selected by the Recording Academy’s voting members. This group is made up of music creators spanning every genre and discipline, from recording artists and songwriters to producers, mixers, and engineers.
Broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, “Music’s Biggest Night” will be hosted by Trevor Noah and air Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network, with live and on-demand streaming available on Paramount+*.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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