Eric Church Addresses Fans’ Disappointment Over CMA Fest Performance
The country singer says he was “shocked” over the wave of disappointment on social media.
Eric Church is responding to the backlash he faced following his CMA Fest performance on Saturday, June 10 in Nashville, Tennessee.
According to social media, fans were outraged after the North Carolina native’s CMA Fest set reportedly ended abruptly. Fans also expressed that Church’s set didn’t include several of his signature hits (including “Springsteen”), and many of the songs featured a whole new arrangement.
The changes Church made to his set sparked a conversation amongst the fans and a wave of disappointment on social media.
“Eric Church ended very weird set and disappointed 50,000 fans. I don’t know if he was pissed off at the CMA or what. Lights come on only 4 songs in and it’s done. Major disappointment at the CMAs,” one fan wrote on Twitter, while another added, “A lot of disappointed and confused people tonight with @ericchurch but going back and watching the video it definitely looks like he just finished the set and said goodnight… about 8 minutes early #cmafest.”
Eric Church Addresses The Situation
Now, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, the country superstar is addressing the situation, admitting that he was “shocked” at the criticism he received.
“I was shocked because I played the show that I went out there to play,” Eric Church said. “We had a time slot and I went out there to play that slot and try to show a little bit, a peek, as to what I was working on for this tour. I’m not going to [reveal] everything, but I’m going to give a little peek of what this could be.”
He went on to explain his intentions and clarify certain production elements that were out of his control, including when the stadium lights suddenly turned on at the end of his set when fans thought he was going to return for an encore. However, Church did not return to the CMA Fest stage as he completed his allotted 30 minute time slot.
“There were a couple of production things that I was not responsible for — when the lights went up, that wasn’t me. But for what I went to do, it was fast and hard. And the shows are that way,” Church continued.
While Eric Church didn’t go too much into detail, he did acknowledge that his CMA Fest set was to give fans a sneak peek of his new material and offer a sample of what fans can expect from The Outsiders Tour, including the new musical arrangement for many of his songs.
“All the songs are different. All the songs were changed. It was punchy. I didn’t play ‘Springsteen,’ because I have a new version of ‘Springsteen.’ You’ve got to come to a show and see it,” Church added.
CMA Fest TV Special
Fans will be able to re-live part of Eric Church’s performance of “Smoke A Little Smoke” and “Bad Mother Trucker” on Wednesday, July 19 at 8/7c during the CMA Fest TV special on ABC.
Church is currently in the midst of his headlining trek, dubbed The Outsiders Tour, which kicked off on June 22 at American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee, WI.
The Outsiders Revival Tour
Eric Church’s The Outsiders Revival Tour will visit 26 cities across the U.S. and Canada.
Produced by Live Nation, the highly anticipated tour features a number of special guests on various dates, including Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Koe Wetzel, Lainey Wilson, Midland, Parker McCollum, Travis Tritt, Elle King and Paul Cauthen, plus Jackson Dean, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline, Shane Smith & The Saints, Hailey Whitters, Ray Wylie Hubbard and The Red Clay Straws.
Church’s Outsiders Revival Tour is unlike anything Eric Church has ever done in his career thus far as the trek is only visiting outdoor venues.
The Outsiders Revival Tour comes after Church’s 55-city The Gather Again Tour, which offered fans an in-the-round show and earned the Billboard Music Award for Top Country Tour.
Later this year, Eric Church is expected to open his six-story Lower Broadway bar, Chief’s.
He gave fans a first look at the renderings for the much-anticipated establishment that will include a rooftop BBQ restaurant, an intimate music venue and more. Click HERE for the first look.
“I am beyond excited to not only bring Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ to Music City, but to also partner with my good friends Eric and Ben on this project,” Scott shared. “Anyone who knows me, knows that I love music – so the opportunity to expand the brand in partnership with an award-winning musician makes this project extra special! I can’t wait to share our Carolina roots and our whole hog BBQ with the incredible people of Nashville.”
On June 1, Eric Church shared another look inside the bar with a rendering on Instagram.
Chief’s is expected to open at 200 Broadway later this year.
Eric Church 2023 Tour Dates
July
14 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center !+
15 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre !+
28 – Dallas, Texas – Dos Equis Pavilion Midland – /
29 – Austin, Texas – Germania Insurance Amphitheater – /
August
4 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park (
5 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live (
11 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center (
12 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (
13 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fairgrounds Iowa State Fair
18 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater <>
19 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater <>
25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center =
26 – Philadelphia, PA – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion =
September
8 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater *)
9 – George, WA – Gorge Amphitheatre *)
15 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater ?)
16 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre */
22 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre =
23 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion =
29 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre =
30 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre =
October
7 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Motor Speedway – Country Thunder Bristol
^ Elle King
# Ashley McBryde
$ The Red Clay Strays
% Parker McCollum
& Morgan Wade
~ Koe Wetzel
@ Shane Smith & The Saints
! Travis Tritt
+ Muscadine Bloodline
( Cody Jinks
= Whiskey Myers
* Jelly Roll
) Hailey Whitters
< Lainey Wilson
> Jackson Dean
? Paul Cauthen
– Midland
/ Ray Wylie Hubbard
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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