Eric Church Performs Deep-Cut ‘Three Year Old’ In Honor Of His Oldest Son Boone’s Birthday

Eric Church marked his oldest son Boone McCoy Church’s 14th birthday in a deeply touching way. On Friday, October 3, the country superstar took the stage at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, and in the midst of his set, performed “Three Year Old,” a deeply personal song inspired by Boone when he was just three years old.

A video captured by a fan in attendance shows the venue falling silent as Church steps up to the mic. He then explains that while this song is one he rarely performs live, it felt too meaningful not to perform it that night in celebration of his son reaching another year of life.

“If you’ll indulge me, I’m trying to figure out how to do this the right way.” he told the packed crowd. “I wrote this next song when my oldest boy was three years old. He is 14 years old today. I haven’t done it in a long time, and I’m not even sure if I can, but I just want to say I love you very much.”

Midway through the performance, a fan who was unaware they were just a few rows from the birthday boy, shouted, “Happy birthday, Boone!” The official show recap that appears on Church’s website indicates that Boone’s face lit up upon hearing this celebratory cheer. And while wearing “the warmest, most genuine smile,” his friends in attendance joined in the tribute by wrapping an arm around him.

This marked the first time Eric Church has played “Three Year Old” in a long time. In fact, according to the same report, he has only played the song live once in the past six years. The last performance took place during a special show at The Gorge in 2023 when he delivered the entire Mr. Misunderstood album, which the track lives on.

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Eric Church @Rupp Arena – Three Year Old

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His Mr. Misunderstood project arrived nearly 10 years ago as his fifth studio album. “Three Year Old” sits as the very last track in the collection and offers a look into one of the most personal stories for the North Carolina native. The tender, heartfelt ballad captures Church reflecting on the simple, yet profound life lessons he’s learned from being a parent to his young son.

He touches on the moments of curiosity, and wisdom that children can teach their parents with their innocent minds. Drawing from personal experiences, he shares lessons like: “A garbage can is a damn good spot to hide truck keys/ Why go inside when you can go behind a tree?/ Walking barefoot through the mud, will knock the rust right off your soul.”

“I learned that from a three year old,” Church adds at the end of almost every verse.

Both the teenager and his 10-year-old son Tennessee Hawkins “Hawk” Church are rarely seen in the public eye, but the occasion brought the birthday boy into the spotlight for a truly memorable father-son moment.

This heartfelt performance took place as part of Eric Church’s Free The Machine Tour, which is set to run through April 2026.