Eric Church Slams Garth Brooks for Lip Syncing at CMA Awards, “F*ck That!”
Well well well. Eric Church has a new album, and a new song to promote in “Desperate Man” co-written by Ray Wylie Hubbard, and in a new cover story for Rolling Stone, Church comes out swinging in multiple directions, not caring about whatever collateral damage it may cause him in the usually pacified mainstream.
When speaking to the publication about losing the CMA for Entertainer of the Year in 2017 to Garth Brooks, Church had some choice words for Garth, who chose to lip sync his performance of “Ask Me How I Know” after complaining that his voice was too worn out from multiple performances on the road.
“That pissed me off,” Church says patently. “To me, lip-syncing is and always will be a red line. It’s fabricated. I don’t want young artists thinking it’s OK, because it’s not … So the winner of the biggest category of the night lip-synced in the biggest moment on the show? Fuck that! And I didn’t like his excuse at all. I felt like he was speaking for the other nominees. I can speak for myself—I’m not lip-syncing. If I can’t sing, I won’t sing, or I’ll sing badly. But at least you’ll get what you get.”
Eric Church says he was fine with losing to Garth for Entertainer of the Year, even though he thought if it was going to happen for him any year, 2017 might be it. He did walk away with Album of the Year for Mr. Misunderstood. “I’ve lost a lot of awards. [But my wife Katherine] was sitting there beside me, grinning through her teeth, going, ‘I’m about to Kanye this thing.’ ”
Part and parcel to his lip sync comments, Eric Church also lashed out at the technological incursion currently happening in country music. “The great thing about country is where it came from. It can change and evolve, and it should. It’s a big umbrella. But we can’t let it get so wide that we don’t know where the middle is. Country is not about hay bales or a fiddle. It’s about emotion and the organic way we make it. We don’t use machines. We use instruments.”
If Eric Church wanted to stir the pot ahead of the release of Desperate Man October 5th, he most certainly has done that. Now we’ll have to wait and see what the fallout and responses will be. This is not the first time Eric Church has stepped out of line. He also once criticized reality TV stars who make the leap to country music.
Stay tuned.
BrandonWard
July 25, 2018 @ 8:10 am
Church is definitely the one “mainstream” star of today’s era that we won’t have to worry about selling out down the road.
Steve
July 25, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
Church has sold out…. I can’t stand Garth Brooks he ruined country music Eric Church is a wanna be just like fgl and puke Bryan.
SJ
July 25, 2018 @ 6:04 pm
LOL, he sold out many years ago my friend. “Carolina” was his last real country album.
Marky Mark
July 26, 2018 @ 7:06 am
So he is a sellout because he added elements of rock to his country music? A sellout in my book means your going for the $. Church makes the music he likes. Clearly appealing to country radio, which would be his biggest marketing tool, is not a priority for him, so am not sure how he is a sellout. I agree, he is not pure country, at this point he is his own style, but I don’t see that as anything other than being true to yourself. I thought authenticity was one of the hallmarks of good country music?
Big Cat
July 25, 2018 @ 9:18 pm
I’m not into either… but lip syncing is bullshit and music should be made by musicians playing instruments and not by machines….. So good for him
Braden
July 30, 2018 @ 12:37 am
Church has sold out. Publicly throwing a fellow artist (Garth Brooks) under the bus is pathetic. Shows his true colors. Reminds me of when the Dixie Chicks criticized and berated Toby Keith, and ruined their career in the process. I don’t care how much I like his music, he just lost my respect. There are plenty of great country artists out there. I don’t need to support one who i now see as a selfrighteous egotist. The “Chief”?…Yea right. Not any more.
Whiskey_Pete
July 25, 2018 @ 8:18 am
Erica Church’s publicity strategist told him to stir up some controversy to generate more publicity for his new album.
-From the Grapevine
Funk Soul Bubby
July 25, 2018 @ 8:23 am
The way of the world we live in.
Pierre Brunelle
July 25, 2018 @ 8:24 am
Although that is true, Eric Church is also an artist who cares about the music that he makes. The quality of his albums speak for itself. I also like his stage performance.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 25, 2018 @ 3:19 pm
Yup.
It’s possible for Church to both be a camera hound, and genuinely believe that lip syncing and drum machines are bullshit.
Pierre Brunelle
July 26, 2018 @ 7:38 am
Pick your poison. I prefer someone who release good music to the radio and put an authentic show.
I have been to concerts where the singer couldn’t sing really loud but at least it was a live performance. If I want the perfect sound, I can listen to it on my phone.
Lip singing is relevant for pop music performance where the main focus is on dance move and appearance. Country music is about real instrument (and real voice!).
Anthony
July 25, 2018 @ 8:23 am
Shots. Fired. From The Chief.
Sharon
July 25, 2018 @ 8:26 am
Wow! Well to be honest I’ve never listened to Eric Church so I won’t be buying his new CD or any of his past CD’s. Sounds like sour grapes to me. And Garth didn’t win the award because of the performance he gave that night. It had already been voted on. I listened to why Garth didn’t sing live and I agreed with him. You do want to give the fans who pay money to come hear you sing the best concert you can give them. An award show, in my opinion, always has problems with sound anyways so the music never sounds good. He did what he felt was the best option for him. I don’t know for sure but I don’t think once you agree to a performance slot that you can just not perform. I would think they have to time everything out since it is a live show but I could be wrong. I do think the best person won the award. Garth had 3 incredible years on the road, performing multiple shows in each area he’s gone to. He deserved Entertainer of the Year for 2017.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 8:50 am
You can be a huge Garth Brooks fan and still think it was a poor decision to lip sync on a major awards show watched by millions. Clearly the decision has done him more harm than a few scratchy notes would have. As for whether he deserved Entertainer of the Year, if it’s taken as a touring award, of course he did, and better that it go to someone like Garth as opposed to Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line.
The Original WTF Guy
July 25, 2018 @ 12:36 pm
“better that it go to someone like Garth as opposed to Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line.”
Maybe. Not sure, let me think on that. But why GARTH!!! instead of Church? That is the comparison point, not GARTH!!! and stiffs like Luke Bryan or FGL.
And GARTH!!! didn’t deserve it over Church. There is no way in hell anyone will convince me you get more out of seeing that fat, worthless, turd than you would you from seeing Church. And if you do, please do yourself a favor and never attend another live music event because you are obviously incapable of know whether what you are seeing is any good. Here is one way you can tell – if the person you are seeing does, or ever has, screamed “YEEEEEAAWWWWWW!!!!” while for some reason seeming to have an epileptic fit while holding two bottles of water, that is not good. If the person you are seeing does, or ever has, “flown” around the stage, that is not good.
the pistolero
July 25, 2018 @ 9:04 am
For literally decades now, you fans of Garth Brooks’ live shows have been saying dumb shit like “if I wanted to see the artist just stand there and sing, I’d just stay home and listen to the cd.” And now, with GB getting called out by Eric Church for lip-syncing on an awards show, in effect quite literally giving the fans the “listen to the cd” experience, you say, “Eric Church is just jealous.”
Pick a side for fuck’s sake.
the pistolero
July 25, 2018 @ 9:09 am
That is, a side other than “Garth can do no wrong.”
ScottG
July 25, 2018 @ 10:05 am
That’s the essence of a lot problems, isn’t it. Everyone’s favorite politician, artist, etc. can do no wrong. You either defend them to the death for 100% of what they do, or you are on the other “side.”
Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Country music, as Eric said, should at LEAST be about humans playing instruments, not faking or programming it. If you want to listen to pre-recorded music or CDs at a show, there’s always EDM.
liza
July 25, 2018 @ 5:04 pm
You gave Garth a pass on the lip sync because you’re a fan. I’d bet almost anything that you would be the first to criticize anyone else who did the same. It was a dumb-ass thing to do and he deserved more hell than he received for it.
Anthony
July 25, 2018 @ 8:29 am
I’ve got all the respect in the world for Garth, but lets face it, putting out good songs or not, he’s a shell of the Entertainer he used to be and had no business winning that award.
Guitars, Cadillacs...
July 25, 2018 @ 8:52 am
I see what you’re saying, but I wouldn’t say Garth is not still a great entertainer. I’ve seen him live twice since he came out of retirement and he’s still a phenomenal live performer.
I think it would be more accurate to say–and I’m a Garth fan–that he’s not the same recording artist he used to be. I love his earlier albums (Garth Brooks through “Sevens”) but I have to honestly say that I’ve been disappointed in his last two albums. I hope his upcoming album reverses the trend but I don’t have a good feeling.
Andrew
July 25, 2018 @ 10:39 am
After seeing him live, he actually is still every bit the entertainer he’s always been.
Patty Olsen
July 25, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
i love Garth. i’ve seen him 3 times in a week-end ( WSU, SPOKANE & TACOMA), LAS VEGAS and the list goes on.
My least favorite album was alter ego Chris, but when other artists break for Musicans’ Union, Garth performs. He encores more than once per concert. You get your moneys worth. He deserved the award. I believe he was right saving the pipes for paying customers. He could have pulled out, but the awards show is pre-timed.
ScottG
July 25, 2018 @ 6:03 pm
Oooooh…. he encore’s twice!?!?
Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Convict charlie
July 25, 2018 @ 11:56 am
He’s still the entertainer he’s always been. The songs may not be my cup of tea lately but I know a few he has on hold/recorded and still has the eye for great songs I hope.
He isn’t doing stadium shows like he did before. He used 60 trailers for his last world tour. Not that he couldn’t just sticking with arenas. He can announce any city tomorrow and easily sell out five arenas.
I don’t think he’s perfect at all or like all of his decisions.
North Woods Country
July 25, 2018 @ 2:43 pm
Nah, he’s still a great entertainer I’ve seen it. If he modernized his recording and mixing process so that his new albums didn’t sound like they were recorded inside aluminum cans, he’d definitely have more success with this new material.
Charlie
July 25, 2018 @ 8:36 am
I don’t predict a lot of backlash. Over this? Garth being Garth?
And I don’t count anything that happens on Twitter as backlash. I care about what comes out of Twitter about as much as I care about what comes out of my asshole. What’s not nuts or corny is just shitty. Flush it all away. Twitter needs a good Ænema.
I tell you though–if Eric Church keeps this shit up he’s going to cost himself a slot hosting the iHeart Music Awards. They might think he’s a little too much of a tough guy–wooooh!
But he’s certainly not picking up the Waylon Jennings Bad-ass of the Year Award any time soon–waiting until now, his record release, to say something? C’mon, EC. Put your big girl panty hose on and say it like you mean it!
Tom
July 25, 2018 @ 9:06 am
Yeah, sounds like he’s a desperate man.
Adrian
July 25, 2018 @ 12:50 pm
Well he’s always been one of the outsiders
Wild Billy
July 25, 2018 @ 2:19 pm
And so misunderstood…
Johnny
July 25, 2018 @ 7:25 pm
This must be the last rattlesnake in Texas
CountryRoads
July 25, 2018 @ 8:44 am
I don’t see this as that big of a deal. He’s about 9 months late to the “bash a washed up Garth for lip syncing” party here. Do people really take Church’s outbursts seriously or with that much weight? Every time I look at the guy, with his fake “tough guy” schtick, I just shake my head.
albert
July 25, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
no kidding ………..
Jason Hannan
July 25, 2018 @ 8:47 am
I agree with him. If your voice is too messed up to sing, cancel the performance. It happens to everybody at some point.
Shauna
July 25, 2018 @ 9:03 am
It’s more than likely that due to his album release coming up he is doing more interviews, and interviewers, knowing Eric Church isn’t going to sugar coat anything, asked this question. I like Garth as much as any kid raised in the 90s but his performance was embarrassing for an EOTY. Eric Church was the best live “arena” performer of 2017 in any genre iny opinion. Who else put on a two set show that lasted upwards of 3 hours?
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 9:45 am
I appreciate and respect Eric Church’s answers, but this was unquestionably a pot-stirring interview, calculated and optimized for a “Rolling Stone” cover story and to create tremendous buzz ahead of a release. Not necessarily anything wrong with that, but everyone should recognize the marketing behind all of this as they read.
Stringbuzz
July 25, 2018 @ 1:40 pm
That’s business. Some guys are damned in they do, damned if they don’t.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 25, 2018 @ 3:20 pm
It can very well be two things, haha!
Wesley Gray
July 25, 2018 @ 10:09 pm
i agree with most everything Trigger said here. Church is definitely one of the best artists getting any exposure in the mainstream these days. Garth should never have lip-synced his performance. And Church is definitely using the situation to troll, more or less, to garner album sales. i grew up in Yukon, OK. Other than Route 66 (old mainstreet) the most traveled road in Yukon is literally named “Garth Brooks Blvd.” I do take a liking to some of Garth’s very early work but he is mostly a pop-star by my standards.
Tom
July 25, 2018 @ 9:04 am
He’s just ticked because his rendition of “We Shall Be Free” didn’t win him the audition at ASU back in the day.
OlaR
July 25, 2018 @ 9:06 am
Next week on the Eric Church Show: Eric Church slams Dolly Parton for having bigger balls & don’t miss the Eric Church Show Special…Eric Church buys new sunglasses sponsored by Eric Church only on the Eric Church TV Network, Neteric & Amachurch Prime.
Rex Fowler
July 25, 2018 @ 9:12 am
Eric Church should have won EOTY. I attended the show in Cleveland and it was PHENOMENAL. 2 sets of music. 3-4 hours a night. Like him or hate him he busts his ass off.
Kevin Davis
July 25, 2018 @ 9:35 am
Yes, and that’s why EOTY should not simply be a numbers contest, which makes it the most boring award and easiest to predict with concert sales numbers in front of you. If it’s going to be based on live entertainment, then judge the quality of it, not simply the quantity of people. Eric Church doing two full sets of music and, by all accounts I’ve heard, did a hell of a job with it night after night is exactly the sort of thing that the CMA should be looking at when judging who should win EOTY.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 9:47 am
Making Entertainer of the Year solely a live award is tenuous ground to begin with. But yes, going sheerly off of numbers where you can predict the winner even before the nominations is lame. Touring should be one part of a bigger picture.
Kristen
July 25, 2018 @ 11:48 am
Oh , Kevin I so agree with you, and fir the record I hated the lip sync crap. Don’t perform if you can’t sing , I am sure there are a lot of artist out there that would loved to have had that spot. People making excuses because it’s Garth Brooks. Big deal!! And these artist do these interviews and answer the questions they are asked when they are asked.
STACEY FINNEY
July 25, 2018 @ 12:57 pm
Rex, I just had the extreme pleasure of seeing Eric Church in Paso Robles, CA. He had just lost his brother 3 weeks prior to this concert. (He didn’t share this info), but for someone going through something that devastating he burdened himself only with our good time and his great “lay it all out there” performance. I had never seen him before live, but plan to do so every chance I get. Especially now. The experience left me wanting more! I agree with your words, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds from Mr. Church. My 21 year old, not really a country “fan”, but tolerated it because it’s what I listen to daughter was at the show with me and never sat down. Never stopped dancing. Left the concert downloading Eric Church songs to her Spotify. An Eric Church concert is more than a show, it’s an experience!!!
Stringbuzz
July 25, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
Agreed. Left it all out there. Different sets every nite, guests.
Nothing against Garth, but the whole two shows a nite, bringing people in, pushing them out, bringing a new crowd in, just hit me as a lil tacky and too optimizing the dollar..But it is business.
I just feel Garth is just about the business now. I can’t get behind him anymore.
Make some music, be more special to your fans, how much f’in money do you need?
Garrett
July 25, 2018 @ 9:19 am
God bless Eric Church. Welcome back.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
July 25, 2018 @ 9:41 am
If there aren’t hay bales and fiddles then it’s not true Country music.
always has been agrarian working class music from the hills and fields and railways. if it ain’t that it ain’t real Country Music.
Eric Church is honest and up front and there’s nothing fake about it. irritating, sometimes, but never fake
Tom R.
July 25, 2018 @ 12:14 pm
Eric Church couldn’t be more fake if he was made out of plastic. This is just Travis Tritt-type publicity seeking, knocking a more famous star to get headlines.
Mark M
July 25, 2018 @ 12:25 pm
He was asked how he felt about losing to a lip syncer by Rolling Stone.
What was he supposed say he was honored?
Stephanie
July 25, 2018 @ 9:42 am
I might be missing some sort of nuances here, but…. has eric church never used electronic sound or “machines” in his music?
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 9:49 am
Yes he has. He’s featured drum machine intros and other stuff numerous times. It’s not nearly as bad or prevalent as the rest of the mainstream by any stretch, but he’s not on sure footing here. That said, maybe his new record has none of that. Either way, it’s a fair argument he makes, and it means more coming from an established mainstream artist.
Stephanie
July 25, 2018 @ 10:55 am
He garnered a lot of good will from me with his last album, and now I’m giving him the big ol side eye again.
He’s so much better when he’s not so blatantly selling an image.
STACEY FINNEY
July 25, 2018 @ 1:39 pm
Stephanie don’t stray too far. It’s not as much “image” as people think. Yes he features sounds that he may mention as a negative when being interviewed, but he never said he was spot on to the old style of country he wants to stay true to. He even speaks of progression. He just doesn’t want to stray to far from it and still call it country. I have to admit that there are artists that I feel landed here in country music because there was no other place for them. In my opinion he’s emphasizing roots more than staying in a straight line with things.
Seth
July 25, 2018 @ 9:44 am
Eric Church is supposed to be an “outlaw”, but he really is just a shrewd publicist. He marginalizes other musicians without really being specific, so he can maintain the outlaw facade and insulate himself from criticism, because he has an ego the size of Carolina. He helps you identify the easy targets putting out bubble gum crap, so that we will know he is the true outlaw, relatively. His comment about Garth and the award is a bunch of self righteous country music Jesus bullshit, and his comment about country music makes me realize that this guy could easily become a Senator if he wanted to:
-Where we came from is great, but we should change. (Progressive)
-Its a big umbrella, but we have to stay in the middle. (Traditional)
Then he basically makes an excuse for his inauthenticity and touts his authenticity in one statement using duplicity and equivocations:
-In country music the Chief uses real instruments, but he doesn’t use a fiddle. (So apparently fiddles aren’t country now? Or is it just to cover for the fact that there is no fiddle in the Shaded One’s productions?) And if Mr. misunderstood doesn’t use machines, I’d like to know how much drink I have to drink and how much smoke I have to smoke to get those neat effects. Perhaps we would all understand him better if he picked a lane and showed us the real deal. And if you think Eric church hasn’t sold out, im brokering a land deal for a country legend I think you would be interested in.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 9:52 am
I think there’s more shades of grey here. Of course this is marketing by Eric Church. We should all recognize that. But it doesn’t mean that Garth Brooks didn’t make a bad decision, and instruments instead of electronics should be the basis for country music. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Seth
July 25, 2018 @ 10:32 am
I completely agree. Garth shouldn’t lip sync, and country music is about instruments. I just don’t like Eric church’s schtick.
Erik North
July 25, 2018 @ 5:27 pm
Well, I for one have never been able to get into the Garthmeister (of whom some, not on this board, have referred to as “Garth Vader”) because, for all the ways that his coming onto the scene at the end of the 1980s caused an explosive growth in country music’s record sales, his stage shows, in my opinion, have way too much in common with the arena rock of the 80s, and have since forced so many country acts to “up” their stage shows with pyrotechnics and razzle-dazzle, while basically drowning out any semblance of authentic country instrumentation or lyrics. This isn’t to say he hasn’t got a lot of classic songs under his belt, but he has allowed the Show to overwhelm all that substance.
But if I am not mistaken, is Eric Church that slams Garth (however right he might be) for lip-synching and electronic instruments not also the same Eric Church who gave the world this god awful “rap” song “Home Boy”, which pretty much presaged some of the faux-outlawry of Bro-Country? I think E.C. is protesting a bit too much as well at covering for his own responsibility (even if on a lower burn) for putting show over substance. And to just throw that term “Outlaw” around these days seems to me to be a case of “All hat and no cattle”.
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 7:16 pm
Homeboy was not at all a rap song. It was a country rock song about the struggle of drug and gang culture infiltrating families.
Dirt Road Derek
July 25, 2018 @ 9:44 am
Brook’s lip syncing was pretty disappointing. I expect that from entertainers like Britney Spears, but not from a country legend like Garth. Like Church stated, I’d rather hear a country artist tough it through a performance with their voice not at full power than watch them fake it.
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 10:06 am
Screw Rolling Stone. Their headline was so misleading, they made it sound like EC was a total liberal. I read the article and that was definitely not the case. They try to promote their stupid agendas. I still would’ve listened to his music, heck I still listen to Sturgill and he’s a liberal, but I was disappointed in EC until I actually read the article. And that was brave to attack Garth Brooks. Not many have the balls to hit that high up the food chain.
Chris
July 25, 2018 @ 11:21 am
I guess it’s too much to ask to have just one article on this site without someone (on either side) getting all political in the comments section… *sigh*
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 4:07 pm
Well to be fair I would listen to him regardless of his political affiliation. I just didn’t like how Rolling Stone purposely skewed the headline to completely make the piece something that it was not.
Tom R.
July 25, 2018 @ 12:21 pm
Well, I most definitely agree with you Eric Church is in no way a “liberal” but I dispute who’s doing the repackaging to reach the “rock” and uptown music crowd – it’s more likely Church and his p.r. people. It’s not Rolling Stone, they’re just going it for the moment.
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 4:05 pm
Good theory, but on his Instagram when he posted the cover picture, his caption even said “don’t be misled by the title.”
JP
July 25, 2018 @ 7:59 pm
Anderson East and Miranda Lambert called out GB first and they did it immediately after the show. Eric Church waited 9 months to promote his album I wouldn’t call that brave.
Dennixx
July 25, 2018 @ 10:16 am
RIP Garth’s voice
Kand56
July 25, 2018 @ 10:25 am
Garth Brooks is a fraud and a phony. He practically destroyed the genre with his bubble gum country. I’m glad Eric went after him. I hope he goes after all these phonies! Tear down the whole industry. Screw them!
Guitars, Cadillacs...
July 25, 2018 @ 11:20 am
Here we go again.
It was not Garth Brooks who ruined country music. That is short sighted and lazy thinking. No one artist or act has that much power. It was labels, executives, and radio heads trying to replicate his success that began the demise of mainstream country. Garth–for better or worse for his career (and recently for the worse) has always been who he is.
Dave
July 25, 2018 @ 11:27 am
Bubble gum country? You’ve got to be kidding. Practically destroyed the genre? He raised it to heights never seen before.
Guitars, Cadillacs...
July 25, 2018 @ 2:13 pm
Not to mention, Garth is the reason this 90’s kid is now 30 and loves Merle Haggard and George Jones. If it weren’t for him speaking regularly of his love for their music, I might not have given their music a chance in my earlier years. Say what you will about the man’s questionable “marketing” decisions, and there have been a few. But his love of true country music is pure and he has undoubtedly brought many fans to country who might not have been otherwise.
North Woods Country
July 25, 2018 @ 2:50 pm
Alabama did more harm to country music than Garth Brooks ever did…before Garth was even famous.
Craig
July 25, 2018 @ 10:33 am
Instruments are machines, genius.
Tom
July 25, 2018 @ 1:45 pm
To be a machine, by definition, a device must use wheels or gears to function. Clocks, car engines, helicopters, that kind of thing.
My guitar doesn’t have wheels, so it’s not a machine. Tuning gears don’t count because they aren’t used when it’s being operated.
But I’m guessing the devices making those instrument sounds don’t have wheels, either, so his comment still doesn’t pass.
Craig
July 26, 2018 @ 6:55 am
Not sure where that definition came from. But your guitar is certainly a machine. In fact the tuners on your guitar are called ‘tuning machines.’
“an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.” That’s a guitar, acoustic or otherwise. The strings are stretched so that when you apply power/force to them they make a sound. The sound is amplified by the body of the guitar or the pickups. Inarguably a machine.
wayne
July 25, 2018 @ 10:38 am
Agree with Eric on all accounts.
Derek Sullivan
July 25, 2018 @ 11:02 am
I love Eric Church as much as anybody and even I think it’s sour grapes and an opinion he could have kept to himself. That being said Garth won that award because he was selling out arenas, but a lot of legendary acts sell out arenas: U2, Paul McCartney, Metallica sell out stadiums, but they don’t win Billboard or American Music Awards. Hell, Kenny Chesney is still selling out stadiums and he didn’t even get nominated.
People who saw Garth in concert did it because it’s part of reliving your youth and singing your favorite songs of the 1990s with 20k people. It’s nostalgia.
Eric Church is in his prime and the songs he wrote and promoted for the tour will be a foundation for his career going forward. 15 years from now, Eric will probably still be selling out arenas and he will be playing the same 20-25 songs he performed in 2017. No one will consider him for entertainer of the year.
The most ironic thing is that the only thing making Garth timely is “Ask Me How” and he lip-synced on the awards show.
Convict charlie
July 25, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
You would be incorrect in your statement. Do some digging as he’s said it a few times in concert/interviews. 34% of the people who bought tickets to garth’s Tour recently were not alive when he had the last world tour.
Derek Sullivan
July 25, 2018 @ 1:00 pm
Charlie, if you think Garth is more of a contemporary artist than a nostalgia act, you’re wrong. And just because young people who like 90s country, probably because they listened to it with their parents, went to his shows doesn’t mean his contemporary. I went to Paul McCartney because I like the Beatles and they broke up before I was born. I don’t think Paul should win artist of the year at the American Music Awards.
L.
July 26, 2018 @ 8:44 am
*Raising my hand in agreement* – I went to see Garth a couple years ago when he started touring again, completely for the nostalgia. Garth was my second concert ever, when I was in the 7th grade, in 1997. I couldn’t tell you a single one of his more current songs.
liza
July 25, 2018 @ 5:20 pm
I didn’t see sour grapes at all. He wasn’t pissed about Garth winning the award. He was pissed that the winner of the award lip synched during the awards show. I say good for him for saying it. Garth got a big pass on that and he shouldn’t have.
Clyde
July 25, 2018 @ 11:27 am
Holy crap, one of the last people I would look to for a definition of Country Music is Eric Church.
albert
July 25, 2018 @ 4:03 pm
ain’t that a fact ……..
Mike Honcho
July 25, 2018 @ 11:28 am
Can these two beat each other into a coma?
TxMusic
July 25, 2018 @ 11:33 am
Anderson East already used the outrage over Garth lip syncing to promote his album right after it happened. Eric Wear My Sunglasses Indoors like A Douchebag Church is super late to the fake outrage for promo party.
North Woods Country
July 25, 2018 @ 2:52 pm
For the record, I don’t want to see Anderson East mouth the words to a backing track, but I don’t want to hear him sing, either. Fucking awful voice.
Bill
July 25, 2018 @ 3:33 pm
You seem like a nice person, north
TxMusic
July 25, 2018 @ 4:48 pm
I’ve never heard East put on a flop performance like Eric’s Cowboys vs Redskins halftime show so I think he takes this round.
North Woods Country
July 27, 2018 @ 5:53 pm
You can’t flop if you don’t sound good to begin with.
Sod Buster
July 25, 2018 @ 11:40 am
You know what, “Chief”? They call Bruce BOSS but he never exploited that. Can you imagine a Springsteen album called “Boss”? Eric Church would not have scratched and clawed his way as a low down struggling dirty independent artist for a lifetime, and writing a song/hanging around with the real deal does not make you the real deal. He wanted the image of a scrapper, hard core tough artist but also the money, comfort, security and ability to keep up with the Jonses. At least Garth paid his dues. Trigger, Church has done everything you claim Midland does in a different costume.
Patrick
July 25, 2018 @ 12:39 pm
Wow. Definitely hater here. Look up Eric’s background before you start talking nonsense. “Chief” was the name of his grandfather because he was the Chief of police, which was the inspiration for that title. He did not get the nickname till AFTER the album was released. Also, Eric was a songwriter and paid his dues before getting a record deal. Didn’t even make it big until the Chief album which came out ~ 5 years after his Sinners album.
Tom
July 25, 2018 @ 2:41 pm
Wow. Definitely fanboy here. According to Church himself he pilfered the Chief moniker early in his career, even before he had a record deal.
Oh, and Chief isn’t a nickname; it’s an alter-ego. Mild-mannered Eric becomes a real badass that you don’t want to mess with when he turns into Chief. And that’s according to Church, as well.
I neither love nor hate Eric Church. He’s the most enigmatic artist I believe I’ve ever seen. He writes and picks good songs, then does stupid stuff like sing without opening his mouth so you can’t understand the words or adds in a bunch of “boo-boo-boo-boo”s. He puts together a great band then cheapens up his show by adding stupid gimmicks like huge inflatable devils. He continually changes his image, which currently stands somewhere between George Michael and Justin Timberlake. He never fully jumped on the bro-country bandwagon, but he never really distanced himself from it either. And even on this topic today, he made some statements that, IMHO, needed to be said, but the manner in which he did it makes it pretty clear that publicity was a big part of the motivation.
I’m still waiting for this guy to do something to either turn me on or turn me off. If it doesn’t come soon I’m going to get bored and stop paying attention.
Sod Buster
July 25, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
Not a hater. I should have pointed out that I like most of his songs. My observations, opinion, not hate. But I think you are wrong about the Chief thing. Look at the album cover- The title of the album next to his tough guy facial expression with hat and sunglasses implies that he is referring to himself. I’ve read where his band/crew called him that before that album came out. See Men’s Journal a few years back. Ps- didn’t make it big 5 years, etc. Was he on a tour bus those 5 years or in a van?
bret colsen
July 25, 2018 @ 6:23 pm
you are correct
TxMusic
July 25, 2018 @ 11:58 am
Just like to add after he took a swipe at country artists coming from reality shows, he crumpled and backtracked after Miranda Lambert who herself got her start on a reality show, went after him.
Garth didn’t bother responding to the attacks on him back when this happened and won’t do it now. Eric knows this so he can be brave and look like a winner without actually going to battle. Weak.
AT
July 25, 2018 @ 12:43 pm
Eric didn’t do a single interview when “Mr. Misunderstood” was first released. He let the album, his best work to date, be the point of focus.
It sucks that this Rolling Stone article really doesn’t have much insight into the recording process, songwriters, inspiration, etc. of his upcoming release. Did he talk about the music and Rolling Stone just decided to publish the opinionated, controversial stuff? Who knows. Because when he talks about whatever music he’s making, Eric is super passionate about it. And as a music fan, and the fact that I’ve been to 40+ Eric Church shows over the past decade, that’s what I wanna hear about. The late-night recording sessions….the players….etc.
I get that the PR team is looking for buzz prior to the release. But an act’s stance on political or current events isn’t what I seek when I’m trying to discover new music. I think there are narratives from the media that sometimes overshadow the music (Kacey Musgraves, etc.). If anything was learned from the “Mr. Misunderstood” era, it’s that the music was strong enough to stand on its own. No pre-release campaigns. No detailed media plan. The music is what matters.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 1:03 pm
Man, I really agree.
When I saw the main quotes about Garth’s lip-syncing and how Church believes country music should be played with instruments, I knew I had to bring them up here for discussion, just like I do every time someone calls out the mainstream for its transgressions. But this interview is just one buzz angle after another, trying to get all kinds of people riled, employs no subtly, nearly completely avoids any discussion about the music, and frankly does what Rolling Stone is trying to do to country music, which is unnecessarily politicize it, and use artists as wedge pieces between their fan bases. Sure if some of this stuff came up in discussion that’s one thing, but the entire interview feels so incredibly choreographed and calculated, it kind of makes me sick.
I do believe that Eric Church has turned a leaf since “The Outsiders” days. But the guy still feels like he’s one step behind his marketing, and it’s incredibly transparent. The fact that Rolling Stone went along with it is just another example of how today’s country “journalism” is nothing more than a promotional arm of the industry.
All that said, I’m glad Eric Church said what he said in regards to lip syncing and machines making music, and I hope any artist feels like they can share their political beliefs without facing persecution. But music journalism should be better than this. This is why I don’t do interview. Ultimately you’re either pushing your own agenda, or the artists.
Corncaster
July 25, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
“This is why I don’t do interview. Ultimately you’re either pushing your own agenda, or the artists.”
Maybe. I’ve read good interviews where’s it’s hard to tell. And sometimes, if the agenda is actually informed, curious, and insightful, the agenda can be a good thing. Like good dancing, you need two people who can push slightly against each other as they move forward. I’ve often thought you could write some damn good interviews, Trig, and I’d just encourage you to give the idea a second chance, or delegate.
Seth
July 25, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
I agree Corncaster. The only interviews that Trig has done that I can think of are sturg and Willy tea. I especially enjoyed the Willy tea interview because it showcased his cool personality. I think you interviewing artists would be a great improvement for country music journalism, Trig.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 6:59 pm
I used to do interviews all the time. It was a conscious decision to stop for many, many reasons. I have never regretted it.
ScottG
July 25, 2018 @ 1:33 pm
With artists able to spout out whatever comes to their mind about whatever subject, at whatever time of day, thanks to technology, maybe we don’t really need interviews so much anymore. Maybe it’s time to cut out the controversy and angle seeking middle people. I hate most interview questions anyway. Even if they aren’t try to start shit, half of them repeat questions that they should already know the answers to, if they did their research or even cared about who they were interviewing.
Corncaster
July 25, 2018 @ 3:33 pm
Ya but that’s why a good interviewer is somebody who contributes to the conversation so it isn’t just one person spouting off. I agree there are some unprepared and dumbass journalists out there. Maybe they would be better served by being asked to update tour schedules. A great interview is a great conversation, not a monologue. And that takes two, doesn’t it?
ScottG
July 25, 2018 @ 4:12 pm
I realized as I posted that, that it was a little salty. Sure, a good interview is informative and like a conversation. It’s just been too long since I’ve watched, read, or heard one like that so I’m a little cranky on the subject.
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 4:16 pm
Interesting perspective. I noticed (on this site) that people went from hating Eric Church to liking him or not hating him when he dropped the schtick and just focused on the music with Mr. Misunderstood. Now he’s using image again and public opinion on this app quickly changed again. Maybe he’d be better suited just focusing on the music.
country cutie
July 25, 2018 @ 12:53 pm
If he wanted his words to make any kind of impact, he would have chimed in when Anderson East and Miranda did back last November. The chance this will cause any kind of controversy now is basically zero. Most country fans probably don’t even remember or care who won Entertainer of the Year. This approach seems weak and hardly like the persona he created for himself. Eric is above most of his peers musically, even though I’m not really a fan, but he isn’t one to criticize others for what is and isn’t country. His songs feature plenty of effects that are obviously added by “machines.”
Diana Diamond
July 25, 2018 @ 1:05 pm
Eric Church is completely forgettable IMO. He has a few decent songs, but the rests just mainstream garbage. But now he will have some street cred for working with Ray Wylie Hubbard. Maybe he will actually have some authenticity. But bashing Garth is no way to get it. Sour grapes.
Hankerin-4-Hank
July 25, 2018 @ 1:10 pm
Oh boo hoo!
He makes millions of dollars and has dedicated (somewhat cult-ish) fans. Who cares if he lost some rigged award nobody gives an actual s*hit about to begin with. Just make the music and be happy that people are showing up to your shows! This is pure pettiness and a completely lazy attempt to draw attention to his new album. Some might even call it…desperate.
Corncaster
July 25, 2018 @ 1:31 pm
I’ve read that Church has chip and anger issues, so maybe this isn’t just marketing.
63Guild
July 25, 2018 @ 1:37 pm
I think the bigger thing from the article was his close call with the blood clot
liza
July 25, 2018 @ 5:34 pm
Agree. A friend recently had the same surgery he did after having a large clot removed from her upper arm. She lost the use of her hand and her livelihood.
63Guild
July 25, 2018 @ 5:57 pm
Sorry to hear about your friend. Unfortunately what happened to them very well could of happened to Church if he had not decided to be proactive that day.
Jeremy
July 25, 2018 @ 1:50 pm
Country artists are so boring these days. Nobody wants to rock the status quo.They play their social media pages, their concerts, award shows, and interviews so safe! zzzzzzzz. Hopefully this will generate lots of noise tbh! I don’t care if country music is a family. Families criticize each other all the time, more than anybody. Bring on the drama!
TxMusic
July 25, 2018 @ 4:55 pm
It would’ve created good drama if he did it 9 months ago when it happened. He wimped out back then.
Pauline Rolle
July 25, 2018 @ 1:56 pm
YES COUNTRY MUSIC BRINGS OUT CLASSY COUNTRY STYLES.
The Other Wayne
July 25, 2018 @ 2:26 pm
The headline pissed me off. EC likes some of what Bernie has to say, as most do, but it’s quite a reach to call him a Bernie supporter based on the article, he appears more libertarian-ish, which based on past statements has been my guess of where he stands on politics.
Rob
July 25, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
That’s what I thought. The headline really had me disappointed in EC, and then I read the article and read something very different than what the headline implied.
ASKerce
July 25, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Eric Church will forever go down in history as an American Badass!!! Garth Brooks will forever go down as a Lip Sync King!! Mic Drop!!Argument over!Lol….😂
Tilley
July 25, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
Was this comment written by a 12 year old? Whether you love him or hate him, that is not how Garth will be rembembered. As for Church, I’m not even sure history will rembember him.
Tom R.
July 26, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
I think it’s debatable that Eric Church will “go down in history” as anything. Plenty of artists from the 1990’s (and earlier eras as well, of course) who were far bigger than he ever has been are pretty much totally forgotten except by buffs and a small cluster of devoted fans. Eric Church will probably being doing the freebie concerts at The Ernest Tubb Record Shop to hawk his self-released cd within the next ten years just like most of them.
Stephanie
July 25, 2018 @ 2:36 pm
ok I just read the whole article and I have another question- The music he’s been making for at least a couple albums now isn’t really country. And he and the media are always going on about how his influences and idols are rock guys, as if that’s somehow more badass or something. Why is he still a Country singer? I mean, I loved his last album, honestly, and that means a lot considering how much I HATED him for a long time. But it wasn’t country music. Shit, Chris Stapleton gets lots of criticism and is 10 times more country than eric Church And I think he’s deserving of the same criticism as most of the mainstream country acts who don’t make country music. I appreciate that his music is better, but it’s still not country. I would classify most of his older music as definitely country, so I suppose that’s the answer to my question, but irritates the shit out of me that he’s always touting something else, it feels like he’s looking down his nose a little, like country music isn’t cool enough, he has to be so “different”, while benefitting mightily from the Country music establishment.
I’m a fan, on the whole. But damn he makes it hard sometimes.
Kevin Davis
July 25, 2018 @ 7:21 pm
“Chris Stapleton gets lots of criticism and is 10 times more country than Eric Church”
No, that’s not true. Even “Talladega” — on his worst album no less — was more country than almost anything Stapleton has released. I love both of ’em, and I am happy to have both men in the country music landscape. But Stapleton is decidedly a heavily blues-driven (and classic rock oriented) sort of Southern artist. Stapleton is most definitely not a traditional, whether Ray Price or George Strait, country performer. I’m fine with that, but I must insist — because it’s a demonstrable fact — that Eric Church has had more readily-identifiable country songs than Stapleton, even by classical country standards.
Tom R.
July 26, 2018 @ 1:50 pm
And Eric has even given interviews where he has said he does not see “any difference” between his music and rock music (fans of the latter might beg to differ even though they wouldn’t call it country either).
southland_sounds
July 25, 2018 @ 3:52 pm
THeres no bigger fan of Garth and Eric in the world than me. Kinda get both sides. Garth has always been more about making sure everyone is “entertained”. I get that being that he’s a road warrior like church but the difference is he would rather give people what’s he thinks is the best possible version of that performances as opposed to having a real moment and singing with a scratchy voice which would ironically earn more respect from folks hearing a guy who has given his heart and soul on the road and lost his voice because of it. It isn’t fun watching constructive criticism coming from within the genre though
southland_sounds
July 25, 2018 @ 3:56 pm
*it IS fun watching constructive criticism coming from within the genre
Bama Rama
July 25, 2018 @ 4:15 pm
Eric Church is as country as Demi Lovato or Cardi B. He always acts like she so much cooller than the country crowd. He knows he can’t make in rock. Insulting up is never a good look. Garth is too busy counting his cash to care.
Side note: I would use a rolling stone magazine to wipe up my dogs crap. They are pathetic.
King Honky Of Crackershire
July 25, 2018 @ 5:10 pm
Garth Brooks is a mediocre musical talent who is a brilliant marketeer, and has recorded a few good Country songs.
Church is a fake, loud-mouth loser punk, who hasn’t done one positive thing for Country Music…ever.
Summer Jam
July 25, 2018 @ 6:15 pm
I agree completely…glad im not the only one..
Ulysses McCaskill
July 25, 2018 @ 8:49 pm
I think “mediocre” is too nice of a word to describe his musical talent.
King Honky Of Crackershire
July 26, 2018 @ 5:37 pm
I wouldn’t argue with that assessment.
Clyde
July 26, 2018 @ 5:37 pm
When Garth came on the scene there were already quite a few nails in my Country Music coffin. I think he put the last one in, but it was more like a spike than a nail.
BEH
July 25, 2018 @ 5:14 pm
I’d like to hear his thoughts on the fact that some of the “live” performances on these shows are nothing more that karaoke. The singer might be live but the entire band is pretending to play to a pre-recorded track. I haven’t checked but I’d be willing to bet his band has done that a time or two.
BEH
July 25, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
And here’s the proof. The piano magically keeps right on going after he stands up to sing. (plus other various synth sounds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jYxTLUccF4
DJ
July 26, 2018 @ 6:16 am
That’s 15 seconds I’ll never get back.
I read most of the rolling stone article- got bored with it and church. I’ve never listened to him and none of this crap makes me inclined to.
Summer Jam
July 25, 2018 @ 6:14 pm
Trigger defending Eric Church in the comment section AGAIN. Not surprised. This BS is some dire ignorance and complete disrespect to Garth Brooks. The man plays 100’s of shows per year, if he wanted to lip sync on a pointless awards show, I think he earned the right to do that. I already hated Eric Church as a person due to his disgustingly huge ego and fake outlaw image, I really didnt think he could stoop this low. Ive never been a fan of Garth Brooks either, they are both arrogant clowns, but Garth has been in country music WAY longer than Eric has and is WAY more successful then Eric. Garth is a legend, and Eric has no right to disrespect one of the most important people in mainstream country. There is a way to criticize without being a disrespectful piece of shit, especially to a fellow country musician. Eric needs to keep his mouth shut.
The Other Wayne
July 25, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
To be fair, compare the number of comments on this with the number of comments on the Colter Wall album announcement.
Engagement=clicks=$$$. Basic rule of blogging and social media.
All the Eric Church posts do well on SCM, and posts like these help keep the website afloat so Trigger can continue to provide solid country journalism and expose people to good music. I don’t give a rat’s ass if Trigger defends Church, it looks like Eric Church being Eric Church provides the material to keep the lights on. More power to both of them.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 7:06 pm
I don’t take stances based on personalities. I take stances based on the situations. I would never defend anyone lip-syncing, and would call it out myself 100% of the time. That said, there’s clearly an element of marketing in Eric Church’s comments here, and I’ve definitely criticized that in this comments section.
BTW, I’m not posting about Eric Church because it will garner clicks to support my other content. He criticized lip syncing and machines making music in country, and these are very relevant topics to Saving Country Music. It would have been more conspicuous if I hadn’t said anything about it, and arguably irresponsible to the charge of this site.
TxMusic
July 25, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
Maybe you can explain why other artists get shred to pieces for sending non country songs to country radio but Eric is somehow getting a pass for sending Desperate Man to radio.
Summer Jam
July 25, 2018 @ 8:48 pm
TxMusic, well said, thats what I went off on Trigger for last week on the Desperate Man review. I was PISSED….lol. I like Trigger and i like this site, but I believe he has a pretty unfair bias towards certain artists. Sam Hunt gets ripped to shreds consistently as well as tons of other artists who release an “un-country” song to country radio, but Eric Church gets a pass while Trig admits that the song is NOT country. IDK why, but seeing people say Church has never sold out, and makes real country music, or that its ok that he released a song to radio that isnt country because its a “good song” all INFURIATES ME for some reason!
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 10:16 pm
“Non country” is not a binary condition. There are shades of grey. A swamp rock song cosigned by Ray Wylie Hubbard released by an artist on an established country music label is much different than an electropop song by a straight up pop artist that resides at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for longer than any other song in the history of the genre. Both may not be country, but one has roots and ties to the genre, one doesn’t. It is important to draw distinctions between all music. Each piece of music must be judged on its own merit. We’re all music fans first, then our tastes break down genre lines. Rock is more akin to country, while EDM and hip-hop are at the polar opposite. It’s really very, very logical.
TxMusic
July 26, 2018 @ 6:26 am
Hip Hop and R&B both have ties to country through blues. Roots music is a major influencer in many genres. How many degrees of separation do we need until something is considered country/not country?
Summer Jam
July 25, 2018 @ 8:43 pm
Just admit it Trigger….you love Eric Church, I’m pretty sure that everybody here knows that you do.
Trigger
July 25, 2018 @ 10:11 pm
Some homework:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/eric-church-is-awesome-just-ask-him-a-bragging-montage/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/mens-journal-reads-saving-country-music-quotes-to-eric-church/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-eric-churchs-the-outsiders/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/is-eric-church-copying-shooter-jennings-with-the-outsiders/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/eric-church-targets-taylor-swift-in-outsiders-teaser-an-uber-rant/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/so-eric-church-you-think-that-genres-are-dead-a-rant/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/eric-church-caught-w-foot-in-mouth-over-outlaw-image/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/eric-church-wants-it-both-ways/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/eric-church-tilt-at-windmills-no-more-a-rant/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/on-eric-churchs-post-vegas-opry-moment-new-song-why-not-me/
In fact I have criticized Eric Church so much, he wrote a song about it called “Country Music Jesus.” Here he is talking about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCgma1bMRz0
The idea I “love” Eric Church is ludicrous. There has never been a bigger critic of anyone in the history of country music than I’ve been of Eric Church. But I believe everyone can change, and I believe Eric Church has turned a new leaf. That said, and as I’ve said numerous times in this thread, these comments smack of marketing.
Seth's
July 26, 2018 @ 12:38 pm
The degrees of separation from country and the quality of the music in general should dictate the amount of shit we pile on each artist. I believe the coverage on this site has reflected the appropriate amount of ridicule each artist deserves, except maybe sturg, but the quality of his music outweighs the degrees of separation. I’m hoping that holds true on his next album. I have a feeling he’s gonna piss a lot of people off tho. But summer jam, you’re completely wrong. Intelligent people who have read all trig’s articles will see that the criticism arc in trig’s reporting over the years has directly coincided with the level of douchebaggery coming from our favorite heartland rocker.
Nan
July 25, 2018 @ 6:19 pm
It’s disappointing that Garth would ever lip sync. Hopefully it wasn’t arrogance that at this point in his career he could get away with it. Maybe just carelessness, again at this point in his “made” career, that it could be seen as okay. Eric Church is right, it’s the red line (or crossing a line). As a performer it violates the “Cardinal Rule” and trust of your fans. Everyone has times of stupidity in their lives, and I think over time it can be pretty much forgotten, if he never does it again. I just thought he was one of the Artists you could count on to never do that.
I’ve checked out “Rolling Stone” at times over the years, agreeing at times, other times, not so much. I like seeing their music reviews (movies also). Eric Church seems to be ‘their guy’ for Country Music. He’s been a main feature before. They’re an extremely liberal pub. Their main readers have applauded anything a Recording Artist says or does with a liberal mind-set. They prob. love anything Eric says that leans that way and they’ll run with it. They’re also prob not hating his tough-guy stance about anything–against a fellow Country Artist and lip syncing adds to it.
I like Eric Church. If he keeps his head (and cool) while saying these hot-button or controversial things I don’t see anything wrong with it. It does sort of keep things interesting.
hoptowntiger94
July 25, 2018 @ 6:41 pm
Hard to pick a side on this one… like Trump and that stripper.
Sam Cody
July 25, 2018 @ 8:35 pm
(sniff) Did poor little Eric get screwed out of an award he was entitled to? (sniff sniff)
Ulysses McCaskill
July 25, 2018 @ 8:47 pm
F*** Garth Brooks. Don’t like Church either, but definitely F*** Garth Brooks and his cheesy non-country lip syncing ass.
Paul
July 26, 2018 @ 6:18 am
I hate lip syncing, it is fabricated; but so is this
DJ
July 26, 2018 @ 6:32 am
LOL- I used to like Garth Brooks, I don’t know if I do anymore or not since I rarely listen to music, or anything else, though I do look people up based on reviews here. I liked Garth for his songs- I don’t like church for his attitude. I’ve never listened to him and won’t, of my own accord- Rolling stone magazine is a tool, though I do appreciate the attention they’ve given Willie I think they’re way too full of themselves, just like church. I’d never “pay” to read rolling stone and I’ll never “pay” to listen to church. Win win for me near as I can tell. 😉 My only gauge for church is my 6 y/o grandson who listens to him, (and articles here) but my 4y/o grand daughter likes Willie- guess who’s gonna win.
Jay
July 26, 2018 @ 8:19 am
Eric Church wouldn’t know what Country is if it jumped up and bit him in the ass!
Nan
July 26, 2018 @ 4:44 pm
Regarding the comments Church made about vocal reality shows, he was saying people can go from a stage winning the show to immediately having a recording contract, and he was against the way that could be achieved. I guess I agree with him. He should have clarified the comments so as to not seem like he disrespected those in Country Music who went on to successful careers after those shows, as if they were less of Artists bec of it, which was wrong of him. He did take that back and apologized for that part. But I can see how Recording Artists who had to spend years trying to get noticed until they could finally “make it” in the tough music business could have some resentment for how these shows have changed the way someone can get a recording contract, (and also fans).
When a contestant is on stage on a TV show watched by millions, each week, and reach the “finals” from fan voting, and then the top prize awarded to the “winner” with (who most fans thought had) the best voice, it’s fair to say people see them as a “celebrity”. What took maybe years in the past can be achieved in record time now. I’ve thought it causes people to view them ‘differently’, maybe without realizing it—In a more positive way, since it seems when they walk off that stage they are a “celebrity” now as well as a Recording Artist. The other benefit I think fair to mention is the “built-in” fan base it gives people, esp if they win. They walk off the stage “crowned” the winner to having upwards of maybe millions of fans from the show who voted for them, the amount it can take another person years to get, if it does ever happen.
The song by Miranda Lambert comes to mind, “Automatic”. I just don’t think these shows were ever the right thing for us as a culture, or for the Music business.
King Honky Of Crackershire
July 26, 2018 @ 6:57 pm
Church is about to get Dixie Chicked over comments he made about the NRA .
Ulysses McCaskill
July 26, 2018 @ 7:46 pm
As he should. That was a terrible comment to make.
King Honky Of Crackershire
July 26, 2018 @ 8:01 pm
I think he should get Dixie Chicked for making horrible music, but yes that comment was dumb. I’m not one to boycott over comments though.
Brian
July 26, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
I don’t see why so many people hate on Eric Church. The guy went on one of the biggest tours of the 2017 and played 3 or more hours each night with just him and his band with no big stage production. He also did everything possible to make sure his fans got the best price for tickets. On the tour he also gave Ashley McBride a huge boost in fans and mainstream appeal. He also brought out Ray Wylie Hubbard on stage to perform and released a song to mainstream radio that the co-wrote with him. People seem to also forget that he recorded a top ten country song with Rhiannon Giddens and invited her to perform it with him on the CMA’s. It blows my mind how people can compare him to Florida Georgia Line and Sam Hunt when he’s doing all of this in support of country music and it’s over looked artists. He realizes the power that he has with a mainstream record label and huge fan base and uses it to benefit other artists in the country/americana genre. He giving them a chance rather than promoting another pop artists. You may not like his cocky outsider persona but he is easily one of the good guys in the mainstream. He knows what kind of music he enjoys to make and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen to it but plenty of people do like it since his last album went platinum.
Nan
July 27, 2018 @ 1:10 pm
Thanks, Brian for the info on him I didn’t know. I started to like his music more recently, and after your comment, (and others who commented here earlier) about his concerts I would want to see him live. A fun mention– supposedly after Church put out the song that honors him, Bruce heard someone from his crew was going to an Eric Church concert. He wanted to thank him for the song “Springsteen”, to tell what it meant to him. He grabbed a paper available, which was the back of a set list that was @3 1/2 hrs long. Eric said he was touched by the note, and also made very aware of the concert time Bruce plays each night. He said it affected him to see that. It’s definitely one of the reasons Bruce’s fans love him so much, and are so loyal. He gives his all on stage every show. It sounds like Eric is the same way. He will be loved for it by fans, as many performers announce their concerts at 90 min. Artists like The Boss and Eric Church will stand out far above other performers for that.
John Montesi
July 27, 2018 @ 12:56 pm
I meant to comment on this when it was first released and everyone was still checking the comment section and bickering with each other. Still, on the off chance that anyone (let alone Eric himself) is still tuning into this, it’s worth spending a minute to share some thoughts now that I have the time to do so.
1) I am a professional writer and have been for my entire adult life, so I know just how snakey interviewers can be to create the story they already had “in their head” before they even show up to talk to the subject. It’s obvious from the base exoticism displayed in the details here (talking about his side-by-side as if it’s some sort of rich redneck toy even though most everyone here in the Ozarks has one even if their daily driver is a 1990s pickup truck, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk which still costs less than many F250 Platinum editions driven by every upper-middle-class dad in Fort Worth, the Jack and Coke, etc.) that the writer does not understand the country genre or lifestyle. Eric has struck it big, but he comes by it honestly. I grew up in the country and turned out to be a weirdass adult who went to liberal arts college, doesn’t eat meat, plays guitar, rides bikes in spandex, etc., but that doesn’t mean that I bat an eye at ordinary details of “country” life. It is a cheap trick to try to paint a hard-working country boy as some sort of Nashville caricature because he’s turning some nice land into a personal haven instead of another condo development. So this already set the tone for an inauthentic interview.
2) It is clear that the interviewer used a cheap trick to talk to EC about gun control. The dude was really disturbed by the events at Route 91 and has performed some emotional live tributes (both of which moved me to tears) to the fallen, so of course his opinion about guns is stronger than it was before last October. Still, he owns some and has a level-headed opinion about the subject, which Rolling Stone managed to turn into a “YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT” style clickbait headline by chopping and screwing his own words and likely sneaking the questions in after the whiskey was open and Eric felt like the ‘interview’ was winding down. I wouldn’t be surprised if what was posed as the main interview session barely made it to print at all once they realized they had this internet gold tucked away at the end of the recording.
3. It’s pointless to argue with nameless strangers on the internet about what is or isn’t ‘real country’ or ‘good music’ or whatever. All I know is that Eric Church has always appealed to me, both because his music is damn good no matter what genre label you put on it, and because his authentic backstory is extremely similar to mine. Even though he’s played up the ‘outsider’ and black leather thing over the years, I think his core messaging is a hell of a lot more consistent than most artists and he managed to take an extraordinary jab at the big machine in his new song/video. Mr. Misunderstood was a spectacular album, and it’s really a treat to see an artist who is enjoying increasingly widespread success manage to make arguably their best album late(r) in their career. In my evaluation, most artists’ debut albums are far and away their best because they had a lifetime of thoughts and melodies to choose from and no expectations from record labels or audiences. Still, Eric managed to string together his origin story and present-day antagonist status for an awesome album that was on heavy rotation for me the last couple of years because it speaks so dearly to me as someone who f**king loves the country but also spent a lot of time getting made fun of because I didn’t fit the mold. Sure, I think he’d make music that most of us on SCM would like even more if he hadn’t gotten so big, but I’m glad that there’s at least 2 guys on the biggest stage who are fighting for all that’s right in country music (the other being Brad Paisley, who worships Buck Owens and Don Rich almost as much as I do).
All of that to say, there are a few Garth Brooks songs I’ll pound some beers to, but I like Eric Church a lot better as far as actual art goes. I think Rolling Stone took his offhand comments about Garth and guns and turned them into headline-grabbing centerfold material by way of some manipulative editing, which really sucks. I have absolutely no doubt that I would have a good time getting my ass kicked by Jack Daniels with Eric, and I’m sure we’d sing along to the Hag and to Two Pina Coladas with equal alacrity. We might even shoot some guns. Everyone needs to relax and agree that this website is a lot better than Rolling Stone and then we can move on with our lives and get back to making fun of Sam Hunt and Florida Georgia Line.
Nan
July 27, 2018 @ 1:52 pm
John, I didn’t see your comment until after mine was posted, (didn’t show up yet) or I would have acknowledged to you I’m glad for the info you gave on Eric Church also. And your insight as a professional writer. It does seem pathetic that an interviewer can twist people’s words and then masses of people can turn against the person, for what they never really meant to say. I was glad to hear your take on that, to put it in perspective.
Marmarbama
August 9, 2018 @ 2:13 pm
if Church felt so strongly about this why didn’t he come to the defense of Anderson East and Miranda Lambert when they were getting crucified for calling out Garth for lip-syncing?
StoneColdConley
June 17, 2021 @ 2:11 pm
I honestly have never been a fan of Garth Brooks. To me he’s nothing but an entertainer, Eric Church is the real deal always has been. He’s trying to save the meaning of country music, with all off this mainstream bubblegum pop music that ppl call country is just a shame. I’m to the point i don’t even play the radio anymore its pretty trash. As for lip syncing, no one pays for that bullshit. They want the real thing but i could be wrong seems like it’s ok for autotune no one plays instruments anymore. Pretty much a shot show.