Eric Church Takes Jab At Garth Brooks Amid CMA Awards Fallout
This story has been updated.
Well well, it’s getting chippy out there after Eric Church and others lost the 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year honor to Garth Brooks. Some believed Eric Church and Carrie Underwood were the two front runners for the biggest trophy in country in 2019—Eric for turning in the highest grossing touring numbers during the eligibility period, and Carrie Underwood for having a landmark year and having a groundswell of support behind her as sole woman nominated for the award. But in the end it was Garth that swept in to get it.
At Eric Church’s show at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, November 16th, he was singing a rendition of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” by Waylon Jennings. One of the most recognized protest anthems in country history that Waylon made a #1 in 1975, Eric Church has been known to cover the song in concert upon occasion. But this time he changed one of the lines to, “I know Garth didn’t do it this way” before cracking a smile, shrugging his shoulders, and taking a victory lap around the stage during an instrumental break. The crowd sure seemed to know Eric’s intention, and roared in approval.
The show was part of Eric Church’s current “Double Down” tour, and he played The Anthem the night before as well. Numerous concertgoers brought signs to the concert proclaiming Eric Church as the real Entertainer of the Year. Eric Church acknowledged the signs, and then said, “I told ’em I said, ‘Listen, I’m fine with it. [But] you pissed the wrong fans off.”
Historically, there has been little love between the two Entertainer of the Year nominees. After losing the CMA for Entertainer of the Year in 2017 to Garth Brooks, Eric 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 said in 2018. “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.”
The winner for Entertainer of the Year is always met with great interest, and often, controversy. But this year it has felt especially contentious. Eric Church is known for ruffling feathers. He once got kicked off a Rascal Flatts tour for playing too long, and too loud, and once called out Blake Shelton for his participation in The Voice. Now he’s taken another shot at Garth.
Don’t expect Garth to respond.
DB
November 19, 2019 @ 7:31 am
Am I the only one who has realized that Church actually (and I assume accidentally) complimented Garth? The whole song is about the singer (in this case Church) lamenting the fact that although he has “made it” as a singer, he did it by selling out. Rhinestones, fancy cars, touring the world, standing behind a big fancy band— not the way Hank did it. Church replaced Hank with Garth. I know he meant for it to be an insult, but what Church actually did was admit that he has sold out, unlike Hank and Garth.
Allison
November 19, 2019 @ 4:32 pm
This is what I don’t get, he couldn’t even get the insult right. I really enjoy both Garth and Eric and wholeheartedly think Eric should have won this award.
But this was a poor, petty move by Eric. He’s better than this mud-slinging, at least I thought he was.
Luckyoldsun
November 19, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
Is the meaning of “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” really all that clear?
The tailored, rhinestoned “Nudie” suits were a fixture of Hank’s era–or maybe the ’50s. Waylon dressed in beat-up jeans and shirts.
And was Waylon saying that his “five-piece band” was fancy? I doubt it.
In truth, I don’t think the lyrics offer any sort of “logical” thesis. They link Waylon to the past and they create an outlaw vibe. That’s all that matters.
DB
November 20, 2019 @ 8:19 am
I agree with you. It’s open to some interpretation. But I don’t really think Waylon meant for his song to be an insult to Hank. Yes, Hank wore rhinestones and drove fancy cars, but he did it because he wanted to and that was his style. He didn’t do it in order to fit the mold to become famous. He repeatedly threw away deals and pissed off pretty much everybody around him who told him he had to do things a certain way.
Waylon’s song was meant to be an insult to all of the singers in the 70’s who were trying to copy Hank in order to get famous. They were trying to “out Hank” Hank. So it was OK for Hank to do all of those things because he was the original. Everybody else (including Waylon in his earlier years, hence him saying “we”) was just being a copy-cat sell-out.
Garth (like his music or not) changed country music (or really music in general) in the same way that Hank changed it decades earlier. When Hank came along, country music was just gospel music sung by people with twangy accents. Hank sang about drinking and chasing women. By today’s standard’s his lyrics were tame, but they were shocking at the time. When Garth came along, country music was Alabama, the Oakridge Boys, etc. Not exactly gospel, but pretty laid back and slow. Then Garth started singing loud, fast songs and putting on huge concerts with pyrotechnics like 80’s rock bands. Even MTV was playing his videos. Again, many people may not like it or consider it country, but he made country music much more mainstream. Hell, the guy filled up Central Park and sold out shows all over Europe.
Eric Church, on the other hand, is trying to make his career by being an “outlaw” which basically means he’s copying people like Waylon. But he also puts on big production concerts, like Garth. Or at least he did when I went to his concert a few years back. So he’s insulting Garth, but putting on the type of concert that Garth more or less introduced to country music. And he’s trying to be an outlaw, which in itself is a hypocrisy— the original “outlaws” didn’t call themselves outlaws or try to be “outlaws”, they were called that by other people.
The irony is that Garth did something that was different and new to the genre. Eric Church isn’t doing anything new. He’s just trying to replicate what people like Waylon did decades ago. So whether you like Garth’s music or not, the fact remains that he was much more original than Eric Church.
And by the way, I like Garth and Eric Church in general. I don’t like everything either of them have done, but I like at least some music from each of them. I don’t recall Garth ever calling out other artists and getting pissy because he got beat out for an award, though.
albert
November 20, 2019 @ 9:53 am
”The irony is that Garth did something that was different and new to the genre. Eric Church isn’t doing anything new. He’s just trying to replicate what people like Waylon did decades ago. So whether you like Garth’s music or not, the fact remains that he was much more original than Eric Church.”
hmmmm…I would argue that garth kept it closer to the roots and traditions than church has …lyrically and musically .however, I would argue that of the two , church is the more ‘original’ in terms of his writing ( co-writing ) , his far more loose -sounding , often scaled back ” unpolished ” , non-traditional approach to productions and , from what I understand , his shows . in these times , church’s music and his whole approach is the more original without a doubt .
saying that , IMHO garth was the right choice …..and this is coming from a non-garth fan . he is fake and over-the -top in just about everything he does …..but he keeps it far more country than just about anyone …..sure its a rockin country and his show is like going to the circus …..but musically the arrangements and narratives are country and they are about US . most people can find themselves in a garth song . I seem to be MIA in eric church’s music . and as far as the word ‘ entertainer ‘ is concerned , I don’t think anyone would argue that entertaining is the one place garth is all but unrivaled .
to summarize : IMO church is the more original but garth is most definitely the entertainer and has the more ‘accessible ‘ material whether you like his ‘entertaining’ or not . I do not .
Luckyoldsun
November 20, 2019 @ 11:27 am
Good discussion.
Generalizations tend not to really stand up. Before Hank, you had Ernest Tubb, whose biggest songs were “Walking the Floor” and “It’s Been So Long Darling”–cheating or honkytonk songs. And contemporary to Hank Williams, was Hank Snow, who sang about everything under the sun, from pre-outlaw material like “Movin’ On,” to “(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I.” And Tennessee Ernie Ford was doing country boogie music then–not Gospel!
I liked early Garth–basically his first three albums, up until the early mid-90s. After that, I thought his sound just got wimpy, like “She’s Gonna Make It.” “Middle-age” Garth music just does not appeal to me like “Middle-age” Jones, Hag, Cash, Willie, Waylon–and Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver–do. (I’ve seen all of them, in concert.) Garth’s live shows are spectacles. I can say I saw him live–in Central Park– even if I was a quarter of a mile away from the stage.
Mad_Habber
November 21, 2019 @ 7:18 pm
I am pretty sure I’ve heard Garth say he saw how Chris LeDoux preformed and wanted to do that himself. It was just that Garth had a record deal and got more attention.
Larry Miller Jr
November 22, 2019 @ 9:29 pm
I actually liked Eric Church, but now he sounds like a butthurt jackass that actually provides nothing new to country music. When you change the whole dynamics of country music and have a huge contribution to what country has done, then speak up, but since you havent Eric Church, just shut up and continue to not make any real contributions.
jessie with the long hair
November 19, 2019 @ 8:02 am
Eric Church is a fake outlaw playing dress-up… and his music sucks.
Rosetta I Bermer
November 19, 2019 @ 9:20 am
Etic church cannot compare to Garth. He has sold out 7 concerts 7 days 5 times in kc. Dream on Eric church
Brother Jones
November 19, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
That dudes only wishes he could have the influence and super stardom that Garth Brooks has had. I also heard this dude is a really cocky bastard, unless you are his crew he doesnt let anyone near the stage if if you have all access. What kind of shit is that?.. This dude is far from a George Strait, Alan and Garth. They set the way for this Rocker BOY, who can barely play his guitar IN TUNE!
Tmv
November 19, 2019 @ 9:28 am
Garth has cheated his fans more than once. Let’s see…hmm, retirement announcement, lip syncing… who knows what else…all while collecting his mortgage payments from them. So, ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR? MY ASS. SCAMMER OF THE DECADE is far more like it. Eric Church might be a fancy pretty boy, but he hasn’t ripped off his fans!
Linda
November 19, 2019 @ 9:32 am
You know NOTHING about Garth if that’s your opinion
Tmv
November 19, 2019 @ 9:40 am
Are you calling me a liar?
Stephen Reed
November 19, 2019 @ 10:04 am
I’m sure they’re not calling you a truther. ;p
Greg Green
November 19, 2019 @ 7:43 pm
That’s a pretty skimpy list for a decade. I’m no Garth fan, but if that’s all you can come up over a decade than Garth is not much of a scammer.
DB
November 20, 2019 @ 8:46 am
Yeah, and Garth is the only artist to ever say he was retiring and then come back. He didn’t perform for 9 years. That’s a much longer stretch than most bands go without performing after they supposedly retire. Oh and by the way, there’s no definition that says retirement is permanent. He stopped working— that’s retiring. When his youngest daughter went to college, he decided to start touring again. That’s not really that hard to understand.
And when he lip-synched, it was his own song at an awards show. He has never been accused of doing it at an actual concert, and he certainly isn’t lip-synching songs that were sung by someone else (a la Millie Vanillie).
So how exactly has he ripped people off?
Tmv
November 19, 2019 @ 9:52 am
2000 Garth announces his retirement from RECORDING AND PERFORMING. November 2017 ADMITS to LIP SYNCING at. CMA Awards. Were you born yesterday? Or the day before?
kim
November 19, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
somebody please tell me how in the hell Garth Brooks managed to land Ent of the Yr in 2017, when he literally, JUST came bk on circuit in 2017 & only 1 song had been put out on radio? The album wasnt even released yet AND he hadnt put on a single concert to promote his new album, or performed in 20 yrs? SOMETHING SMELLS REALLY BAD. He didnt deserve either win. GARTH BROOKS FAKE AS HELLLLLL
DB
November 20, 2019 @ 8:49 am
You might want to check your timeline. His “comeback tour” started in 2014. By 2017 he had been touring for 3 years and I’m pretty sure selling out every single show.
BRT
November 20, 2019 @ 9:03 am
He stepped away from the music scene to be with his children! And if Eric Church wants to sling mud about other artists then so be it, but have the ball to tell it to the face of the one he is insulting instead of saying publicly. He is acting like a five year old who didn’t win the prize at the fair.
Te'a Wagner
November 19, 2019 @ 10:18 am
When Garth came on the seen there was no one like him. There was different rules than there are now. Garth was playing 270+ dates a year his first year but when he broke out he was playing more like 320+ dates some days 2 shows. And if he lipped sang any songs we never knew it. As for winy oh he threw sand near me in the sand box of the business. Eric Church. He is just pissy because he knows he can’t even be compared to a pimple an Garths ASS. Eric has to bitch to take time to find new so gs that sound like every other singer of our time. Hell he even admitted he play others people song at his show. That is because he does not have enought song by him that saounds just like the last one he sang. Where Garth can sing HIS song for 2 or 3 hours and NOT one song sounds so any other he sang. So pissyass boo hoo baby Eric Church need to put his past in his mouth to shut him up long enough to play 1 of .any CD’s Garth has put out and learn something from a man that knows how to do this business. And so it right. And do remember HE WON CAUSE THE FANS VOTED HIM ENTAINER OF THE YEAR… NOT ERIC CHURCH!!!! eric sit abd take some time and find out what he does better than you ( which is about evergthing ) and apply it to your life and music and then you MIGHT have what it takes to be smooth and people will know you work hard to make your music stand out. Not sound like every all person on the radio these days. Hell ask Garth him self to help you. I know he would he is classy of a man and does not want to walk on toes and threw mud. ( to bad neither one of these performers will see our commits.
Tmv
November 19, 2019 @ 10:22 am
Lol. Funny!
MountainGirl
November 19, 2019 @ 12:32 pm
Church actually stated “it was fine with him” meaning that Garth won EOTY. His gripe was with Garth lip syncing on the actual award show, which Garth admitted to doing because of throat issues. Obviously, I’m assuming the CMAS were ok with this.
How can you win EOTY and lip sync? Any one of the “country greats and hall of famers” would have never considered doing that. Church would not as well. They would have cancelled the performance.
Church plays three hour concerts and is a gifted songwriter. Big arena performer? Yes. And so was Garth in the day. And so is Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Reba McIntyre, Brooks and Dunn, and George Strait. Does that make them any less a country performer? Big arena performances have been around for decades.
Church is outspoken. So were some of the other country greats. Last time I checked, we still live in the USA. First amendment, for now, is still intact. Church was questioning the establishment not throwing shade at Garth.
Country music has taken from many genres since its beginnings. Blues, rock, bluegrass, folk. So if doesn’t have a steel guitar, it’s not country? BS.
Lord help the upcoming performers….Luke Combs, which btw, is a staunch Church fan, Hardy, which btw, wrote Shelton’s God’s Country, Ashley McBride, one of the most talented upcoming female performers, where does this stop?
Carry on Chief and other performers coming behind him, to include female performers.
Cathy Love
November 19, 2019 @ 12:50 pm
This awards show was a farce from the beginning. No way Garth Brooks is EOTY. Hasn’t done anything for years and then starts making appearances?? Such a joke.
kim
November 19, 2019 @ 8:13 pm
somebody please tell me how in the hell Garth Brooks managed to land Ent of the Yr in 2017, when he literally, JUST came bk on circuit in 2017 & only 1 song had been put out on radio? The album wasnt even released yet AND he hadnt put on a single concert to promote his new album, or performed in 20 yrs? SOMETHING SMELLS REALLY BAD. He didnt deserve either win. GARTH BROOKS FAKE AS HELLLLLL
Luanne L Schick
November 19, 2019 @ 3:40 pm
Really petty. Sometimes u win. Sometimes u lose. Suck it up princess! Eric Church.
Mary Hander
November 19, 2019 @ 3:42 pm
The award shows are all about money… I like Eric Church and his music. Garth WAS a big change to country music back when and has many great songs. But… Entertainer of the year??? For what reason? For being the come back kid? As much as I was looking forward to seeing Reba, Dolly and others, I turned the show off. There are MANY entertainers who deserved more recognition over the years, more songs on the radio. How often do you hear Reba, Dolly, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins… The list goes on and on. Country music has changed, play Country music on country radio stations. I do like many new artists, but keep it country. Btw.. SOME OF IT by Eric Church.. In my opinion.. One of the best new songs on the radio this year!
John TQ
November 19, 2019 @ 4:07 pm
Whether you do or don’t like garth or eric…. garth was simply NOT entertainer of the year. I love them both actually. And whoever posted that his (erics) music sucks you are about retarded. You can like Garth more or not like Eric for his attitude but his music sucks? You invalidate your own post by lying. Eric certainly out performed garth this year. Whether or not church or someone else shoulda got it doesnt matter. garth should not have
D Rosebud D
November 19, 2019 @ 5:38 pm
Garth can at least move around to entertain his fans. Eric just stands there! BORING! Garth dresses Country. Eric wears crappie clothes! BORING! Garth shows his beautiful eyes during his concerts. Eric must be hiding something behind his sunglasses. Making excuses! Garth has class. Eric is trash and just jealous too! Get over it Eric and start moving your bottie!
dukeroberts
November 20, 2019 @ 10:13 am
I don’t think that’s a great metric on which to judge a country music performer. By your rationale, some of the greatest country singers of all-time wouldn’t be worthy of Entertainer of the Year.
nzcountrymusic
November 21, 2019 @ 2:59 pm
Eric wears glasses on stage because the lights dry out his contacts, he ain’t hiding nothing but his eyes from the bright lights so he can see. And there aint nothing wrong with the way he dresses – hot rock star? Yes please!! I could happily spend 4 hours watching any hot guy stand there in jeans, a t-shirt and aviators playing his guitar & singing. The only thing here that’s trash is your belief that dressing up like a ‘cowboy’ is somehow essential to Country music success, yeah maybe in like the 1990’s but it’s 2019, try living in the present.
Brandy c Chazarretta
November 19, 2019 @ 6:05 pm
I completely agree that Garth did NOT deserve ETOY. There are so many great country music artists out there that never got a nomination. Like jason Aldean?? I love him, his new album is great, he got nothing! Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, kane brown and yes, Eric church. In my opinion they are all better than Garth. He is old news. He left at the height of his career, literally left fans hanging, now he wants to come back? Fine, earn it! He hadnt earned crap in my opinion.
nzcountrymusic
November 19, 2019 @ 8:13 pm
What I found interesting is with all this talk from the CMA’s & people like Bobby Bones about this being a touring award (and about whose brought in the most money) why did Keith Urban not win? I mean he made more money in 2019 than Garth. And Luke who was number 1 on the list of top earners for 2019 wasn’t even nominated. In fact 8 other artists made more money than Garth. Also why was Shania Twain not nominated? Even she ranked higher than Garth on the list of top money earners and had one hell of a comeback, surely she’s deserving of a nomination??
Trigger
November 19, 2019 @ 8:17 pm
Money and touring revenue are two completely different things. There’s money artists make off their music, product endorsements, investments, and all kinds of things that go into that. For years Toby Keith topped this list of country earners because he owned a partial stake in Big Machine. Taylor Swift was the biggest artist in all the land, but Toby Keith still made more money than her because every album Taylor sold, Toby made a profit.
nzcountrymusic
November 20, 2019 @ 12:03 pm
Yeah but there seems to be this big deal about the money right, cause if it was for touring than Carrie or Eric def should have got it. They keep using the what 5 shows he did at stadiums which made more $$ (cause they were at stadiums) as the excuse for justifying his win. Yet Carrie’s tour was bigger, I mean taking into consideration that Garth just turned up, walked out on stage, performed then left, compared to Carrie who had a massive 360 stage set up, had multiple outfit and set changes, played guitar, bongos and piano, constantly walked around the stage cause ya know it’s 360, did meet & greets and played 64 shows in America, Canada and Europe. I just still don’t get how he won, even his tour by comparison was nothing special. And if it’s about who pulled in the most $$ on tour then what the heck is the point? If all that’s being rewarded is money gained and not hard work, might as well all pack up & go home, cause here I was thinking Country music was built off hard work. According to the CMA’s not so.
Robert Galant
November 19, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
I was a HUGE Garth Brooks fan, then……. he left at the height of his career. I haven’t heard of him this entire year and it’s late November….. EOTY?? I hardly think so, however, Eric Church did say he was ok with him winning EOTY, what he was griping about was the lip synching at the awards. You all need to pay attention and stay on topic for Christ sake. SMDH
Linda Greer
November 19, 2019 @ 9:05 pm
Eric Church. Crybaby and sore loser.
dukeroberts
November 20, 2019 @ 10:10 am
Eric Church just seems like kind of a dick. I’m not a fan of his music either. And what’s with wearing the sunglasses ALL OF THE TIME?
Dawn Maire
December 2, 2019 @ 9:56 pm
I agree with Eric Church’s comment in regards to lip sync. I am quite capable of buying my own music and lip sync for free. I also agree within the context that Eric Church referenced Waylon’s song as I do not believe Hank would lip sync. This appears to be the only beef Eric Church has with Garth Brooks. And that’s ok. Perhaps if Garth Brooks dealt with the situation better to begin with then it would have been a non issue.
I don’t live in the US and quite frankly don’t remember the last time I heard a Garth Brooks song. I don’t hear his songs on the radio or else where . Perhaps when he was relevant he was good but I certainly don’t find him to have the same musical, singing and songwriting talent the other nominees have.
There were four great nominees and someone I can’t remember the last time I heard a song from. Garth Brooks does not deserve to be CMA Entertainer of the year. If the Country Music Association wants to avoid another Epic Blunder like this years, they needs to take their blinders off and recognize that Country Music is far more reaching than the US. Country Music artists are touring internationally and it’s time this Association reflect that.
I appreciate Keith Urban, Eric Church and Carry Underwood for taking the time and enormous effort to put shows on internationally and do it consistently year after year. Knowing full well it might not bring the revenue as it does in larger arenas in the US, You are the true Entertainers of the Year!
DiDi Henry
December 3, 2019 @ 8:59 pm
Eric who? Garth continues to be the best entertainer I have ever seen – (8 times). He relates to his fans like no other. He is the real deal! Congratulations Garth. Hope you are around for another 50 years. Your fans will be there with you.
Dawn Marie
December 8, 2019 @ 1:13 pm
Eric Church is the first Country Music artist to make both the North American and International Highest Grossing Touring Artist according to Pollstar. He also has two grammy nominations this year. These are achievements outside his own industry and deserves to be congratulated on his huge achievement! Love his new song too “Some of it” The internet is still blowing up over this epic debacle! I suspect the Country Music Association to have this black cloud over their head for years to come.
Franklin Powell
March 8, 2021 @ 9:45 am
Eric Church is just like Donald Trump, a sore .jealous loser that can’t stand up and act like a man. Church looks dirty and is a smart assed punk.