Yeah, we’re still not ready to let this Entertainer of the Year thing go.
If you’re a loyal Whiskey Riffer, you probably know the name Taylor Hendrix. Taylor is the one responsible for a good amount of the Eric Church concert footage that appears on Whiskey Riff. You know, all those times Eric has covered a song like “Gin & Juice” or delivers another epic “Mistress Named Music” medley, and it goes viral on Whiskey Riff, and then the rest of the country music websites starting posting it too? Taylor was the one standing in the front row taking that awesome footage. She even took the video of Eric singing “I know Garth didn’t do it this way,” but I’m not about to get into that again.
Anyways, this past Saturday was the final night of Eric’s Double Down Tour in Sacramento and it also just so happened to be Taylor’s 100th Eric Church show. She knew it, her husband knew it, some of her closet friends knew it, but you know else knew it? Eric did.
Taylor had a sign, but that didn’t matter. Eric already knew, and he had a gift waiting for her. During “Record Year,” Eric walked back to the piano and grabbed a drum head that was autographed by him, Joanna Cotten, and the entire band.
Here’s her story recalling the moment when her favorite artist went above and beyond to reciprocate the love.
“As most of y’all know, Saturday night was not only the final show of the Double Down Tour, but it was also my 100th EC show. I was so excited to celebrate that milestone, but also so sad to see the tour come to an end. Jane was so kind and had a poster made for me to hold up and when “Record Year” started, Eric sees it, smiles and says “I got you! I got you!”
I literally have no clue what is going on. None. But, he sings part of the song, and then walks back to the piano and grabs something. And, walks back to me and said “I already knew! Come here!” And hands me a drum head that said “Taylor, Happy 100th We Love You” and it was signed by him, Jo and the whole band! Then he grabbed my hand and said, “I love you!” I can’t even begin to explain the emotions that swept over me in that moment. Not just the kindness Eric showed me, but turning around and seeing my husband and my friends crying. The hugs. The genuine happiness on their faces for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share that moment with.
Like Mitch said, a lot of people don’t get it. AND, THAT’S OK! It’s not for everyone to get. But, we get it. Most of the people who take the time to read this get it. And, Saturday night was a perfect example of why I have been to 100 shows. He knew and he cared enough to acknowledge it for me. I will forever be thankful to him for that and for everything he has brought into my life through music.
I sat on the plane Sunday and thought about the past few weeks especially and the things people have done for me that I didn’t deserve. I’m so blessed and overwhelmed by the love that is constantly shown to me by so many people. This family, this tour, this adventure is something I will never forget. And, I especially won’t forget Saturday night in Sacramento. *Thank you Eric, Jo, ECB, the crew and everyone else who made this tour incredible. WE LOVE YOU.”
We can talk about album sales and we can talk about number one singles and we can talk about packing people into a football stadium until the cows come home, but at the end of the day, making music isn’t about any of that. As Eric Church often says, music is about connecting a melody with a memory, freezing a moment in time that will last forever. It’s giving your most loyal fans moments like this, even though you don’t have to.
Eric gets it, his fans get it, and hopefully someday, the rest of country music will too.
