Eric Church is having himself one helluva weekend.
When a few members of the band got COVID earlier this week, Eric Church had two choices… either cancel his sold out Gather Again Tour shows in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, or step out on that stage alone.
The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year chose the latter.
It’s no secret that Eric Church puts on one of the best live shows in all of country music. Along with Joanna Cotten and the rest of the band, that crew can blow the roof clean off.
So I can understand the frustration of finding out that Eric is going to do a show completely solo, but for my money, the good people of Pennsylvania are the lucky ones…. when are you going to get to see Eric perform like this ever again?
However, rather than performing completely alone, Eric had a few surprise guests.
He welcomed Cam on stage Friday night in Pittsburgh, and tonight in Philly, it was Morgan Wallen’s turn to surprise the sold out crowd.
Eric threw fans a bit of a curveball when he started in on a cover of Morgan’s current single, “Sand In My Boots,” but then Morgan himself walked on stage, and the crowd went bonkers.
The duo performed a number of songs together including the aforementioned single, as well as Morgan’s “Whiskey Glasses,” Eric’s “Record Year,” “Homeboy,” and more.
When Morgan stepped to the mic, he graciously called Eric the greatest country music singer that ever lived, while thanking the fans for allowing to share the stage:
“Thank you guys so much, I appreciate you allowing me to come up here and sing some songs.
I appreciate you being here for Eric Church, this is the best f*cking country music singer that ever lived in my opinion.
I’m honored to share a stage.”
Is Eric the best that ever lived? Bold statement, eh?
A Hero & A Mentor
Eric and Morgan have become pretty good friends over the course of this past year.
The two have been seen golfing together, as well as fishing, and they even jammed out an acoustic performance of “Sand In My Boots” alongside Hardy earlier this year.
And then more recently, they shared the stage for the opening of Twelve Thirty Club, a new Nashville hot spot owned by Justin Timberlake.
Morgan has been outspoken about how much he respects the Chief, calling him “the best country music artist that’s ever lived.”
And the respect is mutual, with Church saying that Wallen is “real damn good.”
“He’s real damn good and he’s authentic. That’s the key. Morgan is not trying to be somebody else. He’s just doing him. It’s refreshing to see and hear.”
Church also co-wrote the final song on the album, “Quittin’ Time,” with Luke Laird and Josh Thompson.
