Eric Church Reacts To The Final Four Cancelation Controversy: “I Always Trust My Fans, I’m Not Taking That For Granted”

Eric Church country music
Anthony D'Angio

Now that the dust has settles and Eric Church has gone from public enemy number one, to just another country singer, let’s take a look at what he thought about the firestorm that surrounded him.

Of course, we all know that Eric Church canceled an arena show in San Antonio, Texas, so he could take his kids to the Duke North Carolina Final Four game (which ended up being an absolute barnburner).

And while Eric has given more to his fans than just about any artist in the industry, the news quickly spread beyond the world of country music and into the national spotlight.

Eric recently sat down with Lon Helton of Country Countdown USA to recap March Madness, and right from the get go, he says that never thought it would happen:

“After the first weekend, my kids could see the possibility of Duke & Carolina. Boone, my oldest, was the one doing the brackets. He said ‘If they make the final four, can we go?’ I never looked at the schedule. I said if they make the Final Four, we’ll be there. The chances were astronomical. 

Six days before San Antonio is when I saw it. I realized I can make up that show. But I can’t replicate Duke-Carolina in the Final Four. I can’t get that back. So it was one of those things where I knew I’d disappoint people, I didn’t know it would be as noisy as it was. But I made a decision to do it.”

But at the end of the day, Eric had to trust that his fans would understand the admittedly selfish decision… and they did:

“You’re right, and the reason I was honest was because of that. I always trust my fans. I’m not taking this for granted. I wanted them to know this is what this means to me. I’m not lying to you. This means this much to me.

I hated for people who made plans. I’m sorry about that. I’ll make it up to San Antonio. I’ll give them a show they won’t forget. It was because it was that unique an event in my life.  In this case, I decided I’d be there.”

Ultimately, the game was phenomenal, sort of vindicating Eric from the decision. After his beloved Tarheels sent Mike Krzyzewski home in his final season, “Eric Church was right” started immediately trending on Twitter.

And as it turns out, Eric had a call with the team afterwards:

“I had a Facetime with all of the players after they beat Duke. It was just wild. They felt the heat. They’d been watching Sports Center too.

If there was anything I could do to help them beat Duke, if there was any extra emotion… they saved my bacon by winning.”

So that’s his side of the story…

And while yeah, he may have lost a few fans here and there in San Antonio, something tells me that make up show is going to be more than worth it.

Eric Church Announces Free Make-Up Show For Canceled San Antonio Concert

According to an email sent out to his fan club members, the Church Choir, Eric will be playing a free show at Whitewater Amphitheater in nearby New Braunfels, Texas on Friday, September 2.

“Thank you, San Antonio, for letting me take my family to this game. It took a minute to figure out how and when I could properly express my thanks.

I will be coming to Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX on Friday, Sept 2, 2022 for a ONE of a kind FREE show for those of you who bought tickets and were planning to attend our canceled San Antonio show. Details to be announced soon.”

Now I don’t know what Chief means by “one of a kind” show, but you’ve got to think this is going to be a pretty special show. Hell, I didn’t have tickets to the San Antonio show but I’d probably pay to go to this one because you’ve gotta think it’s going to be unlike any he’s ever done.

More details about the show will be announced later, but hopefully this helps to quiet the critics and puts some of the online bashing of Church to rest.

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