What just happened?
That was the question a lot of fans at CMA Fest were asking last night after what many are calling a disappointing performance from superstar Eric Church on the main stage at Nissan Stadium to end the third night of the festival on Saturday.
Chief rounded out a lineup that included Tracy Lawrence, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and Jon Pardi. And when Church told the crowd that he “had nowhere else to be” and would play all night, fans were expecting a long and rowdy performance.
Instead what they got was a 6 song setlist that didn’t include many of Church’s biggest hits, but instead was filled with deep cuts like “Bad Mother Trucker,” “Hangin’ Around,” and a cover of Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes” that led into Church’s 2014 single “Cold One.”
Church opened his set with “Country Music Jesus,” and also performed a reimagined, funky version of “Drink In My Hand” that also left some fans scratching their heads.
Eric Church completely reinvents “Drink in My Hand” after promising a “funky” late-night set. Is he doing these kinds of arrangements on tour this year? ‘Cause this #CMAFest set is 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LA0UEFnM0I
— brianmansfield (@_brianmansfield) June 11, 2023
The set ended with one of Church’s biggest hits, “Smoke a Little Smoke.” And while many fans were expecting songs like “Springsteen,” “Record Year,” or “Talladega,” instead Church finished the song, grabbed his cup from his mic stand, thanked the Nissan Stadium crowd and walked off as the stadium lights came on – an abrupt and what many are calling disappointing ending.
A lot of disappointed and confused people tonight with @ericchurch but going back and watching the video it definitely looks like he just finished the set and said goodnight… albeit 8 minutes early. #cmafest pic.twitter.com/9fW4z9xCXp
— Erin (@ErinLoves05) June 11, 2023
After the abrupt ending, many in the stadium reported that there were even audible boos from the crowd.
First time ever at @CountryMusic's #CMAFest and it's been great – until @ericchurch's very odd exit that had the crowd booing him. What the heck was that???
— Jennifer Nelson (@jlnelson0730) June 11, 2023
Eric Church ends very wierd set and disappoints 50,000 fans. I don’t know if he was pissed off at the CMA or what. Lights come on only 4 songs in and it’s done. Major disappointment at the CMAs.#CMAFest #EricChurch pic.twitter.com/3kbIeqLRPg
— jason madigan (@jasonemadigan) June 11, 2023
Very disappointed with how @ericchurch ended the cmafest concert. Didn't even play long like you said you was and everyone boooed you because of how you walked off stage with no thank you or anything . Smh #cmafest #EricChurch
— xXMizzRedXx (@xXMizzRedXx) June 11, 2023
Quite a few fans took to social media after the show and directed their anger at Church himself.
Laying in bed thinking about how Eric church successfully fucked 50,000 people in one night. What a stud.
— Tennessee Resident (@901Goblin) June 11, 2023
Was excited to see @ericchurch for the 1st time at #CMAFest this year. He thanked the 60,000+ fans, “sang” a couple songs and then gave us a “big f*ck you” by walking off ! We pd big $ 4 our tkts, he donated time, is that all we were worth? #CMAFest #HeGotBooed #Disappointed
— Shana Collins (@slhamel70) June 11, 2023
Pathetic and Disappointed ending to #CMAfest @ericchurch playing your hits goes a long way to having the crowd stay and you not carrying on like a princess and disappearing.. needs to be investigation! @CountryMusic
— Benny Drew 🇦🇺 (@benny_drew) June 11, 2023
Eric Church lost me as a fan tonight (probably not the only one). That was the worst performance I’ve ever been too & I go to 15-20 concerts a year. Terrible way to end night 3 of #CMAFest
— Ghost (@washedghost) June 11, 2023
Wow!!!! #CMAFest what was that?? @ericchurch that was horrible and caused a mass exodus of the stadium. Walked off stage abruptly. And for the last act? #disappointedfan #cmafestival #horribleperformance
— michelle ivanyi ☕️👩🏻💻🇨🇦 (@IvanyiMichelle) June 11, 2023
@CountryMusic next time put @ericchurch on at 8pm, this way he can disappoint us earlier in the night and not after midnight. 🙄 #CMAFest
— Mikel (@ShaolinMike) June 11, 2023
@ericchurch what a shit set to close CMA. Walk off because you’re playing stuff no one wants to hear and everyone left. Please don’t come back. #egomaniac
— David St Charles (@davidstcharles) June 11, 2023
Biggest flop concert I’ve ever been to. @ericchurch played 4 songs and walked off the stage. Nobody sure what happened. Eric fucking church is now fuck eric church
— Justin Smith (@smitty9988) June 11, 2023
Others speculated that it was a decision by CMA Fest to cut off his performance due to noise curfews in Nashville.
So @ericchurch showed his ass last year but they let him continue playing anyways so why not let him do the same tonight? Why cut him off this year @CountryMusic 50,000 people disappointed and he was the only reason I came up here today. #ericchurch #CMAFest pic.twitter.com/hh5LHt3cZh
— Justin (@JustinBowe81) June 11, 2023
CMA fest cut Eric church off, idc what y’all say about him
— C Webb (@commander_cope) June 11, 2023
Others even worried that something was wrong with Chief and expressed their concern.
Everyone's really upset and mean tweeting @ericchurch butttt that was NOT normal, something had to have happened right? Is he ok? #CMAFest #chevycma
— Sara Bell (@Saraa_jayne) June 11, 2023
What happened? @ericchurch walked off a short set from #CMAfest without as much as a thanks for coming. I’ve seen him so many times and that was so strange. There’s gotta be more to this story @CountryMusic
— Michelle Mast (@MsMastFRHS) June 11, 2023
Whatever the explanation (and let’s be honest: Church does things his own way so the explanation might just be that it’s what Eric Church does), it was clearly a disappointing ending to the third day of the festival for many fans in the stadium.
#CMAFest Eric church performed for himself tonight and not the fans. Never been more disappointed at a concert.
— Shannan Jursa (@shannanigansj3) June 11, 2023
Wow did he really just walk off the stage like that! That was horrible!! @CountryMusic @ericchurch
— Arcy Campos (@campos_arcy13) June 11, 2023
