Just like you, Country singer Eric Church has had enough with the pandemic and life off the road.
Church is on the cover of Billboard magazine this month showing himself getting vaccinated, and speaks of doing his part to "get needles in arms" in order for the world to more quickly return to a new normal.
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“I view it as a godsent miracle,” Church says of the unprecedented vaccine in Billboard's cover story. “It became very clear to me that the only way to really get back to normal is through vaccinations." Addressing an old photo of himself surrounded by a crowd on his wall during the interview, "It just seems so far away," he says. "All I’ve ever done is play live shows. That’s my whole gig.”
Aside from putting himself out there as someone who sees the vaccine as a scientific breakthrough (just like that moving magazine cover above... how cool is that?), Church also offered words of understanding. "If you believe you shouldn’t, I don’t have a problem with it. I’m a liberty guy, too. I get it," he explained. "But I view this a little differently than most other things. We’ve never encountered this."
Church differs from many of his contemporaries who took to streaming concerts and special online events during the lockdown. He chose to meet with scientists, industry leaders, and venue managers to figure out a way, the best way, to get back in front of live crowds. "You’ve got to get needles in arms,” he says.
He's well aware that taking a stance on something so divisive can be touchy for a singer trying to keep a close connection with all of his fans. He's no stranger to standing up for his beliefs, however. Earlier this year he performed at the Super Bowl with R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan -- a collaboration that may not have happened without the current state of racial tensions in the States. Church remembers the game's entertainment producer Roc Nation saying "'Listen, we want a Caucasian country artist, and we want an African American female R&B artist.’” Following a year that “was so divisive,” he says, “I just liked what they were trying to do.”
Hey, we like what you're doing too, Eric. Keep up the good fight, and hopefully, we can all get together for a massive celebration much sooner rather than later!
Eric will be releasing a three-part album this month, titled Heart & Soul, with the first installment set to arrive on April 16. He's got big plans for an arena tour to support it as well, but wants it to happen at 100% capacity -- so get that shot when you can, Church Choir!
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