Eric Church

Kenneth Eric Church, born May 3, 1977, is an American singer-songwriter and country music artist who is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets. He began his recording career with Capitol Nashville in the mid-2000s and has since released seven studio albums. Church is best known for his country singles, including "Drink in My Hand," "Springsteen," "Give Me Back My Hometown," and "Record Year," as well as his live tours and award-winning projects.

Church was raised in Granite Falls, North Carolina, by his parents, Ken and Rita Church. He worked with his father at Clayton Marcus, a furniture upholstery company where his father was president. At age 13, Church bought a guitar and began writing songs. During high school, he performed at local bars and formed a band called the Mountain Boys with his brother, his college roommate, and another guitarist. He graduated from South Caldwell High School and earned a degree in marketing from Appalachian State University.

Before securing his own recording contract, Church co-wrote songs for artists Terri Clark and Dean Miller. After moving to Nashville, he connected with publisher Arthur Buenahora and producer Jay Joyce, eventually signing with Capitol Nashville. He released his debut album, Sinners Like Me, in 2006, producing top 20 country hits such as "How 'Bout You," "Two Pink Lines," and "Guys Like Me." His second album, 2009's Carolina, generated his first top 10 singles, "Love Your Love the Most" and "Hell on the Heart."

Church achieved major breakthrough success with his 2011 album Chief, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The record produced his first two number-one country singles, "Drink in My Hand" and "Springsteen," and won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards. After releasing the live album Caught in the Act, Church issued his fourth studio album, The Outsiders, in 2014. It spawned the chart-topping singles "Give Me Back My Hometown" and "Talladega."

In 2015, Church released his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood, as a surprise release for his fan club. The album included the number-one singles "Record Year" and "Round Here Buzz." In 2017, he undertook his Holdin' My Own Tour, playing 62 shows and setting attendance records at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, later releasing live recordings from the tour in the box set 61 Days in Church. He released his sixth studio album, Desperate Man, in October 2018.

In April 2021, Church released the triple album set Heart & Soul, which featured 24 songs across three releases and included the chart-topping single "Hell of a View." That era also included achievements such as winning Entertainer of the Year at the 54th Annual CMA Awards and performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" with Jazmine Sullivan at Super Bowl LV. In October 2024, Church released the solo track "Darkest Hour."