Eric Church Goes Gospel At Stagecoach: Crowd Heads For The Exits

Eric Church shocked punters with his set at Stagecoach festival over the weekend, perhaps for the wrong reasons.

For his Friday headlining set (26 April), fans left and took to social media to express their disappointment after Church performed a set of hymns backed by a gospel choir.

Opening with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Eric Church continued by performing hymns such as Swing Low Sweet Chariot, This Little Light Of Mine, I Saw The Light (Hank Williams cover), Stand By Me (Ben E. King cover), Amazing Grace and more, with some of his set even venturing into rap, with the singer playing versions of Gin & Juice (Snoop Dogg cover) and California Love (2Pac cover).

Addressing the polarising set, Church commented in a statement (via USA Today), “This was the most difficult set I have ever attempted.

“I've always found that taking it back to where it started, back to chasing who Bob Seger loves, who Springsteen loves, who Willie Nelson loves, you chase it back to the origin—the origin of all that is still the purest form of it. And we don't do that as much anymore. It felt good at this moment to go back, take a choir and do that.”

The publication added that Church admitted he was “happy with his choice to do what he wanted anyway.”

Below are some of the reactions to Church’s set, from “mass leaving” crowds to some fans calling his unique set a “boss move.”

Eric Church features on the newly released Glen Campbell Duets – Ghost On The Canvas Sessions, the tribute album that reimagines Campbell’s original 2011 album Ghost On The Canvas.

Church said about featuring on Hold On Hope, duetting with Campbell – his original vocals recreated in duets with numerous artists – “It was really special to me to be able to be part of this project. Glen was so important to not just Country music but all of music. What a stallion!”

Last year, Church was among a group of buyers finalising a deal to buy a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets from former professional basketball player and Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan.

@Stagecoach we paid $600 to see a headline where people are mass leaving… @ericchurch is a legend, but he hasn’t gotten off the stool and most songs are covers with the choir. This isn’t what we came for. pic.twitter.com/GcsMrqAIT7

— Anastassia Olmos (@StassiOlmos) April 27, 2024

so apparently Eric Church headlined Stagecoach on Friday and instead of a full band he just brought a stool and sat and did an acoustic set and people booed and left

makes me love Eric Church much much more what a boss move

— Cara C⚾️💙per (@caramariecooper) April 28, 2024

@MorganWallen could walk out Sunday, throw a chair off the stage and leave. It would still be better than @ericchurch was tonight at @Stagecoach pic.twitter.com/BD25EuftB7

— Connor (@CoopScoops_8) April 27, 2024

I’ve never seen a headliner clear a fest out quicker than Eric Church and whatever the fuck he’s doing tonight

— BECCCCCAHHHH (@eyybeccs) April 27, 2024

I’m all for Eric Church serving but not at stagecoach bro! This is a music festival not an intimate concert

— BECCCCCAHHHH (@eyybeccs) April 27, 2024

The #ericchurch #stagecoach hate is wild to me. He put on one heck of a show. That crowd didn’t deserve him.#stagecoach2024 #church #choir pic.twitter.com/X83tZzVchD

— Manda (@Manda_PI) April 28, 2024

Eric Church might be the most disappointing festival headliner ive ever seen??? It’s like a gospel set?? I’m so lost.

— kb (@KennethBaker97) April 27, 2024