AIR DATE: March 2019

Hey everybody, it’s Eric Church back for the forty-ninth episode of “Outsiders Radio.”  The Double Down continues across North America!  These past few weeks I’ve been in Kansas City, Toronto Canada, and my home state of North Carolina.  If you put me in North Carolina for any period of time, some funny things might happen…like walkin’ unannounced through the concourse of the Coliseum just an hour before show-time, or saluting the #3 car from the stage.  It could ONLY happen in Carolina.

We’ve been having fun with cover songs again on this tour…playing songs that fit the areas we’re in.  Sometimes those songs are chosen the day of the show.  Of course when you’re in Carolina, the covers come easy.

There are so many great songs about Carolina.  But when we were in Detroit, we played Motown and Bob Seger.  Earlier in March, we played two shows in Toronto, and covered songs by all the great Canadians we’ve loved over the years, including Neil Young, Bryan Adams, and of course The Band.

Shania Twain and a song we covered when we were in Toronto a few weeks ago. And the covers will keep comin’ as the Double Down Tour continues in April.  We’re heading to Dallas, Cleveland, and Greenville in the next few weeks. Plus we just added 13 more shows for the fall.  Go to EricChurch.com for all the dates and towns.

Playing cover songs gives us a chance to celebrate all the great music from the past.  One place that is all about honoring music history is the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville.  A couple weeks ago, they announced their newest members.  These new inductees will join the legends, including Willie, Merle, and Kris.  Nashville DJ Bill Cody made the announcement from the rotunda of the Hall of Fame.

I was just a high school kid when Brooks & Dunn were having hits with Brand New Man, Neon Moon, and Boot Scootin’ Boogie.  They had a hard rockin’ sound, but they also sang about the subjects that form the foundation of country music.

Just a couple songs from the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame: Brooks & Dunn.  The guys will be formally inducted at a special ceremony in October.  This week, Brooks & Dunn will release their first album in over 10 years, and my buddy Luke Combs is just one of the new stars featured.

Luke Combs joining new Hall of Fame members Brooks & Dunn on their debut song Brand New Man.  Look for them to perform that song next week on the Academy of Country Music awards show.  Several other Hall of Famers will perform on the show, including host Reba McEntire, and one of my personal favorites: George Strait.  He’s back in the charts with this song:

George Strait and the current hit from his new album: Honky Tonk Time Machine.  Look for George to perform on the 54^th annual Academy of Country Music Awards show, Sunday April 7^th on CBS-TV.  Also performing this year, the reigning Vocal Duo winners, and 4-time nominees, Brothers Osborne.

That’s ACM Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne.  They’re up for that award again this week, as well as Video and Musical Event for their duet with Dierks Bentley.  Let’s jump to one of my favorite categories: Album of the Year.  We were fortunate to win that award in 2013 for “Chief.”  We’re back in that category again this year for our latest album.

As we wrap up this edition of Outsiders Radio, a reminder that there will be a lot of great performers at this week’s ACM Awards.  Already announced: Maren Morris, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, and yours truly.  In fact this MAY be the song we’ll be playing on the ACM show, and we MAY be singing it with someone nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year who MAY be named Ashley McBryde.  That MAY be happening, but you’ll have to tune in to CBS TV on Sunday April 7^th to be sure.  See you next time on Outsiders Radio.