Remember When Rascal Flatts Fired Eric Church?
Opening Act There was a time when Eric Church was just starting out, and he was opening for Rascal Flatts. Remember when Rascal Flatts fired Eric Church? Here’s the story….
Opening Act
There was a time when Eric Church was just starting out, and he was opening for Rascal Flatts. Remember when Rascal Flatts fired Eric Church? Here's the story.
As an opening act, you only have so much time on stage before the headliner comes on. And Rascal Flatts was one of the biggest acts in country music, and Eric was the new guy. Well, as we know by now, once Eric gets started, it's hard for him to stop. And he wanted to play longer.
Too Much Of A Good Thing
Flatts asked him to stay on time because the longer he stayed on, the more money it cost for the rental of the venue, sound, etc. They even let him start a little early to give him more time. But, it wasn't enough, The fans loved seeing him.
Remember When Rascal Flatts Fired Eric Church?
Long story short, Rascal Flatts basically fired him because it was costing everyone more money. Remember, Flatts was the big act, and Church was just getting started.
“We asked him four times to stay to the allotted amount of time that he had to play,” DeMarcus recalls to Broadway's Electric Barnyard. “We sat him down in our dressing room and were like, ‘Look. We’ll put you on early so you can play longer. But please, just be off the stage because we still have to do our show.’”
The guys insist it wasn't about their egos but about the amount of money Church's extra time on stage was costing them every night. After repeated warnings, they say they sat him down before their concert at New York City's famed Madison Square Garden, and once again reminded him how important it was that he end on time.
Money, Money, Money
“For every minute that you go overtime, especially in New York City, you’re charged thousands of dollars by the minute in labor fees,” DeMarcus explains.
While the guys and Church all agree they harbor no ill will towards each other, Church has his own account of the facts that night. He says he realized very early on in the tour that it wasn't a good fit for him and deliberately overplayed at Madison Square Garden so he would be kicked off the tour.
What A Replacement Act!
His replacement? A 16-year-old Taylor Swift. Eric told her this was her crowd and they would love her, and he told her, "you are gonna owe me your first gold record."
Swift kept her word and gave him her first gold record, along with a note that said, "Thanks for playing too long and too loud on the Flatts tour. I sincerely appreciate it. Taylor.”
6 Eric Church Collaborations We Can’t Get Enough Of
Eric Church is celebrating his 45th birthday today (5/3), and one of his latest works is with his friend Chris Janson on a song Church wrote, a dark song and video called "You, Me & The River."
Known for his solo work as well as working with other artists in the business in Nashville and beyond, one of his finest collaborators on stage is his backup road singer Joanna Cotten. But Eric has also done duets with artists ranging from Luke Combs to Lzzy Hale of metal band Halestorm.
As we mark his special day today, we look at some of his many on-stage collaborations, whether on a record, concert, or awards shows.
