Eric Church Divides the Internet With 'Disappointing' Stagecoach Performance

Eric Church had people confessing on social media their honest reactions to his questionable performance and set design on his first-day closing performance at the 2024 Stagecoach Festival.

Church divided the internet and festival goers over his decision to curate a one-of-a-kind gospel set on the country music festival.

Eric Church Wants To Challenge Himself on Stagecoach Festival

In a statement that Billboard released after the first day of Stagecoach Festival, Church revealed that his recent performance was "the most difficult set" he had ever attempted to do.

Church closed the first day of the 2024 Stagecoach Festival last April 24, 2024, which featured performances from Jelly Roll, Elle King, Dwight Yoakam, and more.

"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," Church said, explaining his decision to hire a 16-person choir to sing as backup in front of a stained glass cathedral set.

Eric Church's Stagecoach Festival setlist included covers of "Hallelujah," "Take Me to the River," "This Little Light of Mine," "Stand By Me," "I'll Fly Away," "When the Saints Go Marching In" and even "Gin and Juice."

According to Church, he has always pushed himself to do "something really, really strange and weird, and take a chance." While he acknowledges that sometimes it doesn't work, he claims that "it's okay if you're living on that edge, because that edge, that cutting edge, is where all the new guys are going to gravitate to anyway."

"So if you can always challenge yourself that way, it always cuts sharper than any other edge," he added.

Eric Church Divides Fans On Social Media over Stagecoach Festival Set

However, Stagecoach Festival goers expressed their honest opinions on social media, particularly on X, formerly Twitter, about Church's performance.

"There's a revival in the desert @ericchurch taking @Stagecoach to Church with Jo-Jo in the choir!! @amazonmusic," one fan tweeted.

"Thought @ericchurch killed it tonight at @Stagecoach. I realize this isn't a popular opinion on this Hellsite but if you recognize his extraordinary talent you'd realize how special this was," another echoed.

While some are thrilled with the unexpected set, some are not.

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

Tags

Eric Church, Stagecoach Music Festival