Eric Church: 13 years of 'Chief'

On July 26, 2011, exactly 13 years ago, Eric Church released his breakthrough album Chief, forever transforming his place in the country music scene. Prior to this, Church had seen modest success with tracks from his first two albums, but no one could have anticipated the explosive impact Chief would have on both country music and Eric’s career.

Named after Eric’s grandfather, who served as chief of police for 35 years, the nickname ‘Chief’ was passed down to Eric himself, making the album's title deeply personal. Chief delivered five hit singles, with "Springsteen" and "Drink In My Hand" both reaching #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. These standout tracks, along with "Homeboy," "Like Jesus Does," and "Creepin’," became essential parts of Church's repertoire. All five singles eventually went platinum, with "Springsteen" achieving an impressive 7x platinum certification. Even non-singles like "Jack Daniels" and "Over When It’s Over" earned gold certifications from the RIAA, showcasing the album's wide-ranging appeal and enduring popularity.

Undoubtedly, "Springsteen" was the album’s biggest hit. It remains a fan favorite, amassing over 473 million streams on Spotify. The track topped the charts for two weeks in 2012 and received numerous accolades, including Grammy nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. It also garnered two ACM nominations for Single and Song of the Year, as well as three CMA nominations for Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year.

Now, 13 years later, the love for Chief remains strong, as does Church’s passion for his music. We couldn't be more excited for Eric Church to headline the show on Saturday, September 21, during our epic two-day Sing Out Loud Festival “Live Wildly Showcase!” Get your tickets now HERE!