Eric Church's CMA Fest Performance: A Surprise For Fans

Die-hard Eric Church fans most likely know not to expect him to stay faithful to the recorded versions of his biggest hits during his live performances -- or even necessarily play those big hits at all. However, during his recent headlining slot at the 2023 CMA Fest, many in the crowd were left feeling disappointed and confused. Church notably did not perform popular tracks like "Springsteen," which was a shock to many attendees hoping for a more traditional setlist.

Instead, Church opted for a unique approach, mixing songs like "Drink in My Hand" and "Bad Mother Trucker" with new arrangements and adding a deep cut cover of Little Feat's "Sailin' Shoes" during his seven-song set. While some fans appreciated the unexpected lineup, others left the stadium wanting more and took to social media to express their disappointment over the lack of an encore, which Church had hinted at earlier in the night.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Church reflected on the backlash he faced after his CMA Fest performance. He stated, "I was shocked because I played the show that I went out there to play." His intention was to use the festival as a platform to preview his upcoming 2023 Outsiders Revival Tour, which he was set to kick off shortly after the festival. Church explained that he aimed to give fans a glimpse of what they could expect from the tour rather than delivering a conventional setlist filled with his biggest hits.