What is Eric Church's Net Worth?
Eric Church is an American country music singer-songwriter with a net worth of $40 million. Known for hits like "Guys Like Me," "Hell on the Heart," "Springsteen," "Cold One," and "Record Year," he has collaborated with artists such as Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban. He has received numerous Grammy Award nominations and has won multiple ACM and CMA Awards.
Early Life and Education
Kenneth Eric Church was born on May 3, 1977, in Granite Falls, North Carolina. His father, Ken, was the president of a furniture upholstery company. At the age of 13, Church purchased his first guitar and began writing songs. By his senior year in high school, he was performing at a local bar. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a marketing degree but moved to Nashville to pursue his music career after a broken engagement.
Music Career
In 2005, Church entered the professional music scene by co-writing Terri Clark's "The World Needs a Drink" and Dean Miller's "Whiskey Wings." Signing with Capitol Nashville, he released "Sinners Like Me" in 2006, featuring singles like "How 'Bout You" and "Guys Like Me." He toured with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. His 2009 album "Carolina" included top-ten hits "Love Your Love the Most" and "Hell on the Heart."
With his 2011 album "Chief," Church achieved his first number-one hits on the Billboard 200 and Hot Country Songs charts with "Drink in My Hand" and "Springsteen." The album won CMA and ACM Awards for Album of the Year. He collaborated with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan on the song "The Only Way I Know" from Aldean's album "Night Train."
Church's fourth album "The Outsiders" (2014) produced successful singles like "Give Me Back My Hometown" and "Cold One." His 2015 album, "Mr. Misunderstood," included hits like "Record Year" and won the CMA Award for Album of the Year. "Desperate Man" (2018) and the 2021 triple-album set "Heart & Soul" continued his success, with singles like "Stick That in Your Country Song" and "Hell of a View." He toured from 2021 to 2023 in support of these albums.
Charlotte Hornets Investment
In June 2023, Michael Jordan sold a majority share of the Charlotte Hornets to a group of investors, including Eric Church and J. Cole. Specifics of their investments remain undisclosed, but owning 1% of the $3 billion valuation would necessitate a $30 million investment each.
Style and Influences
Eric Church's music can be categorized as country rock, southern rock, and outlaw country. Recognizable for his aviator sunglasses and Von Dutch denim trucker hat, Church cites influences like Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings, among others. He is also influenced by heavy metal bands like Metallica.
Personal Life
In 2008, Church married Katherine Blasingame, a music publisher. They have two sons, Boone and Tennessee, and reside in Nashville. The couple founded the Chief Cares Fund, a non-profit aiding underprivileged families and funding no-kill animal shelters. In 2022, Church received the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian honor.
A strong advocate for marijuana, Church's songs like "Smoke a Little Smoke" and "The Joint" reflect his stance. At the 49th ACM Awards, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton dubbed him the Willie Nelson of the new generation, humorously comparing his dressing room to a marijuana dispensary.
