Eric Church was always a country artist that Morgan Wallen looked up to, even before he had a successful career of his own. Now that the two of them have crossed paths working in the industry, they have formed a special bond.
The Chief recently sat down with Lon Helton of Country Countdown USA and discussed their close friendship. Even when they’re not jumping on stage with each other or relaxing on a golfing trip, Church revealed they are still talking on a pretty regular basis.
“There are a lot of these younger guys that I’ve become friends with,” he shared. “With Morgan, we talk weekly. The thing I like about him is he’s a genuine person, and real honest. We enjoy spending time together. We go fishing, we’ve written songs, and it’s become a neat friendship for me.”
Earlier this year, their friendship really started to blossom when they went on a golfing/fishing trip that really solidified their ability to get along well.
“Couple them southern boys,” Wallen wrote in his caption on social media, sharing a candid photo of them in a golf cart.
Upon the release of Wallen’s award-winning sophomore project, Dangerous: The Double Album, there was a familiar name in the credits of his song, “Quittin’ Time.” Along with his co-writers Luke Laird and Josh Thompson, Church played a part in the making of this record that has seen so much success.
The songwriters even got the chance to perform this song together when Wallen joined his friend on stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during a stop on Church’s sold-out Gather Again Tour. As a surprise for the audience, Church brought Wallen out on stage to help him sing this song.
“It’s unreal to me to think about that 20-year-old kid… being so in tune with what he was doing, so fired up. It’s pretty crazy to think seven years later I’m up there on that same stage with him and getting to share those moments with him. I think he knows, I hope he knows how much that meant to me,” Wallen said as he recently reflected on the time when he was just one of the fans enjoying Church’s set.
Since the “Heart On Fire” singer has had his fair share of experience in the music industry, he explained that he had some words of wisdom to share with Wallen.
“I just told him to keep it about the music. A lot of people told him to keep it between the lines, and I told him ‘Screw the lines, keep it between the buoys. Lines are too tight. Let’s do buoys.’ He’s doing very well. I think anyone who spends time with him will get a genuine person, and I appreciate that.”
Church joined Wallen on stage in Nashville last month for his three night stand at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Other stars that joined the “Sand In My Boots” singer during his sold-out shows in music city included Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Lil Durk, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn, Larry Fleet, HARDY, Ernest, and Jimmie Allen.
Eric Church and Morgan Wallen will soon share the stage again in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 11 during Church’s headlining performance at U.S. Bank Stadium, dubbed One Hell Of A Night. ERNEST will also appear on the bill.
