Nayara Elvina
Eric Church has spent the better part of two decades cementing his reputation as one of the most influential figures in 21st-century country music. Known affectionately by fans and peers as "The Chief," Church’s impact extends far beyond his own discography of nine studio albums and a string of chart-topping hits like "Springsteen" and "Drink in My Hand." While his musical legacy is defined by a refusal to adhere to Nashville’s traditional radio-play formulas, a secondary and equally significant part of his influence has emerged: his role as a primary tastemaker for the genre. By consistently selecting opening acts that lean toward the independent, alternative, and gritty edges of country music, Church has effectively curated a pipeline for the next generation of superstars.
The phenomenon of the "Eric Church Bump" is well-documented within the industry. Established icons such as Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, and HARDY have all cited Church as a foundational influence on their sound and career trajectories. However, in recent years, Church has shifted his focus toward the independent and Appalachian country scenes, providing a massive platform for artists who might otherwise struggle to find a foothold in the mainstream. This strategy was most visible during his 2023 Outsiders Revival Tour and his current Free The Machine Tour, both of which functioned more as curated festivals of emerging talent than traditional headlining tours.
A Legacy of Early Identification and Artist Advocacy
The history of Church’s tour selections reveals a consistent ability to identify talent years before it reaches critical mass. In 2012, during his first major headlining run, the Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour, Church selected Jon Pardi and Kip Moore as support. At the time, both were relatively unknown; today, Pardi is a multi-platinum artist and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Perhaps the most famous example of Church’s advocacy occurred in 2017 during the Holding My Own Tour. Church famously invited Ashley McBryde to join him on stage to perform her song "Bible and a 44" before she had a major record deal or national radio presence. This single moment is often credited with catapulting McBryde into the national spotlight, leading to multiple CMA and Grammy nominations.
Following a period between 2019 and 2022 where Church largely performed without traditional openers, his return to the touring circuit in 2023 marked a renewed commitment to artist discovery. The Outsiders Revival Tour featured a roster that, in retrospect, reads like a "who’s who" of modern country dominance, including eventual superstars Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll, alongside critically acclaimed acts like The Red Clay Strays and Koe Wetzel.
The Outsiders Revival and the Rise of the Independent Scene
The 2023 tour was notable not just for the caliber of talent, but for the diversity of sound. By including artists like Muscadine Bloodline, Shane Smith & the Saints, and Hailey Whitters, Church signaled to the industry that the "Outsider" brand was a viable commercial force. This trend has continued into the Free The Machine Tour, which has introduced audiences to the soulful sounds of Kashus Culpepper and the gothic-folk influences of Stephen Wilson Jr.
To understand the scope of Church’s influence as a curator, it is necessary to examine the specific artists he has championed. The following ten acts represent the "Church standard"—artists who prioritize songwriting, live instrumentation, and authentic storytelling over commercial trends.
1. Shane Smith & the Saints
Hailing from the Texas Red Dirt scene, Shane Smith & the Saints have long been considered one of the most technically proficient live bands in the country-rock orbit. Their sound—a complex mixture of Appalachian folk, Cajun rhythms, and four-part harmonies—found a natural home on the Outsiders Revival Tour. The band’s 2024 album, Norther, demonstrated a vocal maturity in frontman Shane Smith that has drawn comparisons to the late-career resonance of Johnny Cash. Despite being an independent act for much of their career, their inclusion on Church’s tour validated their status as a premier national touring act.
2. The Red Clay Strays
Few bands have experienced a more meteoric rise than Alabama’s The Red Clay Strays. After being featured on the 2023 Outsiders Revival Tour—where they were notably the last name listed on the initial promotional posters—the band moved from the bottom of the bill to the top of the charts. Their breakthrough single "Wondering Why" and their subsequent win as the 2025 CMA Vocal Group of the Year (dethroning perennial winners Old Dominion) serve as a testament to Church’s ability to spot a "certified star" in the making.
3. 49 Winchester
Based in Castlewood, Virginia, 49 Winchester brings a soulful, piano-driven "Appalachian Soul" sound to the stage. Frontman Isaac Gibson’s powerful vocals have become a hallmark of the band’s identity. Their recent participation in the Free The Machine Tour included a high-profile cover of "The Legend of Wooley Swamp," further cementing their reputation as a band capable of holding their own in stadium environments.
4. Charles Wesley Godwin
Charles Wesley Godwin is frequently cited by enthusiasts as the gold standard of modern songwriting. His narratives often center on his West Virginia roots, ranging from dark murder ballads like "Cranes of Potter" to intimate family tributes. Godwin’s relationship with Church has been particularly collaborative; the two have shared the stage for duets of Church’s "Sinners Like Me" and the classic "Pancho and Lefty." Godwin’s inclusion on the Free The Machine Tour has introduced his "cinematic country" style to a broader, more mainstream audience.
5. Whiskey Myers
While Whiskey Myers was already an established force in southern rock before joining Church in 2023, their presence on the tour helped bridge the gap between the rock and country worlds. With a heavy-hitting discography including the 2025 release Whomp Whack Thunder, Cody Cannon and his band represent the more aggressive, guitar-heavy end of the "Outsider" spectrum that Church has always championed.
6. Kashus Culpepper
A Navy veteran with a voice rooted in blues and soul, Kashus Culpepper is the most recent "find" in the Church pipeline. Culpepper’s debut album, Act I, released earlier this year, showcases a versatility that has already led to collaborations with Sierra Ferrell and Marcus King. His debut as an opener for Church in Hollywood, Florida, earlier this month marks his official entry into the top tier of the alt-country scene.
7. Muscadine Bloodline
The Alabama duo consisting of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton has remained fiercely independent throughout their career. Known for their prolific output—six projects in six years—Muscadine Bloodline balances swampy southern rock with polished vocal harmonies. Their 2023 stint on the Outsiders Revival Tour showcased their ability to translate their "unfiltered" sound to massive crowds without losing the intimacy of their songwriting.
8. Cody Jinks
Cody Jinks serves as a peer to Church in many ways, having built a massive, loyal "flock" of fans through independent channels. Often described as a "Texas troubadour with a metalhead’s heart," Jinks’ themes of sobriety, fatherhood, and outlaw life resonate with the core Church demographic. His inclusion in the 2023 tour was a rare moment where two titans of the independent-minded country movement shared a single bill.
9. Blackberry Smoke
As elder statesmen of the modern southern rock movement, Blackberry Smoke’s history with Church dates back to the 2012 Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour. Their longevity—spanning over two decades—and their commitment to a "rock-first" approach have made them a permanent fixture in the orbit of artists who refuse to conform to Nashville norms.
10. Stephen Wilson Jr.
Indiana native Stephen Wilson Jr. became a household name for many after a standout performance at the 2025 CMA Awards. However, his 22-track debut album Søn of Dad had already made him a critical darling. His music, which blends grunge, gothic folk, and traditional country, is perhaps the most sonically adventurous of all the acts Church has recently supported. Their recent collaborations on stage in Fort Worth featured covers of Guy Clark and Willie Nelson, highlighting a shared reverence for the "songwriter’s songwriter" tradition.
Industry Implications and the "Outsider" Economy
The broader impact of Eric Church’s tour selection is a shift in the economic landscape of country music. By bypassing traditional radio-friendly openers in favor of independent acts with high streaming numbers and "cult" followings, Church has helped create a self-sustaining ecosystem for alternative country.
Data from streaming platforms and ticket sales suggests that artists who open for Church see a significant "tail" in their own headlining numbers. For example, acts like The Red Clay Strays and Charles Wesley Godwin saw triple-digit percentage increases in their monthly listeners following their respective tour announcements.
Furthermore, this strategy challenges the traditional power structures of Nashville. It proves that an artist can achieve "Vocal Group of the Year" status or sell out major venues without the heavy-handed intervention of major label radio promotion teams. By using his platform to "Free The Machine," Church is not just entertaining fans; he is actively reshaping the genre’s future, ensuring that the next generation of country music remains as gritty, authentic, and independent as the Chief himself.
