“I’ve never played a show this close to my heart,” Eric Church, who began the concert by singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” told the audience.
During an 85-minute solo set, Church worked songs by many of his influences — Ronnie Milsap, Bob Seger, Otis Redding, Def Leppard, the Temptations, Van Morrison, Waylon Jennings, Brooks & Dunn, Neil Diamond, and Billy Joel — into his song “Mistress Named Music.”
The concert also featured performances from Bailey Zimmerman, The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice and Parmalee.
Billboard ranked Strings’ acoustic set as the night’s top highlight, particularly a “tribute to his musical hero and N.C. legend Doc Watson with a stirring cover of ‘Train That Carried My Girl from Town,’ that allowed every member of his band to stretch out.”
Several artists paired off with other acts for special moments, including Crow and Eric Church singing Crow’s 2001 hit “Picture,” and Urban — who turned 57 on Saturday — joining Church for their “Raise ’Em Up” collaboration. Combs brought out Zimmerman for “Rock and a Hard Place.”
At a press conference before the concert, Church talked about trying to reach Taylor to get him to participate in the concert, finally calling the Eagles’ Joe Walsh and asking him to contact Taylor for him. “Joe didn’t hit me back, so I hit him again, and then I hit him again,” Church said. “And finally, James told me [Friday] night on stage, ‘You know, you really kind of freaked out Joe Walsh.’ He finally called and said, ‘You got to talk to this guy, and you need to play this show, so he’ll leave me alone.’”
Pictured, L-R: Luke Combs, Eric Church. Photo: Jeff Hahne/Getty Images
