His debut album, 2006's Sinners Like Me, produced three singles on the Billboard country charts including the top 20 hits "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines", and "Guys Like Me".

It produced five new singles between 2013 and 2015 with the title track, "Give Me Back My Hometown", "Cold One", "Talladega" and "Like a Wrecking Ball".

His fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood, was released in November 2015 and went on to produce two number one singles with "Record Year" and "Round Here Buzz".

By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time.

[citation needed] The band "Mountain Boys" consisted of his college roommate, brother, and a fellow guitarist.

[3] Before moving to Nashville, Eric graduated from South Caldwell High School and then Appalachian State University with a degree in marketing.

The future bride's father attempted to persuade Church into a corporate career, which he rejected as an aspiring musician (and later referenced in his song "What I Almost Was" from his debut album).

His father also provided the opportunity to make contacts, and more importantly, time to focus on developing his songwriting ability.

Capitol Nashville showed an interest and watched him perform but they were yet to be convinced enough to offer a recording contract.

Doyle states, "Eric scored a meeting with Nashville heavyweight Arthur Buenahora, a publisher at Sony Music who also signed Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert.

Church wrote the song shortly after moving to Nashville, inspired by the movie The Green Mile.

Swift later did give him her first gold record with an attached note that said "Thanks for playing too long and too loud on the Flatts tour.

In an interview with American Songwriter, Church stated that the song was about "a love affair that takes place in an amphitheater between two people.

The fifth single from Chief, "Like Jesus Does", was released in January 2013[17] and peaked at number six on Country Airplay chart in June 2013.

In September 2012, Church announced that he planned to release his first live album in 2013, containing recordings of performances at the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 8 and 9, 2012.

[18] On February 8, the live album's title was announced as Caught in the Act, with a release date set for April 9.

His award was presented by Kid Rock and he received a video message of congratulations from Metallica's James Hetfield.

[24] This album, as with Church's previous three, was produced by Jay Joyce and released on the EMI Records Nashville label.

On November 3, 2015, Church's new surprise album, Mr. Misunderstood, arrived in the mailboxes of his fan club members.

[29] On October 4, 2017, Church debuted a song he had written for Sonny Melton, who died in the Las Vegas shooting tragedy.

On July 12, 2018, Church announced via social media that he would release his sixth album, Desperate Man, on October 5, 2018.

The triple-album release contains 24 songs in total, including the singles Heart On Fire and "Hell of a View".

[36] In October 2021, after two of his bandmates tested positive for COVID-19, Church performed two solo concerts on his The Gather Again Tour.

[41] On January 8, 2008, Church married music publisher Katherine Blasingame at West Glow Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

[44] Their home (along with Church's "man cave"), located in Nashville, was featured in an episode of CMT's Cribs.

The foundation has also delivered Bibles to Haiti and helps fund Humane Society no-kill animal shelters.

[48] As he began performing in larger venues, his aviators and Von Dutch denim trucker hat became his trademark.

Church opened Chief's, a bar, restaurant, and performance venue in downtown Nashville in April 2024.

Church's influences include Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, Little Feat, The Band, Kris Kristofferson, The Grateful Dead, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Waylon Jennings.

[51] Church has also said that many hard rock and heavy metal bands influenced his music, including Metallica and AC/DC.