A tweet I sent out last night:
The CMAs are tomorrow and I’m a nervous wreck about the Entertainer of the Year award. I hope and pray that the performer of the best damn concerts I’ve ever been to is recognized for his talent. #EricChurch
There's also this:
Making the Case for Eric Church, our Entertainer of the Year
The only thing that I wanted to do this year was to attend as many Eric Church concerts as I could.
When 2018 ended, I already had two tickets to his Kansas City shows. I added the Omaha shows in January on a whim, because I had just endured Christmas with my then-boyfriend, who wanted and tried to spend the holidays with his other girlfriend.
2018 sucked. I decided 2019 needed to be happier, and Eric Church was the key to that happiness.
This year started off in Omaha. I got the flu at a concert and missed the encore because...well, because 2018 sucked so much that it took the first month of 2019 with it.
The Kansas City shows were the best shows I've seen yet. I had a thought in my head as I was in the Sprint Center.
You know what? I'm going to the Nashville show. I've always wanted to go to Nashville.
I'm going, I decided then.
And go, I did. It was my favorite trip I've ever taken. The record-breaking Eric Church concert, in an NFL stadium with more than 56,000 people in attendance, wasn't even my favorite part of that trip.
My favorite part of the trip was not putting up with an asshole in the car with me. (Classy way of putting it, I know.)
I had no idea in 2018 that 2019 would lead me to Nashville, Music Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, or the Jack Daniel's Distillery.
I decided in Nashville that I would stop trying to plan my life. At almost 35 years old, I have no idea what's going to happen in the next year of my life. And I'm perfectly okay with that.
There's beauty in not knowing, I think.
The only thing that I know for sure about 2020 is that EFC is playing Red Rocks, and I'm going to knock another item off of my bucket list.
How I will remember 2019 is summed up best by the very southern man that sat by me at the Nashville concert. EFC sang "Some of It" on our side of the stage, which means I had a front row seat to one of my favorite songs.
The southern guy beside me tapped me on the shoulder.
"Ma'am," he said. "It just don't get no better n'that."
I know, southern man. I know.
---
Since you turned the tables on me
I've been steady and learnin' lonely
Keepin' this turntable spinnin'
Everything from Jones to Jennings
Slowly plannin' my survival
In a three foot stack of vinyl
Since you had to walk on outta here
I've been havin' a record year
I bet you thought before you left
I'd just sit in silence by myself
Turn this house into a jail
Dyin' slow in a livin' hell
But love's got a funny way of keepin' score
And your leavin' lit up my scoreboard
I usually make it through side a sober
All bets are off when I flip her over
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
I'm havin' a record year
Quarter notes and Hank's half time
Are poundin' on this heart of mine
Song to song, I pass my time
With these speakers on ten
Your good and gone keeps me up all night
Along with Songs In The Key Of Life
I'm either gonna get over you
Or I'm gonna blow out my ears
Yeah, you're out there now
Doin' God knows how, and I'm stuck here
Havin' a record year
Your leavin' left me goin' crazy
I'm countin' on a needle to save me
I drop it in the groove
And we go 'round and 'round
And down in a spiral
I guess I really oughta call and thank you
I rediscovered Red Headed Stranger
Got down with old James Brown
And found New Grass Revival
If you find your way back, I owe you a beer
For my record year
Quarter notes and Hank's half time
Are poundin' on this heart of mine
Song to song, I pass my time
With these speakers on ten
Your good and gone keeps me up all night
Along with Songs In The Key Of Life
I'm either gonna get over you
Or I'm gonna blow out my ears
Yeah, you're out there now
Doin' God knows how, and I'm stuck here
Havin' a record year
Yeah, I'm havin' a record year
