Eric Church Siblings: Remembering Brandon Eugene Church

Eric Church, born Kenneth Eric Church on May 3, 1977, in Granite Falls, North Carolina, is a renowned American country music singer-songwriter.

His early life was shaped by his father’s role as president of Clayton Marcus, a furniture upholstery company, where Eric worked briefly before pursuing music.

At age 13, he bought a guitar and began writing songs, performing Jimmy Buffett covers and original material in local bars during his high school years.

After graduating from South Caldwell High School and earning a marketing degree from Appalachian State University, Church moved to Nashville to chase his musical ambitions.

His gritty, authentic style, blending country with southern rock influences, has made him a standout figure in modern country music.

Siblings

Eric had a younger brother, Brandon Eugene Church, who played a significant role in his life and early career.

Born in the late 1970s or early 1980s, Brandon was not only a sibling but also a collaborator, co-writing songs like “How ‘Bout You” from Eric’s 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me and “Without You Here” from his 2009 album Carolina.

Brandon, an accomplished chef and award-winning songwriter, was a key member of Eric’s early band, the Mountain Boys, which included Eric’s college roommate and another guitarist.

A former college football player, Brandon brought a larger-than-life presence to their performances, with Eric recalling a memorable incident on The Bobby Bones Show where Brandon left the stage mid-song to confront a heckler in a bar’s parking lot, only to return “a little disheveled” but triumphant.

Tragically, Brandon passed away on June 29, 2018, at age 36 due to complications from chronic alcoholism, which led to alcohol withdrawal-induced seizures, cardiac arrest, and heart and liver damage.

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Career

Church’s career began in earnest after moving to Nashville, where he faced initial rejections from record labels, including Capitol Nashville, which found his music insufficiently “interesting.”

His persistence paid off when he began working with producer Jay Joyce, and a pivotal meeting with publisher Arthur Buenahora led to a recording contract.

His 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me, produced three top 20 Billboard country singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

His 2009 album Carolina included his first top 10 hits, “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart.”

The 2011 album Chief marked a breakthrough, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and yielding two No. 1 singles, “Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen.”

Subsequent albums, including The Outsiders (2014), Mr. Misunderstood (2015), Desperate Man (2018), and the triple-album Heart & Soul (2021), solidified his reputation for pushing musical boundaries.

In 2025, Church released his eighth studio album, Evangeline vs. the Machine, with the lead single “Hands of Time” and announced the “Free the Machine” tour.

He also collaborated with Morgan Wallen on “Number 3 and Number 7” in 2025, following their 2023 duet “Man Made a Bar.”

Beyond music, Church co-owns Chief’s, a Nashville bar and music venue, where he launched a 19-date residency in 2024, emphasizing raw, personal performances that honor his brother and the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting victims.

Accolades

Church’s 2011 album Chief won Album of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards.

He has earned multiple CMA nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, which he won in 2020, cementing his status as a leading figure in the genre.

Church has also received several ACM Awards, including Album of the Year for Chief and Vocal Event of the Year for his collaboration on “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

His Grammy nominations include Best Country Album for Chief and Mr. Misunderstood, and Best Country Song for “Like a Wrecking Ball” and “Kill a Word.”

In 2012, he was honored as one of the CMT Artists of the Year, with Kid Rock presenting his award. Church’s innovative approach, including his surprise album releases and genre-blending style, has earned him critical acclaim and a loyal following.