Country star Eric Church is trading in his sunglasses for Carolina Blue this weekend.
Church announced the cancellation of his upcoming Texas concert at short notice so that he could attend the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament on April 2nd.
The Tar Heels meet No. 2 rival Duke in the Final Four.
in one Message on TicketmasterThe 44-year-old musician explained to his fan club, the “Church Choir”, that he will be present in New Orleans to cheer on the Tar Heels with his family.
“As a lifelong Carolina basketball fan, I’ve watched Carolina vs Duke fights over the years,” Church said. “But to have her in the Final Four for the first time in NCAA tournament history is every sports enthusiast’s dream,” Church said.
Eric Church has canceled an upcoming concert in San Antonio because the University of North Carolina basketball team is playing in the Final Four. Getty Images for ACM
Church was scheduled to perform as part of his “The Gather Again Tour” on the night of the Tar Heels’ big game at the AT&T Center – the tour’s only San Antonio stop. The concert has since been listed as “cancelled” on the venue’s website.
“It’s also the most selfish thing I’ve ever asked the choir to do: give up your plans for Saturday night with us so I can have that moment with my family and my athletic community,” Church said, defending the cancellation.
Country singer Eric Church watches the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils in 2018. Getty Images
Eric Church, a staunch Tar Heels fan from North Carolina, celebrates on the field after a 2019 Tar Heels football game. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“However, it’s the same kind of passion felt by the people who fill the seats at our concerts that makes us want to be part of a crowd at a game of this importance.”
Church, a native of North Carolina, is routinely found courtside or on the sidelines at Tar Heels basketball and football games. He traveled to Philadelphia last weekend when the Tar Heels booked their ticket to New Orleans.
He thanked fans for allowing him to go to the game before quoting the late Tar Heels basketball broadcaster Woody Durham, “Go where you go and do what you do.”
The AT&T Center offered refunds to ticket holders. However, Church fans expressed their disappointment at the cancellation days before the show.
“Eric Church is canceling his appearance in San Antonio for a basketball game and we’re supposed to be cool about it?” One fan wrote on Twitter. “Get a DVR and go to @DukeMBB.”
I have made numerous trips out of town to visit him. Mixed feelings. I appreciate his passion for his team, but I won’t lie, I’m pretty pissed. Dude didn’t even reschedule. Just canceled it” said another disappointed fan.
Church has not addressed the canceled performance on social media.
The Tar Heels, with Church in attendance, will take on Duke at 8:49 EST at Caesars Superdome.