Eric Church Calls for Truth in 'Stick That in Your Country Song'

Country music is supposed to be three chords and the truth, right? Eric Church's brand-new single, "Stick That in Your Country Song," urges the genre to get back to its roots -- but in terms of substance, not style.

"Stick That in Your Country Song," released Thursday morning (June 25) is a tough, gritty, hard rock-influenced song that begs for country music to talk about real-world issues: full jails, shut-down factories, gun violence, the atrocities of war. There's plenty to cover, clearly.

"Stick that in your country song / Take that one to No. 1 / Get the whole world singing along / Stick that in your country song," Church implores in each chorus. His backup singer, Joanna Cotten, adds wailing harmonies that create an extra sense of urgency in the message.

Davis Naish and Jeffrey Steele co-wrote "Stick That in Your Country Song," only the second outside cut Church has ever recorded. The first, "Like Jesus Does," is from 2011's Chief.

Church once again worked with producer Jay Joyce on "Stick That in Your Country Song." In a video to his fan club, the Church Choir, the singer calls the song "the tip of the spear for what’s coming after, and it’s a big spear."

"I believe it’s the best we’ve ever been in our career," he adds."

"Stick That in Your Country Song" is the fourth new song shared by Church since the start of 2020. In February, he debuted the song "Jenny" during an interview at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville; April brought "Through My Ray Bans;" and he gave a performance of "Never Break Heart" during the ACM Presents: Our Country TV special.

Church's next album, which has yet to be announced, will follow 2018's Desperate Man. That Grammy-nominated project was Church's sixth studio record.