Eric Church Rips on Reality Singing Competitions, Baffles Blake Shelton
Eric Church has never been afraid to speak his mind, and his recent comments about reality television shows like 'American Idol' and 'The Voice' have many fans wondering if the 'Springsteen' singer was also taking a shot at fellow country stars -- namely Blake Shelton.
In the most recent issue of Rolling Stone, Church questions the legitimacy of singing competition shows like the one Shelton is a huge part of. "Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green f---ing turn around in a red chair, you got a deal?" he says, referring to how winners their start in the business. "That's crazy. I don't know what would make an artist do that. You're not an artist."
Church then went on to discuss the possibility of taking his own place in a big red chair to judge talent the way that his peers do. "If I was concerned about my legacy, there's no f---ing way I would ever sit there [and be a reality-show judge]," he says. "Once your career becomes about something other than the music, then that's what it is. I'll never make that mistake. I don't care if I f---ing starve."
Shelton apparently caught wind of the in-print interview, and responded via his Twitter page. "I wish I misunderstood this..." he wrote on Monday afternoon. Taste of Country has since contacted Church's publicist inviting Church to clarify his incendiary comments, but he's yet to respond.
RaeLynn, the 16-year-old country hopeful who was one of Shelton's final four on 'The Voice,' took her opinion to her own 60,000 Twitter followers, writing "Well I was a fan of @ericchurch till now."
Many of country music's biggest names, like Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Scotty McCreery and more, hit it big on 'American Idol,' while Shelton has further developed his career thanks to 'The Voice.' Even the 'Over' hitmaker's wife, Miranda Lambert, got her start on 'Nashville Star.' Church played opening act to Lambert back in 2010 as a part of her CMT on Tour: Miranda Lambert Revolution road run.
Early Monday evening, Lambert put in her two cents on the matter -- and she was not pleased. "Thanks Eric Church for saying I'm not a real artist. Or @kelly_clarkson, @carrieunderwood & @KeithUrban," she said. "You're welcome for the tour in 2010."