Church becomes "Chief" of new CD

Church took a month off and went to a secluded cabin in North Carolina to reflect and write the entire album, which he later recorded in Nashville with producer, Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin, Cage the Elephant), who also produced his previous two releases. Church helped write 10 of the 11 songs.

The music inspired Church to name the album after a nickname given to his grandfather and one he has consequently adopted over the years out on the road. "When it's show time, I put on the sunglasses and the hat, and that's how people know it's game time. This album was made from a live place; we recorded it with the live show in mind, so it just seemed right to make that the title," he said.

"I have a theory that all of us [artists] only get a small window of time to make records when people will really listen and care," said Church. "It's up to us to move the needle. People like Waylon and Cash or Garth and Strait -- they all took the format and said, 'We're going over here,' and they each changed the direction of the music a little bit - helping to make it what it is today."

"More than anyone else, we have built are career on the backs of the fans," he said. "We have not had a lot of TV exposure or number one songs, but we have had music that stirs passion, we put on shows that stoke the flames of that passion, and our fans have carried the torch. Our music belongs to them."

Songs on the CD are:

1. Creepin' (Eric Church / Marv Green)

2. Drink In My Hand (Eric Church, Michael P. Heeney, Luke Laird)

3. Keep On (Eric Church / Ryan Tyndell)

4. Like Jesus Does (Casey Beathard / Monty Criswell)

5. Hungover & Hard Up (Eric Church / Luke Laird)

6. Homeboy (Eric Church / Casey Beathard)

7. Country Music Jesus (Eric Church / Jeremy Spillman)

8. Jack Daniels (Eric Church / Jeff Hyde / Lynn Hutton)

9. Springsteen (Eric Church / Jeff Hyde / Ryan Tyndell)

10. I'm Gettin' Stoned (Eric Church / Jeff Hyde / Casey Beathard / Jeremy Cradey)

11. Over When It's Over (Eric Church / Luke Laird)

Church's new music video for Homeboy, which was filmed at Nashville's Tennessee State Prison, will be featured on CMT as their "Hot Shot Debut" and premiere on GAC beginning Monday, May 9.

Church has enjoyed 6 Top 20 singles - How 'Bout You, Two Pink Lines and Guys Like Me from his 2006 "Sinners Like Me" and Love Your Love The Most, Hell On The Heart and Smoke A Little Smoke from his sophomore release "Carolina." He also received an ACM Award for New Solo Vocalist of the Year.