Almost everyone knows the Eric Church song "Springsteen", but have Eric Church and Bruce Springsteen ever met each other?
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Church has discussed how much of Springsteen's music impacted him growing up, even mentioning how much he respects the way Bruce has made a name for himself. Little did he know that in 2018, they would eventually play on stage together. Not just as two musicians who respect each other, but as friends.
Eric Church was actually nominated for two Grammys for "Springsteen" the same night Bruce Springsteen was nominated for a MusiCares Person of the Year Award in 2013. While on the red carpet at the 55th Grammy Awards, Church spoke about the time Springsteen sent him a note saying how much he loved the song. For Church, that was a really special moment, and the event that ultimately led to them meeting in person.
"He sent me a note when 'Springsteen' was a two-week #1 at country radio, he sent me a note on the back of a set list from Sweden, I think," Church shared. "Three hours and 37 minutes long, and he filled up the whole back of the set list with a note about how much he loved the song and how he looked forward to meeting me, and it was just really cool... and signed it Bruce Springsteen. I've got it locked up."
A few years later, at a benefit supporting veterans, Church would accompany "The Boss" to play onstage. Together, they would sing "Working on the Highway" from Born in the U.S.A.
The Night That Inspired "Springsteen"
What is "Springsteen" actually based on?
In an interview with The Boot, Church talked about the night that ultimately inspired the song. Apparently, he wrote it about a girl he'd go on to date for only a few weeks. Their relationship didn't last, but the song would cement that memory in his mind.
"For me particularly, I remember being at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, N.C., and I remember a big group of us on the lawn at this concert," Church shared. "I started falling for one of the girls in the group. Throughout the course of this concert was kind of our first date."
He went on to explain that the relationship barely lasted two weeks, but that whenever he thinks of "Springsteen", he still thinks of that girl.
"I love how powerful music is, and this is a song directly about that," he explained. "And I'm a big Springsteen fan. I just paid homage to him and what his music meant to me."
