Eric Church gets vaccinated for the cover of latest 'Billboard' issue

The quick deployment of COVID-19 vaccines was, to Church, "a godsent miracle." The 43-year-old continued: "It became very clear to me that the only way to really get back to normal is through vaccinations. You've got to get needles in arms."

The profile details exactly why Church is so passionate about the vaccine. He has missed performing and touring desperately, both strictly prohibited for obvious health and safety reasons during the pandemic. From Newman: 

"That's why he registered on waiting lists in multiple counties around Nashville as soon as he became vaccine-eligible—using his first name, Kenneth, so he wouldn't get a celebrity skip-the-line offer. It's also why, starting the night of the Academy of Country Music Awards (April 18), he'll appear in public service announcements for ACM Lifting Lives' vaccine education initiative, a partnership with the Ad Council that will run at least through summer. By then, he'll hopefully be safe to 'strap a guitar on' again: He's slated to play over a half dozen summer festivals, including Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming; and Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta.

"'I just want to play shows,' says Church. 'Politics' job is to divide—that's how you win elections. Those things that unite us are music and sports. The times when, whether you're a Democrat or Republican or whatever, you throw your arm around the person next to you.' And when his own tour comes to pass, that's what he's looking forward to most. He'll play the song 'Holdin’ My Own,' during which, as always, he'll see his fans all put their arms around one another. 'We become one,' says Church. 'We need that. I need that.'"

Church is gearing up to release an album trilogy—Heart, & (And) and Soul—with the first (Heart) slated for an April 16 release. The next two will round out April 20 and 23 respectively. There are collectively 24 tracks. The three-album set was announced by the North Carolina native in late January:

The full Billboard cover story can be read here.