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Almost eight years after losing his brother, country music star Eric Church has spoken openly about the grief he never fully processed at the time. During an interview with Anderson Cooper on February 19, the 48-year-old singer admitted that he avoided facing his emotions after the tragic loss.
Church explained that just four days after his brother’s funeral, he returned to the stage. Even though the timing was painful, he believed performing was what his brother would have wanted.
“We buried him, and I played a show four days later,” Church shared. “I had a show scheduled, and I knew he would want me to do it.”
Looking back now, however, the award-winning artist questions whether that decision helped or hurt him in the long run. He confessed that he simply kept moving forward without giving himself time to truly grieve.
Details Surrounding Brandon Church’s Death
Brandon Church, Eric’s younger brother, passed away in June 2017 after experiencing multiple seizures, according to reports at the time.
The sudden loss deeply changed the Church family. Eric admitted that he was not prepared for how much the family dynamic would shift.
“When my brother died, I didn’t fully understand that things would never feel the same again,” he said. “I wasn’t ready for how the family would change.”
The singer revealed that he struggled to grasp the permanence of the loss. It took time for him to realize that life would never return to the way it was before.
How Music Keeps His Brother’s Memory Alive
Music has always been central to Eric Church’s career, but after his brother’s passing, it also became a source of connection and remembrance.
Church shared that he still feels his brother’s presence, especially when performing certain songs. One track in particular, “Sinners Like Me,” has taken on a new meaning over the years.
The lyric, “So we sit on his headstone with a fifth of Jack D,” was originally written in honor of his grandfather. However, since Brandon’s death, the line now brings memories of his younger brother.
For Church, performing the song has become a powerful emotional experience. What once symbolized one family member now carries layered meaning, connecting him to both his grandfather and his brother.
Regrets About ‘Tough Love’
In addition to discussing grief, Church opened up about feelings of regret regarding how he treated his brother while he was alive.
He admitted that Brandon faced personal struggles. During those difficult times, Church took what he described as a “big brother tough love” approach.
“My brother had troubles,” Church explained. “When he was going through those issues, I sometimes told him he wasn’t doing what he was supposed to be doing.”
Although he believed he was helping at the time, he now wishes he had responded with greater compassion.
“I wish I had shown more grace and understanding,” he said.
This reflection highlights the emotional complexity of losing a loved one — especially when unresolved feelings remain.
Balancing Career and Grief
One of the most striking aspects of Church’s story is his decision to perform just days after the funeral. At the time, continuing his tour seemed like the right choice. He believed staying committed to his music honored his brother’s memory.
However, he now questions whether immediately returning to work prevented him from fully processing his loss.
Grief often affects people differently. Some immerse themselves in routine, while others step away from responsibilities to heal. Church’s experience shows that sometimes it takes years to understand how we truly felt in the moment.
Eric Church’s emotional interview reveals a deeply personal side of the country music icon. Nearly eight years after Brandon Church’s death, he admits that he avoided confronting his grief and returned to performing just days after the funeral.
While he believed he was honoring his brother, he now wonders if he should have taken time to process the loss. His reflections on family changes, meaningful song lyrics, and regrets about offering “tough love” show how grief evolves over time.
Through his honesty, Church reminds us that healing is not always immediate — and compassion, both for others and ourselves, matters deeply.