One of the most underrated love stories in country music. Eric Church and his wife Katherine have been married since 2008, before he had even released his sophomore album Carolina. But unlike a lot of couples in country music, Eric and Katherine are more private about their marriage. They’re not sharing videos on social media, she’s not going on podcasts or doing interviews, and she’s not trying to build her own brand. But despite their relationship not being as visible to the public, Eric acknowledges that he wouldn’t have a career without her. Church met Katherine Blasingame early in his career – but as it turns out, she was actually in the music business before he was. Katherine was working as a music publisher, and wanted to pitch Eric on a songwriter she was working with. But instead of simply finding a co-writer to collaborate with, Eric and Katherine ended up forming a bond themselves, and were married in a private ceremony on January 8, 2008 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He’s long credited his wife with being a soundboard for his song ideas, given her experience in the music industry. On his Carolina album, he included a song called “You Make It Look So Easy” that he wrote for his wife for their wedding. And he decided to record “Like Jesus Does,” which is one of the few songs over his long career that he didn’t also write, because it was a favorite of Katherine’s. And this week, while accepting the Icon Award at the 2025 ACM Honors ceremony, Church spoke of the impact she’s had on his career, recalling his first gig at 6 PM on a Monday at Woodlands BBQ in North Carolina when he only knew 12 songs: “I couldn’t help but think about where this started for me, and it started for me in Blowing Rock, North Carolina at Woodlands BBQ. I was 18 years old…and I had the monday night gig at 6:00, and I knew 12 songs and that’s it. And I’ll never forget that night, I remember thinking, ‘This is the most fun I’ve ever had. And if I can just get to the Friday or Saturday night gig at Woodlands, I’ll never want anything else.’… I married a long tangled blonde from Tennessee. If I did not meet her, I would be playing Woodlands BBQ tonight.” @ronnieblovesmusic #acmawards #acmhonorawards #ericchurch @Eric Church ♬ original sound – Ronnie B loves music Of course she’s given him more than a career. The couple also have two children, 13-year old Boone McCoy and 10-year old Tennessee “Hawk” Hawkins. And together they started the Chief Cares Foundation, which has recently helped thousands of people in the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Helene in his home state of North Carolina. But Church also has admitted they don’t always see eye to eye – particularly over one of his songs, the unreleased fan favorite “Old Friends, Old Whiskey, Old Songs.” Back in 2021, Church revealed that his wife has been trying to get it on a record for a while now: “If my wife was here right now we’d have a whole different conversation because that’s one of her favorites and we’ve had many arguments about that song. She beats on me every day that if I don’t record that we might not be married forever.” You know what they say, Eric. Happy wife, happy life. Better record it soon. The post Eric Church Credits His Wife Katherine For His Country Music Career: “If I Did Not Meet Her, I Would Be Playing Woodlands BBQ” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.