Eric Church Was Replaced by Taylor Swift on a Rascal Flatts Tour. Why She Gave Her First Gold Record Plaque to Him

Eric Church recalls his earliest memories of Taylor Swift fondly.

In a new interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the country star recalled getting replaced by Swift as the opening act on Rascal Flatts’ Me and My Gang Tour in 2006 and explained why the switch-up led to the “Karma” singer giving her first gold record plaque to Church as a gift.

“My first major arena tour, I was invited to no longer be a part of,” said the “Hands of Time” singer, 48, noting the run of shows “pretty much” just didn’t work out. “That’s all I’m going to say about that one.”

Church didn’t name Rascal Flatts as the band he was touring with at the time, but the trek marked his first time performing in arenas — and Swift began opening for the trio shortly after the “Springsteen” singer stopped.

“But when I was no longer invited to be a part of it, it was at Madison Square Garden here. And if you’re going to not be invited to be a part of something, that’s the place, Jimmy, to not be invited to be a part of something,” he told Fallon, 51.

“The following day, after I was invited to not be a part of the tour anymore, I got a call from Taylor,” said Church. “I actually found out about it online, that I had been replaced by this — I think she was 16 — blonde-haired [singer]. She had a song called ‘Tim McGraw.’”

The Grammy-nominated artist detailed having a “great” call with Swift, 35, at the time. “She was like, ‘Hey, hope there’s no, um…’ I guess I’d say bad blood,” he said with a laugh, nodding to Swift’s 2015 hit song “Bad Blood.”

“So, she’s like ‘Hope there’s no bad blood. Because I love what you do and I’m taking over on…’ the tour I was supposed to not be invited on,” recalled Church. “I said, ‘Listen Taylor, I have seen this crowd. This crowd is going to love you. I love what you do.’”

He continued, “I said, ‘This is going to really be great for you, and you owe me your first gold record when this happens.’ Here’s what’s crazy — it took, like, seven days.”

Less than a month later, Church and Swift ran into one another while performing at the same music festival. “She walks up, and she inscribed [the plaque], ‘To Eric, thanks for playing too long and too loud on the tour. Sincerely, Taylor,'” he said. “You could just tell then. Just an artist. An artist.”

Where is the plaque today? “I don’t even have it. It’s in the Country Music Hall of Fame. They don’t let me have it,” quipped Church.

The plaque was included as part of Church’s 2023 exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Eric, Thanks for playing too long on the Flatts tour,” Swift wrote in the framed display. “I SINCERELY appreciate it. Hahaha. Love you! Taylor.”