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Eric Church is missing the 2026 Grammy Awards because of an illness, the nominated country star said in a statement shortly before the show on Sunday (February 1).
“I’m so disappointed to miss the Grammy Awards tonight due to illness,” the North Carolina-born singer-songwriter said in a statement shared on Instagram. “I’ve tried everything possible to be there in person and unfortunately I just can’t do it. I wish best of luck to all the nominees and respect greatly what this honor means and stands for in the music community. I’m gonna rest up and see everybody in Omaha next week.”
The 2026 Grammy Awards show is airing live on CBS at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET, and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. Church, who just released an all-star collaboration with HARDY, Morgan Wallen and Tim McGraw, was nominated in the Best Contemporary Country Music Album category for his latest studio record, Evangeline vs. The Machine. He’s spotlighting the record with a soon-to-premiere IMAX concert film, captured from a performance at the “newest cutting-edge venue” in Nashville, Tennessee, and a live album from the show.
“I’ve played a lot of shows. I’ve never had two nights like these where the room felt literally transported. We went to a different plane, musically, artistically, emotionally,” Church previously said in a statement. “It was unforgettable and I’ll remember it the rest of my days.”
Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive will make its theatrical debut in IMAX on February 11 and February 14. The live album will release on February 13. Church’s 2026 tour includes Caylee Hammack, Ella Langley, 49 Winchester, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kashus Culpepper and Ashley McBryde on select dates. His next show is set for Thursday (February 5) in Omaha, Nebraska. See the list of tour dates below.
2026 Free the Machine Tour Remaining Markets, Venues and Special Guests:
Feb. 5 || Omaha, Neb. || CHI Health Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 6 || Sioux Falls, S.D. || Denny Sanford PREMIER Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 7 || St. Paul, Minn. || Grand Casino Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 12 || Toronto, Ont. || Scotiabank Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 13 || Buffalo, N.Y. || KeyBank Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 14 || Albany, N.Y. || MVP Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 19 || North Little Rock, Ark. || Simmons Bank Arena || 49 Winchester
Feb. 20 || Kansas City, Mo. || T-Mobile Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 21 || St. Louis, Mo. || Enterprise Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 26 || Tulsa, Okla. || BOK Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 27 || Fort Worth, Texas || Dickies Arena || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 28 || Austin, Texas || Moody Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Mar. 5 || Knoxville, Tenn. || Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center || 49 Winchester
Mar. 6 || Greensboro, N.C. || First Horizon Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 7 || North Charleston, S.C. || North Charleston Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 19 || Birmingham, Ala. || Legacy Arena at the BJCC || 49 Winchester
Mar. 20 || Atlanta, Ga. || State Farm Arena || 49 Winchester
Mar. 27 || Hollywood, Fla. || Hard Rock Live || Kashus Culpepper
Apr. 3 || Greenville, S.C. || Bon Secours Wellness Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 4 || Charlotte, N.C. || Spectrum Center || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 10 || Jacksonville, Fla. || VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 11 || Tampa, Fla. || Benchmark International Arena || Ashley McBryde