Chief came out 15 years ago? Where does all the time go, eh?
It’s hard to believe Eric Church’s breakout album, Chief, is already celebrating it’s 15th birthday. The album, which was released on July 26, 2011, is widely considered to be Church’s best… and is often talked about as one of the greatest country records of all time. After all, it did introduce many in the country music world to the great Eric Church.
And it’s crazy to think it’s already been a decade and a half since that moment.
The album came at a pivotal time in Church’s career, after only seeing moderate success from his first two albums Sinners Like Me and Carolina.
Those albums (somehow) produced no #1 hits, and it was only until Church convinced his label to release “Smoke a Little Smoke” as a single did he finally get the creative latitude to finally create an album like Chief.
It’s no stretch to say the album changed his life, becoming the top album in the WORLD at the time and launching hits like “Springsteen” and “Drink in My Hand,” which are still some of his biggest hits – and most requested songs – to date. It also came at a time when the sound of country music was changing from the radio-friendly pop of the ’90s to the grittier, rock-heavy sound embraced by Church – and there’s no doubt that was in large part to the groundbreaking album from Church.
Putting out Chief obviously changed Eric Church’s life, and I’d venture to say that it changed a lot of country music fan’s lives as well.
It certainly had an impact with the masses, considering it wasn’t even a year later that Chief was certified triple Platinum by the RIAA in June of 2012. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 54th Grammy Awards, and took home Album of the Year honors at both the ACM and CMA Awards. It even inspired the name of Church’s downtown Nashville bar Chief’s, which is one of the only artist-owned bars in Nashville worth going to.
There was reason to celebrate back then, and there’s reason to celebrate now. We’ve had the opportunity to cue up songs like “Creepin,” “Homeboy,” and “Like Jesus Does” for close to two decades. Shoutout to Eric Church for making that possible, and continuing to be one of the best in the business all these years later.
The country superstar took a moment to reflect on 15 years of Chief with this post below:
Yeah, if you need me for the rest of the day, I’ll be listening to Chief on repeat.
When fans saw the video commemorating Chief reaching the 13 year mark, they flooded the replies underneath the post with support, and short anecdotes about how much the album means to them:
Just re listened to that whole album a week ago. Can’t get enough of it. It still hits!
— Kyle McElhaney (@wkmcelhaney) July 26, 2026
Springsteen still one of my favorite songs❤️
— Cheryl Wylde (@caw_gofast) July 27, 2026
Best ever…we bought this album on a trip to Boone. A memory with a melody 🍺
— Randall 🤟🏼 (@RC815) July 26, 2026
This album is still 🔥. Can’t believe it’s been 15 years.
— Shannon Reading (@Shannon_Reading) July 27, 2026
Great album!
15 years tho!!!!! Wow!— 🙏 💐🌷🕯️ ☕️ 📚 🧶 (@Wethepeople196) July 26, 2026
Greatest album of all time https://t.co/b4rMb7inoL
— Stanley Cup Champion abl (@alleliteabl) July 26, 2026
Every time one of these songs comes on, it takes me right back to where I first heard it. That’s real music
— Susan Kirk AKA Smoothchirp (@SusanKirk748494) July 26, 2026