You know those moments in live TV where you can actually feel the air in the room change? Most of the time, awards shows are just a series of polite claps and well-rehearsed speeches. But back in 2014, Eric Church decided to set a metaphorical bomb off at the CMT Music Awards. He didn't just play a country song. He brought out Lzzy Hale, the frontwoman of the hard rock band Halestorm, to perform "That’s Damn Rock & Roll."
It was loud. It was abrasive. Honestly, it was exactly what the industry needed.
Even now, over a decade later, people are still searching for that clip. They're still talking about how a guy in aviators and a woman with a Gibson Explorer basically hijacked a country music show. It wasn't just a "collaboration" in the corporate sense. It was a collision. If you’ve ever wondered why the Lzzy Hale and Eric Church connection feels so permanent in the minds of fans despite them not being a regular duo, it’s because they broke the unspoken rules of Nashville.
The Night Nashville Met the Storm
Eric Church has always been "The Chief." He’s the guy who got kicked off a Rascal Flatts tour for playing too long and too loud. He’s the guy who writes songs about "The Outsiders." So, when it came time to perform a track that literally defends the soul of rock and roll, he didn't call a Nashville session singer.
He called Lzzy.
Hale is a force of nature. If you haven't heard her scream-sing, you're missing out on one of the best sets of pipes in modern music. When she stepped onto that CMT stage, she didn't try to "go country." She didn't put on a sundress or twang up her vocals. She showed up in leather, strapped on her signature white Explorer, and let loose a banshee wail that probably made some of the front-row pop-country stars want to hide under their seats.
Why it worked (and why it shouldn't have)
On paper, this is a mess. You have a "country" artist and a "metal" singer. But the reality is that the DNA of Eric Church’s music has always been more AC/DC than George Strait.
- The Grit: Both artists share a certain raspy, sandpaper quality to their vocals.
- The Attitude: Neither one seems to care about "the brand."
- The Musicianship: Lzzy wasn't just there for a hook; she was trading guitar licks.
The audience reaction was visceral. You could see people in the crowd—real country fans—looking confused for about ten seconds before they started losing their minds. It was a reminder that "Rock & Roll" isn't a genre; it's a state of mind. Church knew that. Lzzy lived it.
Behind the Scenes of the Collaboration
Lzzy Hale has been vocal about how much respect she has for Church. In interviews following the performance, she mentioned how the industry needs more people like him—people who take actual risks.
It wasn't just a one-off TV moment, either.
Halestorm actually joined Eric Church on his Outsiders World Tour. Imagine being a casual country fan showing up to see "Springsteen" and getting hit with the wall of sound that is Halestorm. Lzzy famously said that in the beginning of those sets, about 90% of the audience had no clue who they were. They’d stand there staring at her like she was an alien.
By the end of the set? They were fans.
That’s the "Church effect." He’s always used his platform to pull people into his world, even if that world is a little darker and louder than what’s playing on the radio. It was a "full-circle" moment for Hale, who grew up a fan of all types of music but found a kindred spirit in a guy who wore sunglasses indoors.
The "That's Damn Rock & Roll" Legacy
The song itself is an anthem for the disgruntled. It’s about the fact that rock and roll isn't about the fame or the money—it’s about the honesty. Bringing Lzzy into the fold made the song's message literal.
I remember watching a clip of them at the CMA Music Festival shortly after. Church is standing there, looking like he’s having the time of his life, while Lzzy is absolutely shredding. He’s not threatened by her. He’s not trying to out-sing her. He’s just a fan who happens to be on stage with her. That kind of ego-free collaboration is rare in any genre, but especially in one as competitive as the Nashville machine.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Duo
A lot of people think this was a "crossover" attempt. Like Eric was trying to "get rock fans" or Lzzy was trying to "go country."
That's a load of nonsense.
Neither of them needed the other for "reach." Halestorm was already winning Grammys (they took home Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2013 for "Love Bites (So Do I)"). Eric Church was already selling out arenas.
This was about the song.
"That's Damn Rock & Roll" is a difficult track to sing. It requires a level of vocal power that most artists simply don't have. If you listen to the studio version, it’s great. But the live version with Lzzy? It’s a different beast entirely. She adds a layer of desperation and fire that makes the lyrics feel like a manifesto.
Is There More Coming?
Fans have been clamoring for a studio recording of the duo for years. While we have the live recordings from the CMTs and the CMA Fest, a clean, studio-tracked version of Lzzy Hale and Eric Church doing a duet remains the "Holy Grail" for fans of both.
Lzzy has stayed busy, recently stepping in as the frontwoman for Skid Row for a string of dates and continuing to push Halestorm into new territories. Eric, meanwhile, continues to be the unpredictable "Chief," opening his own bar (Chief's) in Nashville and releasing music on his own terms.
Will they work together again?
In the music world, you never say never. Especially with these two. They both thrive on the unexpected. If Eric Church decides his next record needs a heavy metal edge, Lzzy is probably the first person he’ll call. And she’d probably say yes before he even finished the sentence.
Why You Should Still Care
In an era of "TikTok hits" and perfectly polished pop, the Lzzy Hale and Eric Church performance stands as a reminder that music is supposed to be dangerous. It’s supposed to be a little bit "too much."
When you see a country star and a rock queen sharing a mic, it breaks down the silos we’ve built around our playlists. It tells us that it’s okay to like the banjo and the Marshall stack at the same time.
If you want to dive deeper into why this worked, go watch the video again. Pay attention to the bridge of the song. Watch the way they look at each other—it's pure, unadulterated musical joy. No choreography. No backing tracks. Just two people who love music making a whole lot of noise.
Next Steps for the Fans:
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- Watch the 2014 CMT performance: It’s the definitive version of the song. Look for the moment Lzzy takes the lead in the second verse.
- Listen to Halestorm’s "Back from the Dead": If you liked Lzzy’s energy with Eric, this album captures that same raw, unfiltered power.
- Check out Eric Church’s "The Outsiders": This is the album that features the original version of "That’s Damn Rock & Roll" and shows his most experimental side.
- Keep an eye on Chief’s in Nashville: Eric’s new venue is known for surprise guests. You never know who might show up with a guitar.
Music doesn't have to stay in its lane. Sometimes, the best stuff happens when you jump the curb and head straight into the woods. Eric Church and Lzzy Hale didn't just play a song; they gave us a blueprint for how to be authentic in an industry that often demands the opposite.