There are moments in live music that transcend the stage—moments when a song stops being mere entertainment and transforms into a confession, a memory, or a lifeline. Eric Church’s tribute to Kris Kristofferson at the 2016 “Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson” concert was exactly that. It was a raw, emotional reckoning with the past that left Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena silent.
The Night That Stopped Nashville
On March 16, 2016, country music royalty gathered to honor the legendary Kris Kristofferson—a songwriter whose words reshaped the genre forever. Yet when Eric Church stepped into the spotlight, something shifted. Dressed in his signature aviators and leather jacket, Church took the stage with more than just a guitar; he carried a story that would leave the crowd breathless.
Before performing a note, Church spoke honestly about his early struggles in Nashville—the years of rejection, the crushing uncertainty, and the nights he wondered if his dreams were ever going to materialize.
The Song That Changed Everything
During the tribute, Church revealed something deeply personal. Like countless artists before him, he’d been told “no” more times than he could count. One particular meeting with a publishing representative had been devastating. Church recalled the moment vividly: “I remember I played probably half a song and the guy started waving and he goes, ‘I don’t know where you’re from. I don’t know much about you. But I’d go back there'”.
Defeated, Church returned to his car in the publishing house parking lot, ready to give up and head back to North Carolina for good. He’d made a pact with himself: if he heard “no” one more time, he was out. But then, something remarkable happened. The next track on the CD he’d just bought—Kris Kristofferson’s The Austin Sessions—began to play. That song was “To Beat the Devil.”
“I went to my car in the parking lot of this publishing house. And I’d just got The Austin Sessions on CD. And the next song was ‘To Beat the Devil.’ And it talked about the very thing I was going through, so I decided to stay one more day—after I got drunk”.
It was a turning point that would define Church’s entire career.
Understanding “To Beat the Devil”
Originally released on Kristofferson’s 1970 debut album, “To Beat the Devil” is a talking blues that captures the desperation of a struggling songwriter trying to survive in a world indifferent to truth and honesty. The song tells the story of a down-and-out musician who wanders into a bar, where he meets a stranger who buys him a beer and sings him a song about giving up. The stranger is, in fact, the devil—tempting the protagonist to surrender to despair.
The narrator refuses to give in, and in a moment of defiance, he “drank his beer for nothing” and “stole that son of a bitch’s song”. It’s a powerful metaphor for resilience: you may not beat the devil, but you can refuse to let him win.
Kristofferson wrote the song with Johnny Cash in mind, inspired by seeing his friend and mentor struggle with addiction. In the song’s introduction, Kristofferson says, “I saw that he was about a step away from dying” before dedicating it to “John and June, who helped show me how to beat the devil”.
For Church, the song was nothing short of salvation.
A Performance for the Ages
As Church began to sing, the arena fell completely silent. Every lyric felt personal, every word weighted with meaning. With Kristofferson sitting just feet away on the side of the stage, Church delivered a performance that was equal parts gratitude and defiance. When he reached the iconic payoff line—”I ain’t sayin’ I beat the devil, but I did drink his beer for nothing, and I stole that son of a bitch’s song”—the emotion was palpable.
Church admitted later how nervous he was, performing such a deeply meaningful song with Kristofferson watching. But the legend himself seemed to approve, rewarding Church’s haunting interpretation with a two-pinky-in-the-mouth wolf whistle. Seated in a folding chair, the Country Music Hall of Famer mouthed the words along with the performers, clearly enjoying the tribute.
By the time Church finished, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation. But what fans remembered most wasn’t the applause—it was the vulnerability. Watching one of country music’s biggest modern stars openly admit that another artist’s song helped keep him going during his lowest point was a moment of rare honesty.
The Legacy Continues
For Eric Church, Kristofferson’s influence extends far beyond that one song. He has often cited the legendary songwriter as his “end-all, be-all” influence. “I don’t think Kris Kristofferson ever in his life sat down and wrote a song going, ‘I think this is a hit song.’ It was so poetic and so eloquent and so thoughtful and so unique,” Church reflected.
They eventually formed a close friendship, sharing Sunday lunches with BLTs and Miller Lites—a surreal experience for Church, who once found himself sitting with Kristofferson at his home in Maui, listening to him sing “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” over breakfast.
Today, following Kristofferson’s passing in 2024, performances like this carry even greater emotional weight. They’re a reminder that a great song isn’t just a collection of words and chords—it’s a lifeline. It’s what gets you through the dark nights and the impossible moments. It’s what makes you stay “one more day.”
The Power of a Song
Perhaps that is the greatest legacy any songwriter can leave behind: a song that reaches someone at exactly the moment they need it most. A voice that reminds them not to give up. A truth powerful enough to change a life forever.
Eric Church’s tribute to Kris Kristofferson wasn’t just a performance. It was a testament to the enduring power of music and the profound connection between those who write songs and those who are saved by them. And in that silent Nashville arena, the truth of Kristofferson’s words echoed louder than any standing ovation.