Rip Gerber Announces Release of “This Ranch Is My Church” — Honoring Eric Church
- by Adam Bailey
- in Featured
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Following the success of his debut single, “Three-Chord Town” (released January 15, 2025), country-rock artist Rip Gerber is releasing a second single, “This Ranch Is My Church.” Set to drop on February 26 along with an official music video, “This Ranch Is My Church” was written as “a gratitude note to country music legend Eric Church, thanking the star for his hospitality,” shares Gerber. Featuring choral vocals by Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, “This Ranch Is My Church” is the latest glimpse into Gerber’s deeply personal concept album that explores loss during the COVID-19 pandemic: “Three-Chord Town” is set to release on May 23, 2025.
“This Ranch Is My Church” was inspired by a visit to Eric Church’s Tennessee ranch, where Gerber found himself immersed in the songwriter’s circle of family and friends. The experience left Gerber reflecting on the importance of family and the spiritual power of the outdoors. The song is Gerber’s “thank you note” to Church, (known as “Chief” by his band) expressing gratitude to the country music star for his warm hospitality and paying tribute to his deep-rooted devotion to family, country, and the rolling ranchlands of Tennessee.
To capture the emotional depth of the song, Gerber brought together recent graduates from the Berklee College of Music and the world-renowned Golden Gate Men’s Chorus (GGMC). "Collaborating with Rip has been an absolute joy,” shares Joseph Piazza, Musical Director of the GGMC. “Bringing the GGMC to fuse choral richness with Nashville’s finest is a testament to how music transcends genres, and to Rip’s heartfelt creativity.”
The song’s chorus is a nod to Eric Church’s “Desperate Man,” which drew inspiration from The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” The GGMC’s background vocals are reminiscent of Church’s “poo poo poo” vocalizations on “Desperate Man,” which in turn were inspired by the “hoo hoo” chants in “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Eric Church didn’t just inspire me—his generosity moved me to step into my own journey as an artist. Instead of a thank you note, I wrote “Chief” a love song—about his land, his love for his ranch, and the divine power of nature and family” -Rip Gerber
“This Ranch Is My Church” is available on all major streaming platforms starting February 26, 2025.
Listen to “This Ranch Is My Church”
Watch the “This Ranch Is My Church” music video below:
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