Smoke A Little Smoke

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with the Zoo Crew as they spin "Smoke A Little Smoke" by Eric Church from his 2009 album Carolina. This track, a laid-back ode to kicking back and letting loose, has a cool origin story. According to People magazine, the song was born on Church’s tour bus after a 2008 show when he asked his guitarist, Driver Williams, about his plans for the night. Williams’ chill response—“I’m just gonna drink a little drink and smoke a little smoke”—sparked Church’s inspiration, and he ditched the football game he was watching to write the tune with Williams and Jeff Hyde. The result? A song that captures that free-spirited, live-in-the-moment energy perfect for our Zoo Crew vibe.

The music video for "Smoke A Little Smoke" is just as wild, shot at Clarksville Speedway near Nashville with Church tearing around in vintage cars. Directed by Peter Zavadil, it features cameos from NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and ESPN’s NASCAR insider Marty Smith, adding some high-octane flair. Church wanted the video to show fans something fresh, saying he aimed to “show something that [the fans] haven’t seen before.” Critics dug it too—Karlie Justus from Engine 145 gave it a thumbs-up for its bold production that doesn’t try to “awkwardly make the project ‘country,’” letting the song’s raw, rebellious snapshot shine. It hit number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, a solid win despite Church’s label initially urging him not to release it due to its cannabis references.

Fun fact: "Smoke A Little Smoke" has been called the song that put Eric Church on the map by fans on Reddit’s r/CountryMusicStuff. One fan raved about its “great rock moments” and how it’s “fun and important” to Church’s story, even if it’s not his most profound work. Church himself has leaned into the song’s vibe, becoming an advocate for cannabis use, which shows up in other tracks like “The Joint” and “I’m Gettin’ Stoned.” At the 49th ACM Awards, Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan even cracked a joke comparing Church’s dressing room to a cannabis dispensary, cementing his rep as the Willie Nelson of new country.

Now, let’s rewind to how Eric Church got his start. Born Kenneth Eric Church on May 3, 1977, in Granite Falls, North Carolina, he grew up with music in his blood. At 13, he picked up a guitar and started writing songs, playing Jimmy Buffett covers and originals at local dive bars by high school. These gigs weren’t always smooth—he got into a few scuffles from the stage in some rough joints. Church made a deal with his dad: if he got a college degree from Appalachian State University, his father would fund his first year in Nashville. True to his word, Church graduated, moved to Music City in 2001, and landed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Tree, initially aiming to be a songwriter.

Church’s early Nashville days were gritty—he worked the night shift at a Home Shopping channel, taking credit card numbers and famously got fired for talking customers out of late-night impulse buys. His songwriting caught attention, with cuts like “The World Needs a Drink” for Terri Clark, but folks kept saying his songs sounded too much like him to give to others. That’s when he shifted gears to performing. Teaming up with producer Jay Joyce, he signed with Capitol Records Nashville, and his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me dropped, featuring top 20 hits like “How ’Bout You.” His second album, Carolina, with "Smoke A Little Smoke", solidified his place as a rule-breaking outlaw in country music.

Stay connected with Eric Church at his official website, where you can join the Church Choir fan club and check out exclusive merch. Follow him on Facebook (3.4 million fans), Instagram (1.2 million followers), and X (2 million followers) for the latest updates. Fans also gather on Reddit’s r/CountryMusicStuff to share their love for Church, and you can join Facebook groups like the Eric Church Choir to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who dig his vibe. Keep spinning those records, Zoo Crew!