SARNIA’S ERIC ETHRIDGE IS IN THE #SPOTLIGHT ALL THIS WEEK – HEARD DAILY AT 11:30AM DURING WEEKDAZE WITH JAY SMITH
A new album. A new single. A new bride. AND a new van / home / tour bus / live performance centre / recoding studio. Welcome to 2020 for Sarnia’s Eric Ethridge.
Prior to COVID-19, self-made singer songwriter Eric Ethridge had been making his way across North America connecting with audiences and living out his wildest dreams. With an undoubtedly unique path, this past year has seen him pivot from a profession as a doctor to full-time country artist. Still practicing when he released his first self-titled EP, which features his breakout single debut, “If You Met Me First,” the ability to express himself creatively was what always gave him the most joy. “To me, a successful life is doing something you love while changing people’s lives for the better while doing it.”
Canadian-raised, his EP hit Number One on his country’s overall iTunes chart and was streamed over 3 million times in the first 6 weeks, with no promotion.
Performing in a cover band while attending chiropractic school went along with his four jobs to help pay for the prestigious degree. His passion and focus shifted to music thanks to a string of rapturously received festival appearances, performing to crowds of 40,000. As his music and fanbase grew (thanks in part to wildly popular YouTube covers), Ethridge landed a performance slot between Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line at the major Canadian country festival, Boots and Hearts when he realized he needed to follow his heart and pursue music full time.
“I’m so grateful every day. I cannot wait to continue building this life in music,” he says. “Every day is an opportunity.”
