Eric Church Rags on ‘The Voice,’ ‘American Idol’ Stars

Country singer Eric Church has offended a few other of his fellow country performers with a rant he engaged in about TV karaoke contests like The Voice and American Idol during a Rolling Stone interview.

Although Eric Church has twice toured with reality show singer Miranda Lambert, he still struck out at people who ally themselves with the practice, basically saying it is a form of selling out that is unforgivable as a musician. Church lashes out at the format as well as the talent, describing in a Rolling Stone interview why he dislikes the reality show trend that has taken over music:

“Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green f*cking turn around in a red chair, you got a deal? That’s crazy. I don’t know what would make an artist do that. You’re not an artist.”

Yeah. Have some integrity, people. Church continues, asserting that if he was ever in a position to ‘have’ to do something like American Idol or The Voice, he’d rather go hungry:

“If I was concerned about my legacy, there’s no f*cking way I would ever sit there. Once your career becomes about something other than the music, then that’s what it is. I’ll never make that mistake. I don’t care if I f*cking starve.”

Fellow tour mate and Nashville Star contestant Miranda Lambert didn’t appreciate Eric Church’s comments, later tweeting:

“Thanks Eric Church for saying I’m not a real artist. Or Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. You’re welcome for the tour in 2010.”

Lambert’s husband also addressed Eric Church’s remarks on Twitter, saying that he wished he’d “misunderstood” the comments.