Church Bells (song)

Composition and lyrics

"Church Bells" is a country pop song that tells the story of a young woman who marries a rich gentleman, but afterwards finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage, which she ends by poisoning his drink (in a manner that the cause of his death would be a mystery and that law enforcement would not trace to her).

Underwood said of the song, "It's...like Fancy's little sister", referencing Bobbie Gentry's hit song "Fancy", made famous by Reba McEntire. “She’s young, she’s pretty, she’s poor, doing what she can to survive,” Underwood explains, describing her “Church Bells” heroine. “(She) meets a man that has a lot of wealth and is supposed to take care of her.”

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. In their review of the album, Billboard said of the song, "The first half holds a pair of Southern-gothic blockbusters that are the closest she has come to channeling McEntire’s down-home storytelling: “Choctaw County Affair,” a tale of lovers silencing their would-be blackmailer, and “Church Bells,” a rags-to-riches murder ballad in which a woman quietly offs her abusive husband." Rolling Stone called it "the most epic domestic-violence-revenge-murder ballad in years" and that it "split the difference between Martina McBride's "Independence Day" and the Dixie Chicks "Goodbye Earl", but without the latter's safety-valve of humor."

In a mixed review, website Taste of Country said, "on “Church Bells” Underwood injects new drama into an oft-told tale. The Dixie Chicks “Goodbye Earl” relies on the same plot points, with Earl’s fate being the same as the oil baron in this song". The review was concluded by saying "expect the song to perform well on country radio, even if it’s not one that pushes her artistry forward as much as others on her most recent studio album".

Commercial performance

"Church Bells" first charted at number 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart, selling 2,300 copies following the release of the parent album. It fell off the chart in the following week. After its release as the third official single and following Underwood's performance at the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, the song re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 34 and peaked at number two, spending three consecutive weeks at that spot. It debuted at number 50 on the US Country Airplay chart and peaked at number one, becoming Underwood's 15th number one on that chart and extending her record for most number ones among women on that chart. Underwood became the first female artist of 2016 to have two number one hits on the Country Airplay chart, with "Heartbeat" and "Church Bells".

For the week ending May 28, 2016, it debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 43.

In Canada, the song debuted at number 37 on the Canada Country chart and peaked at number two and debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 64.

The song has been certified Gold by the RIAA on August 3, 2016. As of January 2017, it has sold 456,000 copies in the United States.

Music video

The music video for the single was filmed during the Storyteller Tour in Lincoln, Nebraska. The music video was released on May 10, 2016, and premiered on Good Morning America.

Live performances

Underwood first performed the song live on the first stop of the Storyteller Tour in Jacksonville, Florida. She has since performed the song numerous times during the tour. Underwood's first televised performance of the song was at the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. She again performed the song live at the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards. Underwood performed the song at the 2016 CMT Music Awards on June 8, 2016.

Track listing

1. "Church Bells" – 3:14