Eric Church Partners For New Whiskey Brand

Eric Church and entrepreneur Raj Alva have announced a new whiskey brand from Outsiders Spirits today (5/2). They call it "A bold, new best-in-class spirit that friends and company co-founders named Whiskey JYPSI - a contemporary interpretation of the "JYPSI Spirit."

Eric said of his new creation in a statement, "Whiskey JYPSI celebrates doing things the unconventional way. It's the commitment to the creative spirit, the process, and the journey that excite me the most. It's meant to inspire others to take chances like we have – follow a different path and enjoy and experience life at its fullest."

The first release, Whiskey JYPSI's Legacy Batch 001, recently won the Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It's based on a traditional bourbon mash bill. A press release said that instead of blending the grains before fermentation or sourcing from the usual geographies, Whiskey JYPSI sources individual aged whiskey components from various origins, then blends them to recreate the mash bill.

Church recently announced that he will headline outdoor venues throughout the summer with "The Outsiders Revival Tour." Joining Church are Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Koe Wetzel, Lainey Wilson, Midland, Parker McCollum, Travis Tritt, Elle King, and Paul Cauthen, plus Jackson Dean, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline, Shane Smith & The Saints, Hailey Whitters, Ray Wylie Hubbard and The Red Clay Strays.

Eric said in a press release, "When I approach touring, I'm always inspired by a new experience, a new way to gather, to express ourselves sonically and visually. Whether it's solo, in the round, double down, being able to bring a different perspective has always brought out our best creatively. Well, we have never done an outdoor summer tour." He added, "Never headlined amphitheaters. Never brought a summer experience to your town that featured artists we want to share the summer with. Until now. See you in the season of sunshine with some fellow outsiders that shine brightest when the sun goes down."

Kicking off June 22, the tour will play 26 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Tickets to all dates go on sale next Friday, January 20, at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.com, with presale access available to Church Choir members starting Tuesday, January 17, at 10 a.m. local time.

Many country music superstars choose their middle names over their given first names. It is hard to imagine country music superstar Sam Smith (Tim McGraw's given name) and his superstar wife, Audrey Faith Perry (Faith Hill). Or how about sold-out stadium shows from a guy named Troyal (Garth Brooks)? And instead of two Lukes (Bryan and Combs), there would be two Thomas' (Rhett and Bryan).

Many celebrities change their name to fit who they have become, but in country music, the go-to name change for a superstar is to simply go with your middle name.

We take a look at five country superstars that go by their given middle names.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Can you image Kenny Church? Eric, born in n Granite Falls, North Carolina, was named after his father, Ken. Church worked with his dad at Clayton Marcus, a furniture upholstery company where his father was president.

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Luke was named after his father, Tommy, who was a peanut farmer in Leesburg, Georgia.

Chris Weeks/Liaison

Garth was named for his father, Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr. He is the elder Troyal's youngest child. His mother, Colleen McElroy Carroll (who passed away in 1999), was a 1950s-era country singer who recorded on Capitol Records, the same label that Garth recorded on.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Dierks has used his middle name publically since his music career began. The name Dierks is his maternal great-grandmother's surname. His parents' names are Leon Fife Bentley (who passed away in 2012) and Catherine Childs.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Tim McGraw was not born as a McGraw, and Timothy was his middle name. He changed his last name at age 11 when he learned the identity of his real father, major league baseball pitcher "Tug" McGraw, who passed away in 2004.