why does eric church wear sunglasses

Eric Church wears sunglasses primarily to protect his eyes when performing on stage. He wears contact lenses that do not do well with lubrication, and the intense stage lights, especially with his height (6'3"), would bake his contacts causing them to fall out. This left him blind on stage until someone suggested wearing sunglasses, which solved the problem. Over time, the sunglasses became a signature part of his on-stage persona, though he does not usually wear them off stage. He even referenced this iconic look in his 2022 song "Through My Ray-Bans".