Eric Church, his wife, Katherine, and son, Boone, will be heading home to North Carolina to celebrate their first Christmas as a family, which will allow Eric’s parents to spoil their new grandson. It’ll also allow Eric to get some much-needed time off before he kicks off his first arena headlining tour in January. “I just look forward to relaxing and enjoying our first Christmas at home and can’t wait, and same time, I can’t wait to dial it back up next year,” Eric says. “We’re gonna take [Boone] on the road, so it’ll be his first tour. So, it’s gonna be a lot of firsts over the next year, and we’re just soaking it in and enjoying every one.”

• Eric is currently enjoying his first Top 5 hit with “Drink in My Hand,” from his Grammy-nominated album, Chief.
• Eric is set to kick off his Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour, with special guest Brantley Gilbert, January 19th in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about his family’s plans for Christmas.

Eric Church (Christmas plans 2011) OC: …every one. :24

“This year, there’s not a lot of firsts in your life – first child and first Christmas with him is certainly not something I’m going to miss. We’re gonna be in North Carolina with my family. I just look forward to relaxing and enjoying our first Christmas at home and can’t wait, and same time, I can’t wait to dial it back up next year. We’re gonna take him on the road, so it’ll be his first tour. So, it’s gonna be a lot of firsts over the next year, and we’re just soaking it in and enjoying every one.”