Eric Church defends comments about Blake Shelton, "The Voice"

Eric Church performs at the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards on April 1, 2012, in Las Vegas.

/ Getty

(CBS News) Things just got ugly in the country music world and it's now playing out on Twitter.

It all started when Eric Chruch slammed reality TV music competitions in a new interview with Rolling Stone -- specifically calling out contestants and judges on "The Voice."

"Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green turn around in a red chair, you got a deal? That's crazy," Church said. "I don't know what would make an artist do that. You're not an artist."

The Grammy-nominated artist said he would never be a judge on such shows as "American Idol."

"Once your career becomes about something other than the music, then that's what it is," the "Springsteen" singer said. "I'll never make that mistake. I don't care if I starve."

Fellow country star Miranda Lambert didn't like what she heard. Not only is she married to Shelton, but she also has a reality TV past, finishing third on "Nashville Star" in 2003.

Thanks Eric Church for saying I'm not a real artist. Or @kelly_clarkson, @carrieunderwood & @KeithUrban. Your welcome for the tour in 2010.

— Miranda Lambert (@Miranda_Lambert) April 30, 2012

Lambert was referring to choosing Church as her tour's opening act in 2010.

Shelton has also spoken up. He linked to a story on Church's comments and added, "I wish I misunderstood this," later adding, "Why? Just why?"

Church has since responded to the fallout in a statement, explaining, "The comment I made to Rolling Stone was part of a larger commentary on these types of reality television shows and the perception they create, not the artists involved with the shows themselves. The shows make it appear that artists can shortcut their way to success. There are a lot of artists due to their own perseverance that have gone on to be successful after appearing on these shows, but the real obstacles come after the cameras stop rolling."

"I have a lot of respect for what artists like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, and my friend Miranda Lambert have gone on to accomplish," he added. "This piece was never intended to tear down any individual, and I apologize to anybody I offended in trying to shed light on this issue. I am grateful for all of the artists and fans that have supported me along my journey and certainly did not mean for my comments to undermine their talent and achievements."

What do you think about Church's comments?

[-JackDaniels-]

Eric Church is the freaking man!!!

[AOCGUY]

Take away their cell phones and give them a mic. No tweet just sing.

[lesserof2evil]

Eric should have never made such comments in the first place. Reality show is just one of many paths to stardom for someone with talents, so there is no point in disparaging it or its participants.

[turk118822]

Your missing the point- 'Stardom' as you put it isn't the goal for LEGITIMATE artists. If fame is your game, good for you, but that ain't art. Having a competition to see who is 'best' is meaningless, unless you seek fame or popularity. Of course legit artists want to make a living, but they aren't willing to compromise artistic integrity to be popular. Your comments aren't really too surprising as most seem to mix these two up, but I assure you they are not the same. Reality tv contests are perfect for fame, but they will never be suitable as venues for artistic expression.