Country Star’s Mission of Hope: Eric Church Turns CMA Performance Into Hurricane Relief Platform
In a powerful display of the music meeting mission, Eric Church transformed his 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards performance into a clarion call for continued hurricane relief support.
The country music star’s rendition of “Darkest Hour” was more than entertainment—it represented a heartfelt plea for ongoing assistance to communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Church, a Western North Carolina native, made waves six weeks ago by releasing “Darkest Hour” and making an unprecedented move: signing over all publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina. The song, his first new release in three years, was dedicated to the “unsung heroes” who “show up when the world’s falling apart.”
“In this country, we’re good at initially providing people in need with food, water, and diapers. But we’re not so good at entirely rebuilding communities,” the former CMA Entertainer of the Year explained. His words cut to the heart of America’s disaster response challenges.
The impact of the Church’s dedication to the cause extends far beyond music. Working tirelessly for about 15 hours daily, he’s spearheading efforts to rebuild his home state. The most significant initiative is his pledge to construct 100 homes in Avery County, one of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.
“Every day that we don’t have a home built, I feel the pressure of the people who are still in tents and shelters who need to be back in homes,” Church shared, revealing the personal weight he carries in this mission.
His commitment reached a milestone with the “Concert for Carolina,” where he joined forces with fellow artists Luke Combs, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor, and others. The event wasn’t just another concert—it was a revival of hope that raised an impressive $24 million for hurricane relief efforts.
“I’ve done a lot of shows, but I don’t know that I’ve ever felt a show like that,” Church reflected. “It had a mission feel to it. We were organizing and weaponizing to help the people in North Carolina.”
Church launched the “Blue Print for the Blue Ridge” initiative through his Chief Cares Foundation, focusing on long-term recovery. He’s personally visited Avery County multiple times, surveying damage and scouting locations for new homes.
The devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene claimed over 100 lives in North Carolina alone, leaving countless families displaced. Church emphasizes that the recovery process is far from over: “We tend to move on as a society, and those people are going to need help for a long time.”
At the CMA Awards, where Church was nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his Morgan Wallen collaboration “Man Made a Bar,” his “Darkest Hour” performance reminded him of music’s power to drive change.
“The more I can raise awareness on that, the more good we can do,” he stated, underlining his commitment to keeping North Carolina’s recovery in the national spotlight.
As communities continue to rebuild, Church’s message resonates beyond the walls of Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena: proper recovery requires sustained attention, unwavering support, and a community willing to show up long after the storms have passed.