Eric Church’s ongoing hurricane relief efforts were recognized at the 19th annual ACM Honors ceremony held in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Hosted by the Academy of Country Music, the ACM Honors focuses on the humanitarian aspect of an artist’s career. Since 2024, Church has assisted his home state of North Carolina as residents continue to recover from Hurricane Helene. In August, the country singer-songwriter was presented with the ACM Lifting Lives Award.
The philanthropic branch of the ACM wrote that the award is given to a musician, group, or industry professional “devoted to improving lives through the power of music.” When it was the singer’s turn to give a speech, he took a moment to express gratitude for the platform country music has given him, so his songs could ultimately help his fellow North Carolinians rebuild the communities they call home.
‘It’s Changing People’s Lives’
On Sept. 26, 2024, Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm traveled north and reached the Western Appalachian region of North Carolina by the next day, causing catastrophic floods. Church grew up in Granite Falls, North Carolina, a town nestled in the western foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As he watched the devastation Helene brought to an area so near and dear to his heart, he wasted no time getting involved in recovery efforts.
Through his nonprofit organization, Chief Cares, Church has helped raise millions of dollars for North Carolina communities and families. Just one month after Helene swept through the area, the performer organized a concert with a lineup of A-list performers, including Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and Scotty McCreery. More than 82,000 fans attended the five-hour-long concert at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and more than 7 million viewers tuned in via livestream. By the end of the night, Concert for Carolina had raised over $24 million for various charities and organizations.
After the show, Combs, a fellow North Carolina native, posted on social media about the unforgettable concert. “This will undoubtedly go down as the night I am most proud of in my career. Being able to give back to the place that gave me so much,” he shared.
Church would later tell ACM Honors attendees the event was “the most pure-intentioned concert I’ve ever played.” In October 2024, Church also announced that all royalties from his “Darkest Hour (Helene Edit)” single, released in honor of those affected by the hurricane, would be donated to relief efforts.
Through his nonprofit organization, Church is also assisting with rebuilding efforts. The singer shared that 37 homes have been built for families in Western North Carolina, with 41 more on the way. “It was because of music that [Chief Cares] happened. It’s changing those lives. It’s changing their kids’ lives. It’s changing their future,” he said.
Church also shared that music has enabled him to help all kinds of people because it transcends differences. “I believe that God made music the universal language. … And you forget what music can do and who it can speak to,” he said.
Continuing Relief Efforts
Church was surrounded by family when presented with the ACM Honors Lifting Lives Award, and Sheryl Crow made a special appearance to perform the country artist’s hit single, “Drink in My Hand.” She also praised his character. “I’ve known Eric for years, and one of the things I’ve always admired about him is the way he goes about life,” Crow said. “He’s incredibly humble; he lets his music speak for itself, and he’s always been someone who gives back without looking for recognition in return. He’s a truly remarkable human being, and I’m so proud to call him a friend.”
The ACM Honors wrote that Church was presented with the Lifting Lives Award because of “his immense support of others throughout his career and his notable contributions to large-scale disaster relief fundraising and rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Helene.”
Church shared that Chief Cares isn’t stopping anytime soon. “We’re not just building homes—we’re investing in the people that will carry this community forward for generations,” he said in a statement featured at Music Row. “This isn’t about short-term solutions. It’s about long-term hope.”
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