Country music stars Luke Combs and Eric Church led an unforgettable night of music, community, and charity at the Concert for Carolina, raising over $24.5 million for hurricane relief in North Carolina. Organized in just under a month, the event drew over 82,000 fans to Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, where a star-studded lineup featured performances from artists including James Taylor, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings, and The Avett Brothers.
Eric Church’s Commitment to Rebuilding Communities
Eric Church, a North Carolina native, made a major announcement during the concert. Through his Chief Cares foundation, Church unveiled Blueprint for the Blue Ridge, a project to build 100 homes for families affected by the hurricane, specifically in the hardest-hit areas of Avery County and its surroundings. In a heartfelt video message, Church described the inspiration behind the initiative: “These are hard-working, poor communities that rely on each other…So we made it our mission at Chief Cares that we’re going to be the community next door.”
Church expressed hopes to extend the project beyond the initial 100 homes, envisioning efforts to restore businesses and revive the local economy. Encouraging fans to support the cause, Church directed them to ChiefCares.com to contribute to the relief and rebuilding efforts.
Memorable Performances and Surprises
Throughout the evening, Church brought out special guests to amplify the night’s energy. Keith Urban delivered crowd-pleasers like “Blue Ain’t Your Favorite Color” and “Wasted Time.” Urban’s wife, actress Nicole Kidman, made a surprise appearance, joining her husband on stage to the crowd’s delight. Kidman shared that Urban was spending his birthday at the benefit concert at Church’s request. The audience sang “Happy Birthday” to Urban as Church joined in before the two musicians launched into a duet of “Raise Em’ Up.”
Combs, Church, and the entire lineup, which included Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, Bailey Zimmerman, and surprise guest Randy Travis, created an unforgettable night of unity and generosity for the Carolinas.
—
Photo Credit: Selin Arche / Shutterstock.com