Recognized for their quick response and outstanding efforts to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
In 2024 and early 2025, natural disasters struck multiple areas of the United States. Many citizens had to rebuild their lives after losing everything, from Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene to the wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding cities.
However, country music artists showed up in a big way to help the rural town affected by Hurricane Helene. Given that the storm hit parts of rural Appalachia hard, many public figures stepped up to help rebuild these small and secluded communities. While many names made a significant impact on helping the community get back on their feet, two artists went above and beyond, busting their tails to put together an outstanding benefit concert in a short 28 days- Luke Combs and Eric Church.
Because of their dedication to helping their North Carolina home, Combs and Church will receive the 2025 Artist Humanitarian Award on February 21st at the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
CRB Awards Committee Chair Beverlee Brannigan said the following about their contributions to their home community.
“Eric Church and Luke Combs’ love for their home state has been nothing short of inspiring. Their dedication to helping North Carolina recover after Hurricane Helene and their ongoing efforts show just how much they care.
This award is a heartfelt recognition of their commitment, hard work, and genuine compassion for the people of North Carolina. Eric and Luke, we’re proud to honor you.”
On October 26th, Combs and Church organized a stadium concert in Charlotte, Concert For Carolina, which drew a record-breaking 82,000 fans and raised over $24 million. Eric Church noted that when the duo came up with the idea for the concert, Combs jumped into action, making sure the event came together quickly.
“Luke called me almost the day or two after. We were still in the process of… we have a lot of boots on the ground. That’s where I spend half my year. The community that we live in there is gone. We were still kind of dealing with that part when Luke called.
Credit to him, he had already reached out to the Teppers and the Panthers, and we started putting it together from there. It normally takes months to plan what we’ve tried to do in a few days.”
Amazing night at BOA. Official attendance was 82,193 and $24,513,185 raised to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene in Asheville and Western N.C. Country music star Luke Combs put this all together. He’s been hard on the Panthers this season but he spoke with great gratitude… pic.twitter.com/JpelorvgoE
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 27, 2024
While that concert was a massive undertaking to put together in such a short amount of time, Combs and Church did not stop there with their efforts.
Eric Church announced he was building 100 homes for families displaced by the hurricane. He also signed over all of the rights to his single “Darkest Hour” to the state of North Carolina and most recently featured his song “Carolina” in a commercial calling visitors back to Asheville. Luke Combs also worked with relief funds to ensure funds were rightfully distributed and significantly contributed to local food banks.
Talk about going above and beyond for the state you call home. Luke Combs and Eric Church are deserving recipients of this honor, and I know they (and many other artists) will continue to help those who remain in need after this horrific hurricane.
Luke Combs and Eric Church set a new standard of stepping up.
While you’re here, fire up “Darkest Hour.”
