Never skip an Eric Church speech.
On a star-studded night yesterday at The Pinnacle in Nashville, some of the best and brightest stars in the genre gathered together at the 19th annual ACM Honors Awards. Returning for her sixth straight year, Carly Pearce hosted the night alongside reigning Album of the Year winner, Parker McCollum.
In case you aren’t familiar with the concept of ACM Honors, unlike the ACM Awards, which highlight an artist’s individual performance, album or event, it awards recipients for their impact on the genre at large in a multitude of different categories, including the Poet’s Award, International Award, Spirit Award, Lifting Lives Award and many more.
Throughout the night, Kacey Musgraves was honored with the ACM Spirit Award, which was inspired by Merle Haggard. The late, great Brett James posthumously received the Poet’s Award alongside Dolly Parton (who accepted the award remotely) and The Carter Family for their songwriting careers. Taylor Sheridan’s hit show, Landman, received the ACM Film Award. Ella Langley, who has been on a historic run thanks to “Choosin’ Texas,” also received her first-career Artist-Songwriter win.
Of course, the night was also filled with a plethora of stellar performances, highlighted by Kaitlin Butts, Carter Faith and Carly Pearce teaming up for a cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” Dierks Bentley honoring Brett James with a performance of “I Hold On” and Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero teaming up with Landman actor, Mark Collie, for a performance of “Midland After Midnight.”
Given his long history of charity and philanthropy, Eric Church received the 2026 ACM Lifting Lives Award. In particular, the ACM highlighted his massive effort in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which included co-organizing the Concert for Carolina with Luke Combs, donating all royalties from his single, “Darkest Hour,” and continuing to remain active in the rebuilding of North Carolina. Additionally, the Academy would also point to his non-profit, Chief Cares, which has given millions in support, including helping orphanages in Nepal, relief efforts in Haiti, and humane society no-kill shelters.
With Sheryl Crowe, who honored him with a performance of “Drink In My Hand,” on stage alongside him, Church would accept the award and deliver a powerful speech, diving into the process of organizing Concert for Carolina and providing some key updates on the project.
“We did Concert for Carolina when Hurricane Helene happened. There were a few people I called. I called Sheryl. I called Keith Urban, James Taylor, Luke Combs, Billy Strings. And we put together a concert. I’ve played a lot of concerts, but I believe that it was the most pure-intentioned concert I’ve ever played.”
The “Springsteen” singer would then dive into the healing power of music, calling it God’s “universal language.”
“I believe that God made music the universal language. I believe that that was the creed when King David wrote the first song. You forget what music can do and who it can speak to.”
From there, the North Carolina native would give some updates on their ongoing reconstruction efforts in the region. In particular, he’d note that they are currently putting their 37th family in a new home in western North Carolina. He’d also reveal that they are starting a new project next month to build an additional four houses in a neighboring county, bumping the total number to 41.
“It’s because of music that it happened. It’s changing those who wants lives. It’s changing their kids lives. It’s changing their future.”
After noting how big of a role his wife Katherine and his manager, John Peets, both played throughout the entire process, Church would thank the ACMs for the honor and Crowe for her involvement in the concert.
“Music is more powerful than you can ever comprehend — ever. So I thank the ACMs for this. I thank them for honoring who they’re honoring and why they’re doing it. And I thank Sheryl Crowe.”
Watch here:
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