Eric Church Talks to Perform ‘Darkest Hour’ at Upcoming CMA Awards, Helping Those Affected by Hurricane Helene

On November 21, 2024By Littum

At Wednesday night’s (Nov. 20) CMA Awards, set to air live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Eric church is nominated for musical event of the year for his Morgan Wallen collaboration “Man Made a Bar.”

Church is a CMA entertainer of the year winner and two-time CMA album of the year winner. But during his performance at the upcoming awards ceremony, the focus will not be on hit songs or career success. The North Carolina native Church is using the award show’s far-reaching platform to perform his recent release and solo-penned “Darkest Hour,” aiming to continue shining a light on those who continue to be affected by the devastation of the hurricane. Helen. It was previously revealed that the church’s publishing fees from “Darkest Hour” will go to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

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“I think the biggest thing that the people of North Carolina need after Helene is awareness,” Church says Billboard prior to the CMA Awards. “Because as a society we tend to move on to other things rather quickly. It’s just our nature and these people are going to need help for a long time. So the more I can shed light on the people there and the need that will still be there for a long time, the better it will be. And we can help people there get back on their feet.”

Since Category Four Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in numerous communities in North Carolina and other states in September, with more than 100 storm-related fatal accidents in North Carolina alone, Church has been a leader in spearheading several efforts to help those in need.

He teamed up with other artists including Luke Combs, James Taylor and Billy Strings lead “Concert For Carolina” in October, with the event also welcoming guests including Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, Sheryl Crow and Chase Rice. Concert For Carolina raised over $24 million to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

“It was a great night,” says Church Billboardreflects on the event. “I’ve done a lot of shows, but I don’t know if I’ve ever felt a show like this. We had a lot of people come and help – Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor – and it just ended up being this redemptive revival night. But at the same time, we all knew there was a need. So we were there on a mission, that we were organizing and we were there to help people in North Carolina. It was a unique feeling for any concert I’ve ever done.”

In addition, the singer-songwriter’s Chief Cares Foundation launched the Blue Print for Blue Ridge building initiative, pledging to build 100 homes for families in Avery County, North Carolina and surrounding areas whose homes were affected by the hurricane. The church tells Billboard that he has visited Avery County several times, surveying the damage and looking at sites for the project.

“In this country, we do pretty well on 911 — the food, the water, the diapers. We don’t do so well on phase two, which is keeping people in the community,” he says. “We’re never going to rebuild these communities if you don’t keep people there. So we’ve committed to putting a hundred homes in Avery County and giving people a place to find out what’s next for them. They can stay in their county, their kids can stay in the local schools, they can stay involved in their church. It just gives them a shelter so they can figure out the next part of their lives. And that’s all I’ve done every day, all day since the hurricane happened.”

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