Country music icons Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, and James Taylor have joined forces to organize Concert for Carolina, a benefit event to assist hurricane victims and NC communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
- Oct 7, 2024
AceShowbiz - The devastation of Hurricane Helene has led some of country music's biggest names - Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, and James Taylor - to organize a benefit concert at North Carolina's Bank of America Stadium. This event aims to provide much-needed relief to the affected regions, particularly Western North Carolina, which has been severely affected.
On October 26, the "Concert for Carolina" will bring these renowned artists together for an evening designed to support hurricane relief efforts. The concert will be hosted by ESPN's Marty Smith and Barstool Sports' Caleb Pressley and presented by Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
The funds raised from the event will be split equally between Combs and Church, both Tarheel State natives, to distribute to various organizations in need. Luke Combs plans to allocate his share to groups like Samaritan's Purse, Manna Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, among others. Meanwhile, Church's Chief Cares Foundation will manage his portion, ensuring aid reaches affected families swiftly.
The idea for the concert came about after Luke Combs, a Huntersville native, and Eric Church, from Granite Falls, felt compelled to help their communities. After Hurricane Helene's catastrophic impact, which left towns in ruins and a death toll exceeding 225 across states like North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Virginia, both artists knew immediate action was necessary.
"Absolutely heartbroken for everyone impacted by Hurricane Helene. Especially my folks in Western North Carolina," Combs posted on social media, signaling the early stages of the concert's planning. Echoing this sentiment, Church stated, "This is my home. It's in every fiber of who I am."
David Tepper, owner of the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC, and Bank of America Stadium, was approached about hosting the event. Given that the Panthers will be playing an away game, the venue was available. Tepper and his wife Nicole promptly offered the stadium for the concert, helping set the stage for this star-studded event.
Additionally, Eric Church released a new song titled "Darkest Hour (Helene Edit)" on October 4. He pledged to donate all publishing royalties from the song to the people of North Carolina. "Even in your darkest hour, they come running," Church affirmed, emphasizing the community's resilience and need for support.
Tickets for "Concert for Carolina" go on sale Thursday, October 10, at 10 a.m. ET. More information, including how to donate for those unable to attend, can be found on the event's website at www.concertforcarolina.com.