Eric Church gives newest song to North Carolina amid Helene recovery

(Gray News) - Country star Eric Church has donated his newest song to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in North Carolina.

Church announced that he is signing over all the publishing royalties from his new release, “Darkest Hour,” to the people of North Carolina.

“And I’m giving this song to North Carolina, to the people of North Carolina,” Church said in a video on Instagram. “It’ll no longer be mine. It’ll belong to the people of the state of North Carolina.”

While Church’s organization, The Chief Cares, is actively aiding the “boots on the ground efforts,” he said in the Instagram post that he wanted to provide something that “will live beyond just the immediate recovery.”

Church said he was working on a project for next year when he finished the song, “Darkest Hour” which he said fit the moment.

“I felt helpless, I was trying to figure out what can we do, how can we help?” Church said. “And we’ve been doing a lot of organizational stuff to supplies to people there. But I wanted to do more, specifically with awareness.”

According to USAToday, Church said in a press statement that the song is dedicated to “unsung heroes” who show up when people are in need.

“A lot of people there are in their darkest hour, and they need us to come running,” he said. “And I intend to do that.”

Originally from Granite Falls, North Carolina, Church said he spends half of his year in the North Carolina mountains and that the area is “a refuge” to him.

“It’s a place I’ve always said where my soul is at rest,” he said.

“Darkest Hour” is streaming now on Apple Music, Spotify and other listening platforms.

Hurricane Helene decimated parts of the southeastern U.S., specifically areas in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Crews have been navigating washed-out roads, mudslides and debris to bring much-needed supplies to people left stranded in the storm’s wake.

Other country singers have stepped up to aid with relief efforts. Morgan Wallen, a Tennessee native, previously donated $500,000 to Hurricane Helene aid through his Morgan Wallen Foundation.

His foundation will also be hosting a food drive in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 9 and is selling charity shirts.

Fellow North Carolina native Luke Combs has also told fans that he working on “something really special” to help with relief efforts.

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