Luke Combs and Eric Church's ‘Concert for Carolina’ Benefit Show Raises $24.5 million for Hurricane Helene Relief

Luke Combs and Eric Church joined forces on Saturday night (October 26th) for their star-studded Concert for Carolina benefit concert, featuring Billy Strings, Keith Urban and more.

Fans might've grown a little skeptical of the phrase ‘proceeds will go towards...’, but when it came to the Concert for Carolina, every single dime that was raised is being put into North Carolina's rebuilding effort, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

In total, the event raised a staggering $24.5 million, which will provide a major boost to the relief work being conducted in western North Carolina - the home-state of both Luke and Eric. The concert was attended by a whopping 82,000 ticket-holders.

The size of this figure is in no small part thanks to the owners of the Carolina Panthers and the Bank of America Stadium, David and Nicole Tepper, donating the venue for the night.

As Luke Combs explained in a rousing, heartfelt on-stage speech, “28 days ago I called my manager and said, ‘We have got to do a show. I don't know how - I don't know how we're gonna do it, I don't know where we're gonna do it, but we're gonna do it”.

The ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ hitmaker expanded, “My manager's first call was to the Carolina Panthers. My first call was to Eric Church. The Teppers and the Panthers have been so incredible, they donated this venue tonight - for free. They donated the beer you're drinking, they donated the parking, they donated the work, they're paying the tax bill. Every single dollar that is made in this building tonight is going straight up those damn mountains to the people that need it the most. And I have never been more proud to walk on this stage than I am right now”.

During the emotional extravaganza, the packed-out Bank of America Stadium crowd were treated to stellar performances from the likes of Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, James Taylor, Bailey Zimmerman, The Avett Brothers and more.

The latter cancelled their arena show in order to be present at the concert, while a number of special guests emerged throughout the evening, including country icon, Randy Travis.

One of most moving moments of the night was the final song of the evening, with Luke Combs and Eric Church teaming up for a tear-jerking homage to their home-state, ‘Carolina’.

Hurricane Helene has caused over 230 fatalities, with around half of those taking place in North Carolina. Given the level of damage caused by the storm, there is still a long way to go, but this $24.5 million will go a long way towards aiding the rebuilding work.

Separately from this, Eric Church has confirmed plans to construct 100 homes in the state for those who have been displaced by the hurricane via his Chief Cares organisation. Last month, Eric released his first new solo song in over three years, ‘Darkest Hour’, with all the proceeds from the track going towards the North Carolina relief effort.

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