Eric Church Gives 'Darkest Hour' to NC for Hurricane Relief

Country singer and songwriter Eric Church's has released a new song, "Darkest Hour," to help benefit North Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Church, who was born in Granite Falls, NC, and attended Appalachian State University, said in a video posted on social media that he spends much of the year in western North Carolina. He also announced that his new song, Darkest Hour, "is no longer mine" and that he has signed over all publishing rights to the song to the people of North Carolina, so that the proceeds will be able to help communities rebuild.

Hurricane Helene ripped through southeastern United States last week, leaving behind devastation in North Carolina, as well as Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Photo byCharles Sykes/Invision/AP

Church's post also read: “This song, ‘Darkest Hour,’ was the best way I could think to try to help. We've been helping with boots on the ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery. This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.” Listen to the new song now: https://strm.to/DarkestHour

Photo byTaste Of Country

In a press release, Church said, “This song, ‘Darkest Hour,’ was the best way I could think to try to help. We’ve been helping with boots-on-the-ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery. This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.

"Darkest Hour, is a song dedicated to the unsung heroes, the people who show up when the world’s falling apart. This is for the folks who show up in the hardest times, offering a hand when it’s most needed, and standing tall when others can’t. Even in your darkest hour, they come running. When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through. The message of the song specifically in this time is about Hurricane Helene and the people that need help, but in a broader view, it’s about any challenging times that we have in our life, which we’ll all have. And it’s always important to know that in your darkest hour, there are people that will come running, there are people that will help. And I think it’s also important to be one of the people that go running when other people need help.”

Church also encouraged people to visit his charity, Chief Cares Fund, which will also help all of the communities that were affected by the storm.