CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Country star Eric Church is giving his newest song, "Darkest Hour," to North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Church grew up in Granite Falls, 30 miles south of Blowing Rock. He attended Appalachian State University and is a self-proclaimed Tar Heels basketball fan, even canceling a April 2022 concert in San Antonio, Texas, so he could watch the Tar Heels play the Blue Devils in the Final Four.
Church announced this week he has given all publishing rights and proceeds from "Darkest Hour" to the state.
In a video posted to Instagram, Church said he spends much of the year in western North Carolina.
"It's a refuge for me," he said. "It's a place where I've always said my soul was at rest."
Like so many, Church is devastated by what happened in the mountains.
"There are places that are just biblicaly gone ... there's still people we haven't found," Church said.