Eric Church: ‘North Carolina, Now and Forever’
One of Nashville's best-selling artists, Eric Church, has released his latest single, "Darkest Hour," his first solo release since 2021. The moving track about helping people in times of great need debuted just days after Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeastern and Appalachian regions of the United States. The massive storm caused destruction to several states, including Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.
"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."
Though the newly released single was written well before Hurricane Helene ever made landfall, Church thought its uplifting lyrics and messages of hope and compassion would resonate with people, whether they were directly affected by the storm or not. He said those in affected areas are "our family members, they're our friends, they're our neighbors" and explained his decision to release the tune ahead of its original 2025 release date:
"I've been in the studio for a while, trying some different things and exploring creativity. I had this song that I'd written, and the line that struck me in light of the recent devastation was 'I'll come running,' because there are a lot of people out there right now who are in their darkest hour and they need people to come running. We were going to wait to release music until next year, but it just didn't feel right to wait with this song. Sometimes you give songs their moment and sometimes they find their own moment."
Church first dreamed of being a country songwriter and performer while growing up in Granite Falls, North Carolina. The small town served as the perfect place for the aspiring musician to hone his skills. He played gigs as much as he could and continued performing while attending Appalachian State University before moving to Nashville.
Despite moving to Nashville to pursue his dreams, even today, he still spends as much time as he can in Western North Carolina. Church's hometown is situated near two lakes, Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss. These serene bodies of water, along with the area's lofty mountains, have always served as poignant inspiration for the artist.
Long before he released "Darkest Hour" in honor of North Carolina, he released another project in the state's honor, his 2009 album, "Carolina."
The release quickly became his breakout record. The lead single, "Love Your Love The Most," became Church's first top hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, taking the 10th spot overall. In 2016, the popular album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The album produced several songs that went on to become fan-favorites. Though not released as a single, the title track of "Carolina" acts as the album's conceptual anchor. A repeating lyric in the song says, "Oh Carolina, you keep calling me home." These repeating words act as a reminder to both Church and his listeners of the territory that shaped him growing up—territory that continues to shape him as an artist today.
Both Combs and Church are set to perform for the concert, as well as songwriting legend James Taylor. All three musicians are originally from North Carolina. Bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings and country artist Keith Urban are also set to perform.
Church is also helping those affected via his own charity, the Chief Cares Fund, which is currently assisting all states with Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
"Darkest Hour" is available to stream now. It's a tribute to his home state and the larger Carolinian community that helped make him the songwriter he is today. In his official statement, Church said, "This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever."
