CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Luke Combs and Eric Church led the star-studded Live performance for Carolina on Saturday, which raised over $24.5 million for aid efforts within the Carolina area following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
Attended by over 82,000 concert-goers, the occasion featured performances by James Taylor, Keith City, Sheryl Crow, Bailey Zimmerman, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, The Avett Brothers and Parmalee in addition to shock appearances by Nicole Kidman and Randy Travis.
Hosted by ESPN’s Marty Smith and Barstool Sports activities’ Caleb Pressley, the profit present – organized by Combs and Church in lower than a month – befell at Financial institution of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Luke Combs and Eric Church’s Live performance for Carolina raised over $24.5 million for aid efforts within the Carolina area after Hurricane Helene. ( John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Listed here are a number of the high highlights from the star-studded occasion.
Eric Church publicizes that his group will construct 100 houses for hurricane victims
Church introduced that his group will construct 100 houses for individuals displaced by Helene. (John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Eric Church carried out quite a few instances all through the night time, and in addition made a significant announcement in a video that was performed on the stadium’s display screen. The nation star, who hails from Granite Falls, N.C., revealed that Chief Cares has a plan to construct 100 homes for North Carolinians whose houses have been devastated by the hurricane.
“I come from the mountains of North Carolina,” Church stated within the video message. “It’s what made me. It’s my home. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the people there and the influence they had on me. I wouldn’t make the music that I make if it weren’t for the people there and the influence they had on me.”
He continued, “When Hurricane Helene happened, it devastated those communities. These are hard-working, poor communities that rely on each other. And any time a community needs help, it’s always the community next door that comes running in to help. And there are no communities next door. They’ve all been devastated.”
Over 82,000 concert-goers attended the star-studded lineup. (John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
“So we made it our mission at Chief Cares that we’re going to be the community next door,” Church defined. “We’ve come up with a plan called Blueprint for the Blue Ridge. We’re going to put 100 families in homes that have lost their homes in Avery County and the surrounding areas — one of the worst hit areas. In an area that I spent half of my years, an area I’ve had a lot of inspiration and gained a lot of inspiration, in an area I’ve made five records in. And we’re going to go and keep those people in their community, put a roof over their heads, let them interact with their community, let them be a part of their community, and let them help rebuild the community.”
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Church went on to say that Chief Cares had plans for a second a part of the preliminary part which is able to exceed the purpose of constructing 100 houses.
“I hope it’s a lot of homes,” he stated. “A lot more than 100 homes. I hope it’s about building the businesses and building the community back. That’s what we’re committing to at Chief Cares and we would love your help.”
Church requested followers to go to his group’s web site ChiefCares.com to seek out methods to assist and contribute to Blueprint for the Blue Ridge.
“And we will rebuild western North Carolina,” he declared.
Nicole Kidman makes shock onstage look to have fun Keith City’s birthday
Nicole Kidman made a shock look to have fun her husband Keith City’s birthday. (John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Through the live performance, Church launched Keith City, noting that the Australian singer was “one of the guys that I’ve always been able to call and count on”
“Even before I can ask the question, he just says, ‘Yes, and whose car are we taking?’” Church stated. “He’s one of my favorite musicians. We did a lot of stuff together. You guys are in for a treat.”
After City carried out his hits “Blue Ain’t Your Favorite Color” and “Wasted Time,” he introduced that he needed to convey “somebody” as much as the stage to assist him reintroduce Church.
“My wife is over here tonight. Come on, baby girl.” he stated because the viewers erupted into cheers. “We’re here for everybody, baby.”
The group continued cheering as City’s spouse Nicole Kidman took the stage. The A-list actress, who was clad in a black velvet and leather-based jacket with darkish blue denims, smiled as she took the microphone from her husband.
City turned 57 on Saturday. (John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
“So happy to be here with everyone tonight because of Eric giving Keith a call,” Kidman stated.
“I do want to say it’s his birthday tonight,” she continued. “And he went, ‘The one thing I can do…'”
“And he wanted to be here with you,” Kidman added while the audience cheered even louder. “So here we go. Eric Church called him and here we are.”
“One more time, Eric Church, come on up here, brother!” Urban called out as he put his arm around Kidman. The couple shared a quick kiss before Church joined them on the stage and hugged Kidman.
The crowd joined in as Church sang “Happy Birthday” to Urban, who turned 57 on Saturday. The two musicians then performed a duet of “Raise Em’ Up.”
“I love you, Carolina!” Urban exclaimed at the end of the song. “God bless you!”
Dolly Parton donates $1 million provided by Jeff Bezos to benefit concert
Dolly Parton donated $1 million to benefit the concert. (Photo by BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images)
While co-hosting the show, Marty Smith shared a special message from Dolly Parton. Earlier this month, the country legend donated $1 million of her own money to The Mountain Ways Foundation to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Parton’s Dollywood also contributed an additional $1 million to the relief.
“She asked me to read this statement for you guys,” Smith told the audience as he began reading, “‘It’s so wonderful that Eric and Luke are doing this show to help their people here in North Carolina. Thank you all for being here tonight. You may have heard Jeff Bezos with Amazon dedicated money to Dolly to direct to causes that she cares about. So I want you to know that I’m directing $1 million on his behalf to the Concert for Carolina Chief Cares to help my neighbors in North Carolina with recovery efforts.'”
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Parton’s statement continued, “I know money won’t solve all the pain and suffering these floods have caused, but maybe it will help some of our people with recovery. It’ll take all of us working together, but we can do it.'”
“‘Love, Dolly.'” the statement concluded.
Sheryl Crow joins Eric Church on stage for a duet of ‘Picture’
Sheryl Crow carried out a duet with Eric Church. ( John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Through the live performance, Church took the stage, telling the viewers that he was going to carry out a music that he had “never done in my life.”
Church started singing Child Rock and Sheryl Crow’s 2001 collaboration “Picture.” To cheers from the viewers, Crow joined him on stage after the primary verse and the 2 stars carried out a duet.
“Wow, that was fun!” Crow stated on the finish of the music. “I just got to sing ‘Picture’ with Eric Church. I just have to absorb that for a minute.”
Crow then carried out two of her greatest hits, “Every Day Is a Winding Road,” and “If It Makes You Happy.”
“We’re in it with you,” she instructed the group earlier than singing, “It’s a joy and a pleasure and a blessing to be here.”
Randy Travis takes the stage in a shock look
Nation legend Randy Travis made a shock look. ( John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Nation music icon and North Carolina native Randy Travis made a shock look alongside his spouse Mary because the pair took the stage to thunderous cheers from the group.
Travis, who survived a near-fatal stroke in 2013 that has restricted his potential to talk or sing, smiled and waved on the crowd whereas Mary shared phrases of help for the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Mary famous that through the Nation Music Corridor of Famer’s travels, Travis “always said it was North Carolina that he missed the most.”
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“We’re blessed to be back,” she stated. “Tonight, we just ask you to spend a little time saying a prayer for those people that lost so much in the storms of life on that September the 30th. We asked God’s grace, his amazing grace. We ask for their hope. We ask for their patience. We ask for their perseverance.”
“We thank you so much for being here,” Mary instructed the group. “Thank you for loving Randy Travis all these years.”
James Taylor carried out ‘Carolina in My Mind’
James Taylor carried out a few of his greatest hits together with “Carolina in My Mind.” ( John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
At a press convention forward of the live performance, Combs and Church shared the story of how they had been capable of enlist the legendary James Taylor to carry out on the present.
“I was like, ‘I have to get James Taylor,'” Church stated on the convention. “Like I just, I have to hear ‘Carolina in my Mind’ in this stadium. So I made it my mission, and I’m pretty sure after talking to James last night, I think I stalked him.”
Church and Combs’ efforts paid off and Taylor took the stage on Saturday, performing “Carolina in my Mind” together with different hits together with “Fire and Rain,” “Copperline,” and Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend.”
“I’d like to thank Luke and Eric, particularly for making me part of this tonight and inviting me to join you all here,” Taylor stated.
Luke Combs shares heartfelt tribute to house state of North Carolina
Luke Combs closed out the night time and paid tribute to his house state. ( John Shearer/Getty Pictures for Live performance For Carolina)
Luke Combs was the ultimate headliner to take the stage on Saturday night time. In between performances, Combs thanked everybody who had helped him and Church manage the profit live performance “from the bottom of my heart.”
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“It’s been a monumental effort on so many people’s lives to make this show happen,” he stated noting that “28 days ago, we put together this show that should have taken a year and a half to put together.”
The Asheville, N.C. native additionally shared reminiscences of rising up in his house state and mirrored on the devastation wrought by Helene.
“I wanted to have a good time tonight. I knew I wanted you all to have a good time tonight. But I knew also that I couldn’t ignore the gravity of the situation that we’re all in,” Combs stated. “I haven’t been up that mountain yet myself. I have so many friends and family who are here tonight who live every day of their lives up that hill. And the things that I’ve seen, the things that I have heard are beyond words. And I think that there are a lot of you in this crowd who know that tonight.”
All proceeds will likely be cut up equally and distributed to Combs’ and Church’s organizations of their selecting in help of aid efforts throughout the Carolinas and the Southeast. (Audrey Conklin/Fox Information)
He continued, “I know my parents are at home watching, and I know that so many of my friends and family are at home who aren’t here with us tonight. And I don’t know what else to say other than I love you guys. I love North Carolina. I love where I come from.”
After it was introduced that the live performance had raised over $24.5 million, Combs and Church closed out the night time on a excessive notice with a efficiency of their music. “Does To Me.”
All proceeds will likely be cut up equally and distributed to Combs’ and Church’s organizations of their selecting in help of aid efforts throughout the Carolinas and the Southeast, in accordance with a press launch.
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Combs’ portion will likely be distributed amongst Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Meals Financial institution and Second Harvest Meals Financial institution of Northwest NC.
Church’s group Chief Cares is concentrated on serving to established charities and organizations which can be well-managed, organized and might expedite assist on to the households affected by Hurricane Helene.
Fox Information Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
