Hurricane Helene Brought Devastation—But Country Music’s Outpouring of Support Brought Hope
I have never been more proud to be a country music fan.
Eric Church, Luke Combs; Photo by David Bergman
My heart has been aching in the weeks since Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of the Southeast, including areas of North Carolina and Tennessee. I have sat and watched countless videos of towns and cities being swept away with water that has more force than I can even wrap my head around. I have cried as I’ve watched countless social media clips with people recounting their final moments with loved ones, describing the terror they endured as flood water destroyed everything in its path, and sharing stories of sadness and despair in the aftermath of losing their homes, businesses, pets, and loved ones after the water receded.
When the true impact of Hurricane Helene’s devastation became clear, like many others, I waited to see who would step up to help. I thought, “Surely a few country stars will rise to the occasion for these people.” Well, I was right, but I never could have imagined just how much the country music community would do for the flood victims.
Within a few days, Morgan Wallen made a generous $500,000 donation, and later, his foundation, The Morgan Wallen Foundation, launched the “HELP” campaign to raise funds and collect food for those in need.
Dolly Parton pledged $1 million from her pocket and also announced another $1 million donation from the Dollywood Foundation and other partners.
Taking a boots-on-the-ground approach, Chris Janson provided supplies and delivered water to parts of East Tennessee, while Miranda Lambert stepped up to help pets and families who needed assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene with a $100,000 donation.
During a concert in Georgia, Jason Aldean announced a $500,000 donation to Samaritan’s Purse.
Recently, Lainey Wilson made a surprise visit to Chimney Rock Village in North Carolina to deliver “much-needed supplies” and offer support to local law enforcement and the local fire department.
(I also have to give a shoutout to Taylor Swift, who donated $5 million to Feeding America in the aftermath of Helene and Hurricane Milton. She started in country music, so we can proudly claim her as one of our own.)
Most impressively, North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Combs organized Concert For Carolina, a concert benefiting Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, Eblen Charities and the organizations supported by Chief Cares.
Led by Combs and Church with Billy Strings and James Taylor, the show also featured performances by Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, Wesko, and North Carolina’s own The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, and Parmalee. The record-breaking event also included surprise appearances by Nicole Kidman, North Carolina native Randy Travis, and was hosted by ESPN’s Marty Smith and Barstool Sports’ Caleb Pressley.
Over the weekend, my heart nearly burst with pride when it was announced that Concert for Carolina raised over $24.5 million (and counting) for hurricane relief efforts. This show drew a record-breaking crowd of 82,193 in-person attendees and the Veeps livestream garnered 7.1 million total views.
Funds for the area will continue to be raised through a silent auction featuring Combs’ guitar used during the show, the Columbia PFG shirt off his back, a meet and greet with Church at an upcoming concert, plus an array of items donated by athletes, musicians, and more.
Additionally, Church promised to donate royalties from his new song, “Darkest Hour,” to his home state and this weekend, the country superstar revealed a plan dubbed Blueprint for the Blue Ridge in which his charity, Chief Cares, pledged to build 100 homes in Avery County and surrounding areas to help those displaced by the storm.
“Our mission in North Carolina is to be here for the long haul. We are going to start by immediately building homes for 100 families in Avery County and the surrounding areas, and keeping these communities preserved and rebuilt,” Church says in a video on the organization’s official website. “We’ve come up with a Blueprint for the Blue Ridge. We are also helping to address longer term needs like creating jobs, rebuilding schools, and supporting local businesses. Often when disaster strikes, funds flow in from great people wanting to help, but when the world turns its eye to the next devastation, a lot can get lost and fall through the cracks. We are committed to the long-term rebuilding of these communities.”
It fills me with immense pride to see the country music community contribute over $30 million (and counting) to hurricane relief efforts. Watching these artists step up for those in need shows that they’re here for more than just entertainment—they genuinely care about giving back to the people who have supported them throughout their careers. The most inspiring part is that these efforts weren’t about making headlines or self-promotion; they were driven by love and a deep commitment to help others through their darkest hours.
And that is why I am, and will always be, a country music fan.
It’s also worth noting that other artists have likely made quiet donations, meaning the true impact of country music’s contributions is probably far greater than we realize.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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