Hurricane Helene Brought Devastation—But Country Music’s Outpouring of Support Brought Hope

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.

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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.