Carolina is calling Eric Church home
The avid Tar Heel fan, North Carolina native and 11-time Grammy nominee is eager to deliver the 2026 Spring Commencement address.
Country music superstar Eric Church has traveled the world performing songs for millions of fans. He’s played concerts in the United States, Scotland, Ireland, England, Holland, Norway, Sweden — just to name a few. Through it all, one thing kept him connected to North Carolina.
“Early on in my career, I traveled a lot. Even though I was tired, every night at 3 or 4 a.m. I would stay up to watch Carolina basketball just to feel closer to home,” said Church. “To this day, I carry North Carolina with me wherever I am. North Carolina — it’s home, right?”
Church is coming home to Carolina to deliver the Spring Commencement address May 9 in Kenan Stadium, imparting wisdom and advice to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Class of 2026.
A Tar Heel rising to stardom
Church was born and raised in the western North Carolina town of Granite Falls. The Tar Heels were always close to his heart.
“I’m a born, bred, dead guy. I can’t really remember a time when my identity wasn’t being a North Carolina fan,” Church said. “I didn’t know a lot about myself at 7 or 8, but I knew I was a Tar Heel. That’s the way I was raised. My dad would even introduce us as Tar Heels. I knew I wasn’t Wolfpack, and I wasn’t a Blue Devil. I was a Tar Heel. My entire life has been built around being a Tar Heel.”
He bought his first guitar at 13 and started writing songs soon after. As a high school senior, Church performed around his hometown, then he attended Appalachian State University, where he played locally with his band, The Mountain Boys.
Church moved to Nashville after graduating to pursue his music career. He released his first album, “Sinners Like Me,” in 2006, but it was his 2011 album, “Chief,” that propelled him on a path to stardom. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won multiple Album of the Year awards.
“If I had a regular job and wasn’t doing this, when I finished that job, every night I would go home and pick up a guitar and play songs because I love it,” said Church. “The more you do what you love, the more confidence you get from doing that.”
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Giving back to North Carolina
Church’s love for North Carolina shone through relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, which hit western North Carolina in late September 2024.
Alongside fellow North Carolinian Luke Combs, Church hosted the “Concert for Carolina” in Charlotte on Oct. 26, 2024, with performances from Billy Strings, James Taylor and more.
“My favorite part was the collection of talent that all came together for that night to play a show and raise money,” said Church. “To get those acts to come in and do something like that and the spirit in which they did it was the most unique thing I’ve been involved with musically.”
The concert had a record-setting attendance of more than 82,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium and raised over $24 million for hurricane relief.
Through his longstanding Chief Cares Fund, Church dedicated proceeds to establishing the Blueprint for the Blue Ridge initiative, building homes in Avery County where hurricane victims receive housing rent-free and will eventually receive deeds to the homes.
Coming back home
Coming home to Carolina means a lot to Church, and he’s excited to share his love of Carolina with his fellow Tar Heels in the Class of 2026.
And keep your eyes peeled – you may even run into him around Chapel Hill getting his favorite burger at Sutton’s Drug Store, wearing his famous sunglasses.
