(Nashville, Tennessee – January 22, 2025) Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) is proud to announce Eric Church and Luke Combs as co-recipients of the CRS 2025 Artist Humanitarian Award. This prestigious honor will be presented on Friday, February 21, 2025, during the annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville.
This year’s award recognizes the unparalleled efforts of Church and Combs, who raised over $24 million in under a month, driven by an October 26 stadium concert in Charlotte that drew a record-breaking 82,000 fans. Remarkably, this massive event, which typically requires over a year of planning, was mobilized by their collective teams in just 28 days.
Eric Church, through his nonprofit organization Chief Cares, announced plans to build 100 homes for hurricane victims, starting in Avery County, providing critical shelter to families affected by the devastating storms while also committing to helping address longer-term needs like creating jobs, rebuilding schools, and supporting local businesses. In addition, Eric signed over all publishing royalties from his latest release, “Darkest Hour,” to the people of North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Luke Combs and his team are working directly with North Carolina-based relief efforts to ensure funds are distributed where they are needed most. Their contributions support organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.
CRB Awards Committee Chair Beverlee Brannigan shared: “Eric Church and Luke Combs’ love for their home state has been nothing short of inspiring. Their dedication to helping North Carolina recover after Hurricane Helene and their ongoing efforts show just how much they care. This award is a heartfelt recognition of their commitment, hard work, and genuine compassion for the people of North Carolina. Eric and Luke, we’re proud to honor you.”
The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was established in 1990 to recognize country artists whose philanthropic efforts have significantly improved the effectiveness and impact of the causes they support. Past recipients include Kane Brown, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and more.
For more information about CRS and the Artist Humanitarian Award, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.
About Country Radio Seminar (CRS): Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is an annual event that brings together professionals from across the country music and radio industries to share ideas, collaborate, and celebrate achievements. CRS 2025 will be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel from February 19 to February 21, 2025, featuring panels, presentations, and special events designed to educate and inspire.
About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. This was his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album that followed the Gold-certified Desperate Man, which earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album (his third nod in the category) and prior releases including the Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), the Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and the 3x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 36 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.
About Luke Combs
Country superstar and 2x CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs is a multi-platinum, award-winning artist from Asheville, NC. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Combs recently became the first country artist to have three singles certified RIAA Diamond and saw his Grammy-nominated single, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” reach #1 at country radio, leading Combs to spend 53 cumualtvie weeks atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The achievements follow Combs’ latest album, Fathers & Sons, which reflects on his own experiences as a dad and the unique bond between parents and their children. Released to critical acclaim, NPR Music praises, “he’s going beyond the country realm now and really has become a pop star, a global popstar,” while The Wall Street Journal declares, “filled with unexpected warmth and vulnerability…a perfect match for Mr. Combs’s warm and engaging style.” A Grand Ole Opry member and 11x CMA, 4x ACM, 6x Billboard Music Award-winner, Combs is also featured on Post Malone’s new album, F-1 Trillion, is the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and has partnered with Opry Entertainment Group to open Category 10—a multi-level entertainment complex in downtown Nashville. Known for his electric live shows, Combs will perform select dates this year including headline slots at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Stagecoach and Boston Calling as well as several shows across Australia and New Zealand. Combs also performed an unforgettable duet of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman at last year’s Grammy Awards and joined forces with Eric Church, Billy Strings and James Taylor to headline “Concert for Carolina,” a special benefit show at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, which raised over $24.5 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
