Country music star Eric Church made a heartfelt return to his hometown of Banner Elk, North Carolina, to assess damage from recent flooding alongside Governor Roy Cooper. “It’s devastating in a lot of areas,” Church remarked. “There’s a lot of people that see the need, and I see the need for a lot of help. It was remarkable to me to see what the power of the water can do.”
For Church, the restoration of western North Carolina holds deep personal significance. “I wrote every album of my career, but one, in Avery County. I’ve been right here,” he shared. “Creatively, it’s been real special to me. But spiritually, it’s the place that my soul’s at rest. It’s the most special place in the world to me, the mountains of this area.”
Despite the challenges faced by his community, Church expressed pride in the resilience of his neighbors. “The sense of community here is strong because I’ve been a part of it,” he said.
Church also reaffirmed his commitment to build 100 homes in Avery County, with efforts already in progress. His team is actively searching for land in Avery County and neighboring areas to begin construction, while also continuing to support local initiatives to assist affected communities.
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