Overview
- At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on May 9, Eric Church built his commencement address around a guitar and closed by singing his 2009 song “Carolina.”
- He used the six strings to map six life pillars — faith, family, spouse, ambition with resilience, community, and authenticity — urging graduates to keep each one in tune.
- He pressed graduates to tend to faith in ordinary seasons, saying a steady foundation helps people hold fast when life turns hard.
- He cautioned against performing for social media and asked graduates to put down roots, learn neighbors’ names, and build the things their towns need.
- The address spread quickly online with broad praise across outlets, and UNC’s provost, Magnus Egerstedt, presented Church with an honorary degree at the ceremony.