Eric Church is no stranger to being on stage.
The iconic country artist will be featured on a different stage this May as he's been tabbed to deliver the 2026 Spring Commencement address.
Eric Church, world-renowned country musician and avid Tar Heel fan, will deliver #UNC’s 2026 Spring Commencement address. The ceremony will be held in Kenan Stadium at 7 p.m. May 9, 2026.
— UNC-Chapel Hill (@UNC) October 1, 2025
Learn more about the ceremony and Church's Carolina ties https://t.co/Yryky7Epm1 pic.twitter.com/gClmj9Tumj
An avid Tar Heel fan, Church has proudly let the world know what color his game day jersey is (as stated clearly in his song, "Hands of Time." Church's fandom is so devoted to the University of North Carolina that he cancelled one of his own concerts to be in attendance for the UNC basketball program's Final Four bout with rival Duke back in 2022.
Now that's commitment!
In an official press release, Church spoke about the honor of being asked to be this year's Commencement speaker:
“Being asked to be the Commencement speaker at North Carolina is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had. Being a Tar Heel ‘born, bred, dead’ and knowing what the school has meant to me and my family, it’s surreal.
To be able to be there and celebrate the future, the students at the University of North Carolina as they go onto their next journey, I’m honored to do it, and I can’t wait to see everybody there.”
Church never disappoints when he takes the stage, and this time will be no different. The graduates of the University of North Carolina will have the honor of hearing Church provide some words of wisdom and encouragement as a new wave of Tar Heels head out into the real world.