Eric Church uses guitar to share life lessons at UNC-Chapel Hill graduation

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- American singer-songwriter Eric Church delivered a moving commencement speech at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 9, with the assistance of his trusty guitar.

Footage posted by the institution shows Church strumming the instrument while speaking, and explaining how the six strings represent six pillars of life: faith, family, spouse, ambition, community, you.

"Six strings, six strings of life and willingness to keep them in tune," he told the students. "Six principles, six pillars. When all six are in tune with each other, the chord your life makes is full and resonant and true. (But) all six will drift. Not one or two. All six. In their own time, in their own season."

Church encouraged the students to "stop and listen" to the six strings, before concluding his address with a performance of his song Carolina.

"The difference between a life that sounds like music and a life that sounds like noise is whether you stop and listen, whether you're honest enough to hear which string has drifted out of tune and humble enough to make the adjustment instead of just turning up the volume and hoping nobody notices," he said.

"Because you will notice. The part of you that knows what the chords should sound like will always notice. It will not let you go. Life won't be right until it is tuned. Trust what your heart hears and what it's telling you about your song.

"So graduates, now I encourage you to take your six strings, make it something worth hearing, and play your song as I leave you with mine."

The 49-year-old was hailed for his address, with viewers taking to the comments section to declare it was the "best" they'd ever heard.

"This was without a doubt the BEST commencement address EVER! The graduates have something absolutely memorable to take with them along life's journey! Way to go, Eric Church," one person commented on YouTube.

"Best speech ever. Way to do it, Eric Church! Congrats, graduates!" another wrote.