Your Life, as Six Strings

May 11, 2026

"The difference between a life that sounds like music and a life that sounds like noise ... is whether you're honest enough to hear which string has drifted out of tune, and humble enough to make the adjustment."

Address by Eric Church, Musician

Delivered as 2026 Commencement Address, University of North Carolina, Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C., May 9, 2026

[arve url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S43bJWRJLvA']

This is the best commencement speech we’ve heard so far this year. Reader, please use the comments to nominate yours. —ed.