GREENSBORO, N.C. — Hundreds of Guilford County students got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the stage with Chris Daughtry Thursday night.

Daughtry deliberately took time off from his tour Thursday to fulfill his duties as honorary chairman of “On Stage!” The annual event raises money for arts education in Guilford County Schools.

“Luckily it was before we had routed the tour, so we were able to strategically route it so I could only be a few hours away and get here and head back to the next city,” Daughtry said.

Daughtry said he wanted to be the honorary chair because school music programs changed his life growing up in Virginia.

“Especially in my community, where I live and where I raise my family, I think it’s a fantastic things, and I didn’t see a reason why not to do it.

The students had various performances in the show at War Memorial Auditorium, and then they joined the rock star for the big finale: singing Daughtry’s top 10 hit, “Home,” unplugged.

“It’s very humbling for me. I wrote this song that 300 to 400 kids are all singing. You have to step back and go, ‘Wow, did you ever see that years and years ago?'” Daughtry said.

Daughtry’s tour continues Thursday in New Jersey. His hometown stop in Greensboro took place April 7.