(dramatic music)
Downloaded from YTS.MX
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
In the world of country music, there exist many a superstar.
And then there's Luke Combs.
A man who defied expectations, built a career
on sheer grit, and connected with millions through
songs that feel like old friends.
I think anytime you're nominated for Entertainer is pretty wild.
Hard to believe still, really.
Just being in the conversation is really cool for me.
It's something, I grew up watching the CMA
Awards, and seeing your people that you idolize win that, and just to be in the
mix for it is pretty cool.
Obviously, I think all of us nominated would like to win.
I would love to win.
But if not, hey, it's gonna be good either way.
He's not your typical Nashville-made star.
No frills, no gimmicks, just a voice, a
guitar, and a gift for storytelling that speaks to the heart of everyday life.
We're gonna be doing a new song, brand new song, on this year's show.
It's gonna be unreleased, un-teased, like no
one's ever heard it before, so I'm definitely,
definitely stoked to see what people think about it.
From heartbreak to honky-tonks, from small-town
struggles to sold-out stadiums, Luke Combs has
captured the soul of modern country music.
Join us as we find out what makes this country boy-tick and how he stole
the hearts of many in the South.
It's cool.
It's kind of like kid on Christmas a little bit, at least for me, because it's
neat, right?
And it's not gonna happen that way forever.
So, you know, enjoy it while you can and just try to be appreciative of it.
(dramatic music)
Born on March 2nd, 1990, in Charlotte, North
Carolina, Luke Albert Combs was just a small -town kid with big dreams.
The little country boy grew up in the
nearby town of Huntersville, a place where life was pleasant and simple.
Life moved a little slower, and community meant everything.
It was a place of tradition, where neighbors
knew each other by name, and Friday nights
were for high school football under the glow of stadium lights.
Like many Southern boys, Luke spent his childhood
hunting, fishing, and dreaming about the future.
But while most kids pictured Friday night touchdowns
or escaping small-town life, Luke's world was music.
My dad has never been the hugest country
music fan, but he's always been the biggest
Hawaii Oakham fan, so we were always listening
to his records together when I was growing up.
So tonight will be really special.
I'm super excited about it.
He found his voice early on, quite literally,
singing in the church choir at just eight years old.
It was in that church where he first learned the power of a song.
He could hear the way a song could
connect people, how it could bring strangers together
in a way nothing else could.
A song wasn't just words.
It was an experience, something that stuck with
you long after the last note faded.
As he got older, his love for music only grew stronger.
He began listening to artists who spoke the
language of his heart, drawing inspiration from legends
like George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis.
But for a while, music was just a passion, not a career plan.
In the world of small towns, music was often seen as a dream that was just
out of reach.
But Luke wasn't like most kids.
While his classmates were talking about their future
careers, he was already plotting his own path,
one note at a time.
After high school, Luke enrolled at Appalachian State
University in Boone, North Carolina, where he studied criminal justice.
His mind may have been on education, but his heart was singing to him a melody
he couldn't unhear.
The hills of Appalachia had their own kind
of magic, and it wasn't in textbooks.
It was in the sound of the banjo, the strum of a guitar, and the lyrics
that painted pictures of love, loss, and everything in between.
The radios, the performances, the very culture of
Huntersville itself was country music.
It filled the air in the minds of many.
He knew where his destiny lay.
It was here, in the dorm rooms and
dive bars of Boone, North Carolina, that Luke
Combs, the country artist, was born.
Soon, Luke made a choice that would change everything.
He dropped out of college with just 21
credit hours left, betting everything on music, a risky move, maybe.
But for Luke Combs, there was no plan B.
Music wasn't a backup.
It was everything.
The risk didn't feel like one.
It felt like destiny.
He poured his heart and soul into every
performance, and slowly, the world began to take notice.
His voice, raw and powerful.
His lyrics, honest and unapologetic.
They were the perfect blend of everything country music stood for.
And just like that, a small-town kid armed with nothing more than a voice, a
guitar, and a dream, was ready to take on the world.
What started in those local bars and quiet
corners of North Carolina was about to become something much bigger.
He had found his way, and the world would soon hear his story.
Luke Combs was no longer just a dreamer.
He was an artist on the rise.
(dramatic music)
Early 2014 was a big moment for Combs,
the moment where he would seize his destiny
and set out on his personal quest when he packed up his car and left North
Carolina for the heart of country music, Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville is a town built on talent, but it runs on hustle.
Thankfully for our young hero, he had plenty of both.
He wasn't a songwriter with connections.
He wasn't the polished, next big thing Nashville
executives were looking for, but what he had
was raw, unfettered talent, and a growing army
of fans who saw something special in him.
With no record deal, no manager, and no big-budget studio, Luke did it the only
way he knew how, DIY.
He wasn't waiting for someone to hand him a shot.
He was carving out his own path.
He started self-releasing music, building a fan
base through Facebook, YouTube, and word of mouth.
Word spread quickly.
Luke Combs was different.
He wasn't trying to be the slick, radio
friendly country star that was the norm.
Instead, he was real.
He was raw, and people loved him for it.
(dramatic music)
One song in particular changed everything.
Yeah, I mean, it was when my song
Hurricane kind of came out, and probably before I even had a deal, and so it
was kind of like, man, this really feels like, it feels like real kind of at
that point, because you see it, and you kind of like print it out, like I
remember printing it out, and it was like,
man, this is really neat, you know, like
seeing your name up there with guys that
now you're kind of in the conversation with is really awesome.
Hurricane.
A song he sang from the depths of his heart that captured the pain a heart
break and the storm of emotions that come with it.
There was no pretension in it, just pure honesty.
The lyrics told a story of heartache and
regret, the kind of emotions everyone could relate to.
It wasn't just another country song.
It was his story.
People felt it.
What started as an independent release took off
like wildfire, and within just 24 hours, Hurricane
shot to number one on iTunes' country chart,
beating out major label artists with nothing but a grassroots following.
It wasn't just a hit.
It was a movement.
It caught the attention of fans, industry professionals, and fellow artists.
Luke wasn't just an unknown talent anymore.
He was the guy everyone was talking about,
and that overnight success, it turned into something
much bigger than anyone could have imagined.
It certainly was a hurricane.
That overnight success rather fortuitously turned into a
record deal with Columbia Nashville, and with that,
Luke Combs, the bar singer from North Carolina,
was about to take his music to the world.
He wasn't waiting for fame to find him.
He was stepping up to claim it.
The same passion he poured into every song was now the fuel for a career that
was skyrocketing.
It became a multi-week number one hit
on country charts and earned him platinum certification.
♪ The moon went hidin’, stars quit shinin’ ♪
♪ Rain’ was drivin’, thunder, lightnin’ ♪
♪ You wrecked my whole world when you came ♪
♪ And hit me like a hurricane ♪
This is my, gosh, fourth year in a row being
nominated, which is crazy to think about.
I try to enjoy it as much as I can.
It would be so cool to win it for the team.
It's been a crazy year for more than a few reasons.
Yeah, it's always big.
Everybody wants to win that one, but I
think you're splitting hairs when you look at who's nominated every year.
You're talking five people, entire body of work for a whole year.
You really are getting down to the minutiae
of what separates somebody else from someone else.
So I think just being nominated is huge,
because it means that you're at the top of your craft.
You're amongst the leaders of the pack in what you're doing.
So that's cool.
His debut album, This One's For You, didn't just make waves.
It redefined the country music scene.
Five number one singles, millions of records sold,
and a voice that connected with listeners like no one else in the genre.
It was the album that fans had been
waiting for and the country music world took notice.
(dramatic music)
Luke proved that talent, heart, and authenticity would
always win out over the manufactured image so
many other artists tried to portray.
But what made Luke different wasn't just the music.
It was him.
From years of online exposure on social media,
he had an unprecedented connection with his fans.
Who got to know the real him?
A humble fella who looked like them, sounded like them, was them.
In an industry built on image, Luke Combs
proved that authenticity was all you really needed.
He wasn't trying to be someone else.
He wasn't pretending to be anything he wasn't.
What he brought to the table was the
most powerful thing he could offer, his true self.
He wasn't just another country singer.
He was the kind of artist that country music needed.
A voice that resonated with the every man.
A guy who wasn't afraid to stand tall and say, this is who I am.
And in that moment, Luke Combs wasn't just an artist with a growing fan base.
He was poised to be country music's next superstar.
He was rewriting the rules and his story was only just beginning.
The best was yet to come.
(dramatic music)
By now, Luke Combs had done the impossible.
He wasn't just a rising star.
He was the star.
His albums were topping the charts.
His songs were in constant radio rotation and
his tours were selling out in minutes.
It wasn't just success.
It was a movement.
Luke had tapped into something real, something genuine
that country music had been craving.
But there was something different about him, something
that set him apart from the rest of country music's elite.
Country music has long had an image, a look, a persona, a way of doing things.
There was a formula.
The polished suits, the perfect hair, the well
- curated social media posts, the image was as
much a part of the industry as the music itself.
But Luke, he broke the mold.
He didn't fit the Nashville formula and that's exactly why fans loved him.
He wasn't chasing perfection.
He was chasing authenticity and it was obvious to everyone who listened.
While other country stars carefully crafted their image,
Luke doubled down on being himself.
He grew up on the greats and it
showed, but unlike the polished stars before him,
Luke Combs embraced imperfection.
He made it a point to show his fans that he was just a regular guy
who had been lucky enough to live his dream and he never took that for granted.
Yeah, so I'm doing a song called Where the Wild Things Are, which was the first
song I've ever cut that I didn't write
actually, and a dear friend of mine, Randy
Montana, wrote that song with a guy named
Dave Turnbull and I remember hearing it, I
don't know, five or six years ago probably.
It's kind of a famous song around town,
like passed amongst writers and be like, you
gotta hear this song, you know, it's great
and it's a great story song and something
different than probably I've ever done on the CMAs.
Where the Wild Things Are is a song
by Luke Combs that explores themes of adventure,
freedom, and embracing life's unpredictable journey.
It was well received by fans and critics
alike, contributing to Luke Combs' continued success.
While it didn't top the charts like some of his other hits, it became a fan
favorite and added to his reputation as a
versatile artist with a strong connection to his audience.
♪ Oh, oh-oh, the nights ignite like gasoline ♪
♪ And light up those streets that never sleep when the sky goes dark ♪
♪ Out where the wild things are ♪
(dramatic music)
Through social media, through concerts, through interviews, he
was always given pieces of himself, keeping the
connection between him and his audience alive.
And it worked.
Fans weren't just fans, they were a part of his journey.
It was also a time In October 2024,
Hurricane Helene caused significant devastation in Western North
Carolina, prompting local communities to seek assistance for recovery efforts.
In response, country music stars and North Carolina
natives, Luke Combs and Eric Church, organized the
Concert for Carolina, a benefit event held on
October 26th, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
(dramatic music)
Oh my gosh, I mean, the Concert for Carolina was, you know, one of the things
that I will be most proud of, I think, you know, in 20 or 30 years
when I look back on everything that I
was able to accomplish, being able to give
back to, you know, the place that has given me so much and the people who
made me who I am is something that means the world to me.
You know, as soon as reports and images
started coming out about what was going on
there, you know, I immediately reached out to
my manager and to Eric Church and I said, hey, we have to do something and
I want it to be huge and I don't know how we're going to pull it
off, but we got to figure it out.
And so many incredible people came together.
So many different teams worked together in such
a small amount of time to make that happen.
I would be lying to you if I told you it was an easy thing to put together.
It was an absolute logistical mess to get
that done, but it was totally worth it.
I would do it again every day if I could.
Yeah, it was a pretty amazing night.
But even as Luke Combs sat at the
top of the charts, something else was happening.
His life was changing and with it, so was his music.
My favorite experience is always writing the songs.
I think that's what I really love to do, that process of, you know, I came
together with Jesse Alexander and Jonathan Singleton, two
people who I've written with a ton before,
and so that was easy and natural, and I believe we wrote the song in an
hour, an hour and a half.
But, you know, it was a lot of fun.
And, you know, the music video was really challenging.
I'm not a big music video guy.
I don't really love doing those.
I'm not, definitely not, wouldn't consider myself an
actor by any stretch of the imagination, but it was an interesting day.
It was a long day.
I got completely soaked from head to toe
in my clothes three or four different times,
so it was an interesting day, for sure, but that was fun.
Luke Combs' song Ain't No Love in Oklahoma
captures the heartache of lost love in a
place where emotions feel distant and cold.
It has garnered widespread success, resonating with fans
for its raw emotion and authentic country sound,
becoming a hit on the charts.
♪ Scared of nothing and I’m scared to death ♪
♪ I can’t breathe and I catch my breath ♪
♪ But I keep chasing that same old devil ♪
♪ Down the same old dead-end highway ♪
♪ Ain’t no love in Oklahoma ♪
They wanted me to write something up-tempo and fun and fast, and that's what we
did, and it turned out to be really great.
You know, I didn't know really what to expect.
I don't have too much experience doing stuff like that, but it was a lot of fun.
The performance is really high energy, a lot
of cool lights and fire and stuff we've never done.
We've never done that stuff ever before, so I think it makes it a little bit
cooler for us to, you know, as people who don't, me and my band, we really
shy away from that stuff.
We like to let the music speak for itself, but I think this song is the
perfect time to dip our toe into that, so we're excited about it.
It's going to be a lot of fun.
Luke Combs had done it all.
In just a few short years, he had
gone from playing dive bars to headlining stadiums.
His rise had been nothing short of meteoric,
and there was no denying that the country
music world had found its newest superstar.
His albums were breaking records, his songs were
dominating the airwaves, and his name was etched in country music history.
But with success comes pressure, and with pressure comes change.
Being a country artist, sometimes you can feel
like you're not one of the cool kids
a little bit sometimes, and so it's really great to be here.
Obviously, it's a little bit different.
I think this year, this is all really new to me anyways, but then adding all
the safety protocols and stuff, it's been really
different, but it's been awesome.
Just being in the conversation and having the
chance to win is really great, and I know that people say that a lot, but
I just try to enjoy it while I'm here and not try to focus on stuff
that's out of my control.
It's been kind of a really unexpected break and pause in the middle of a really
chaotic kind of rise, I guess, to this level, and so it has given me some
time to step away from that, from the,
I don't want to say spotlight because I'm still out doing a bunch of stuff and
trying to be as present as I can for the fans, but yeah, I've written a
lot of songs in the last seven or
eight months, so that's been really refreshing, something
I haven't gotten to do really since I
moved to Nashville, so that's been a welcome surprise.
Yeah, I mean, it was when my song
Hurricane kind of came out and probably before I even had a deal, and so it
was kind of like, man, this really feels like, it feels like real kind of at
that point because you see it and you kind of like print it out, like I
remember printing it out and was like, man,
this is really neat, you know, like seeing
your name up there with guys that now
you're kind of in the conversation with is really awesome.
Despite all the accolades, Luke remained the same
guy, humble, grateful, and in awe of how far he had come.
But fame has a way of complicating things.
The higher you climb, the harder it is to stay grounded.
The life of a country star isn't just
about the music, it's constant travel, never-ending
performances, the pressure to keep delivering hit after hit.
And for someone as dedicated as Luke, the
fear of letting people down was always in the back of his mind.
His work ethic was unmatched, but the weight
of that responsibility could be heavy.
It's enough to drive anyone mad, and yet
through it all, Luke kept his composure, as
he had one thing that kept him balanced,
love.
Beautiful Crazy is a hit song by Luke Combs, released in 2018 as part of his
debut album, This One's For You Too.
The song is a heartfelt ballad about falling
in love with someone who's unpredictable and full
of quirks, yet incredibly captivating.
It became one of Combs' most successful singles,
topping the Billboard Country Airplay chart for 13
weeks, and it earned platinum certification from the RIA.
Its success helped solidify Luke Combs' elite figure
in modern country music, and the song's romantic
lyrics and relatable themes won over fans across the country.
Beautiful Crazy became one of Combs' signature songs,
contributing to his rise to superstardom in the country music scene.
♪ Beautiful, crazy
♪ She can't help but amaze me ♪
♪ The way that she dances ♪
♪ Ain’t afraid to take chances And where's her heart I wanted to
♪ And wears her heart ♪
I wanna know, you wrote the song Crazy Beautiful for
your wife, but before you guys were official,
so I'm wondering, what was her reaction when
you performed it for her for the first time?
Oh man, she loved it.
I mean, it couldn't have went better, so I wrote it like maybe two days before
I played it for her, and then I made sure that one of her friends was
there when I played it for her so that her friend would be like, oh, that's
so nice and everything, so I kind of planned it out, you know, it was kind
of like a, it was kind of like a no-fail situation, I feel like, and
so luckily that worked out, and here we are.
And another song, Forever After All, which also
became another hit single by Luke Combs, released
in 2020 as part of his album What You See Is What You Get.
The song is a romantic ballad that expresses
enduring love and the idea that true love
lasts forever after all, despite life's ups and downs.
♪ Other things that I could look at my whole life ♪
♪ A love like that makes a man have second thoughts ♪
♪ Maybe some things last forever after all ♪
Forever After All is the first song I wrote in me and my wife's house, and
it just felt like the perfect first song to write in there.
We were engaged at the time, and I had two of my closest friends and co
- writers over, Drew Parker and Rob Wilford, and
Rob's in my band, and Drew's an artist at Warner Now, and we always write great
songs together, and I knew that I wanted
to write something special as the first song
in there, and we were all high-fiving by the end of the day because it
was just like, man, I really feel like we knocked this thing out of the park.
You know, using the footage wasn't something that we were planning on.
We did have a videographer at the wedding just for us to see and use and
kind of relive, but when it came time to do the video, me and my wife
talked about it, and we try to be
pretty decently private about our personal lives,
but we also love having that connection with the
fans, you know, because they're the reason that
we're here, and we know that they want
to see those things and feel like they're a part of our lives.
It was cool. It was cool to get to do that and match the song really well.
People seemed to love the video.
I know I got a little bit misty the first time I watched it, for sure,
but it was great.
It ended up being perfect.
In 2020, Luke married Nicole Hawking, his longtime love and biggest supporter.
While his career was exploding, she was his
anchor, keeping him connected to the life he had before the fame.
(dramatic music)
While the world around him was changing at
lightning speed, Nicole provided a sense of normalcy and stability.
The man who once sang about heartbreak and
beer-soaked nights was now writing about love,
family, and the future.
His songs weren't just hits.
They were a reflection of who he was
becoming and an expression of what he wanted life to be.
And then, another life-changing moment, fatherhood.
The man who had once sung about the struggles of being a small-town kid was
now writing songs about the joy of home,
the beauty of a solid relationship, and the
challenges of living in the spotlight.
Luke's sound matured, but the essence of who
he was stayed the same, a country boy with a big heart ready to share the
highs and lows of life with the people
who had supported him from the beginning.
As his music evolved, so did his role in the country music world.
Luke wasn't just a chart-topping artist.
He was a leader, a voice.
For the generation that didn't want to follow
the trends but wanted something real, something that
spoke to their experiences.
And as his personal life and career continued
to unfold, there was no doubt that Luke
Combs was more than just a country star.
He was becoming an icon.
The world watched.
His best songs, his best days were still ahead of him.
By 2024, Luke Combs announced his newest album,
Father and Sons.
This next chapter is personal.
It's about life, family, and the things that matter most.
His song, Front Door Famous, reflects on the idea of being a big deal in your
small town where everyone knows you, but not
necessarily in the spotlight of mainstream fame.
It highlights the charm of being recognized and
appreciated by those who matter most, your community.
♪ Spotlight can’t replace it ♪
♪ In a heartbeat, man, I’d trade it ♪
(dramatic music)
♪ ‘Cause it ain’t got nothin’ on bein’ front-door-famous ♪
Father and Sons is characterized by its serene
and cohesive sound, which as a result accompanies
his collaboration with his long-time producers, Chip
Matthews and Jonathan Singleton.
Together, they created an album that feels intimate,
almost as intimate like a conversation with the listener.
The production compliments the heartfelt subject matter, offering
a poignant exploration of Luke's personal journey into
fatherhood and the values he holds dear.
It's an album full of warmth, tenderness, and
the kind of authenticity that fans have come to expect from him.
The lead single, The Man He Sees in Me, is a standout track, an ode to
the aspirations and responsibilities of being a father.
In it, Luke reflects on the impact his father had on him and how he hopes
to pass that legacy on to his son.
It's a song that resonates deeply with anyone
who has ever wondered what kind of parent they will be or what kind of man
they will raise.
For fathers everywhere, the lyrics hit home, echoing
the universal desire to be the best role model and provider for their children.
The song's emotional depth has struck a chord
with audiences, further cementing the album's success both
commercially and critically.
♪ Between him leavin’ home and drivin’ on my knee ♪
♪ But maybe I’ll finally be the man he sees in me ♪
(dramatic music)
Every father who has a son has a deep understanding of these lyrics.
(dramatic music)
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for Luke Combs.
He's not only continuing to connect with his
ever-growing fan base, but he's taking his music around the world.
Luke is set to headline some of the
biggest festivals in the country music scene, including
Stagecoach 2025 and Jazz Fest, marking major milestones
in his international career.
But one of the most exciting events of
the year is his record-breaking stadium tour in Australia.
Luke Combs performed at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on
January 24th and 25th, 2025, attracting a combined
audience of approximately 100,000 fans over the two nights.
Each concert drew around 50,000 attendees, filling the stadium to capacity.
Despite an afternoon storm that caused a brief
delay, the atmosphere was electric when the concert finally began.
Many decked out in cowboy hats, flannel shirts
and boots, their enthusiasm impossible to ignore.
Combs delivered a dynamic two-hour set, performing
24 songs, including fan favorites like The Kind
of Love We Make and Beer Never Broke My Heart.
The energy in the crowd was palpable, as
Luke's powerful voice reverberated through the stadium.
One of the most touching moments of the
evening occurred when a fan proposed to his
partner during the show, adding an extra layer
of emotion to the already charged atmosphere.
It was a beautiful reminder that Luke's music
isn't just a soundtrack to his fans' lives.
It's a part of their most important moments, too.
This performance followed the success of his 2023
Australian tour, which saw tickets selling out at
lightning speed, a testament to Luke's growing international fan base.
The venue was a sea of Western attire
as fans embraced the country music culture, eagerly
awaiting the chance to see Luke perform live.
His set list included his biggest hits like
Lovin' on You and Beautiful Crazy, as well
as a cover of Tracy Chapman's Fast Car,
showcasing his versatility as an artist and his
ability to connect with fans on a personal level.
It wasn't just a concert.
It was an experience, and it left an indelible mark on everyone who attended.
The tour was insane this year, the whole
thing, from the stadiums to the Australia tour to the Europe tour.
We did 18 countries this year, which was crazy, crazy.
So it was a wild, busy year.
I mean, country, I think, has never been bigger than it is now.
I think the only time that comes close is the 90s.
Those early 90s, mid-90s years were just massive, too.
So it's neat.
I think country's kind of cool right now,
and it's neat to be a part of that in a small way.
Building on the success of Father & Sons,
fans are eagerly awaiting what comes next.
While specifics about future releases remain under wraps,
it's clear that Luke's creative evolution is far from over.
His ability to evolve while staying true to
himself has been the hallmark of his career,
and it seems likely that upcoming projects will
continue to push boundaries and further solidify his
place in country music history.
Oh, yeah, it's great.
I mean, anytime is unbelievable.
You know, I think it's, every time's really hard to believe, honestly.
I didn't ever think that I would get this far, so I'm just really thankful for
it is all.
(dramatic music)
Luke Combs' journey is far from finished, and
with the success of Father & Sons and
his upcoming global tours, it's evident that his
influence is only continuing to grow.
2025 promises to be a defining year for
Luke as an artist, father, and global superstar.
As he writes the next chapter of his
story, there's no doubt that his music will
continue to inspire, connect, and resonate with fans for years to come.
I gotta ask you, COVID-19 has had it on the entertainment business and touring.
I wanna ask you, how have you pivoted,
and what are your thoughts on the artists that can't go on the road right now
and don't have the big, massive following?
Sure, I mean, I think it's the perfect
opportunity to be writing the best songs that
you've ever written, to be engaging with your
fan base more than you've ever done.
That's all that I've tried to do over the last seven or eight months.
That's all that any of us can do.
Obviously, going out and playing shows is not
something that most of us are able to do, and actually, I think a lot of
the smaller acts will be getting into playing before bigger acts will be.
So if you have that opportunity and you can do it safe, I would urge people
to go out and play in a safe environment.
But just write songs, connect with your fans,
get in the studio, do whatever you can
to keep moving forward, and, you know, just adapt to the situation.
It feels really cool.
I think being nominated for Entertainer of the
Year is an incredible accomplishment for anybody, and
it's something that I'm really proud of and a little intimidated by.
You know, fingers crossed, we'll see what happens.
If it does, that would be incredible, and if not, we'll give them next time.
This show will be tremendously different than any show.
This is actually my fifth award show that
I've done since COVID times, and so I'm kind of a little bit more used to
the protocols than I think some maybe are.
But this will be the first time with
everybody in the audience, and I'm really looking
forward to seeing everybody and watching everybody's performances,
but I think I'm looking forward to performing
myself the most, playing with the guys in
my band and getting to play, you know, a song in front of my peers is
always something to look forward to, and we're going to have fun with it.
♪ Maybe some things last forever after all ♪
From small-town bars to sold-out stadiums,
Luke Combs started as a dreamer with a guitar playing for whoever would listen.
Today, he stands as one of country music's
biggest and most beloved stars, a voice that
speaks to the everyday struggles, joys, and triumphs of life.
Yeah, you know, I think any time you're
nominated for Entertainer is pretty wild.
Hard to believe still, really.
Just being in the conversation is really cool for me.
It's something, you grew up watching the CMA
Awards and seeing your people that you idolize win that, and just to be in the
mix for it is pretty cool.
Obviously, I think all of us nominated would like to win.
I would love to win, but if not, hey, it's going to be good either way.
In a groundbreaking moment for the genre, Combs
has been announced as the first ever country
artist to headline the legendary Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago.
Known for its eclectic lineup that typically leans
toward rock, pop, and alternative acts, Lollapalooza's decision
to feature a country headliner signals just how
far Combs' influence has reached.
He'll be sharing the spotlight with an impressive
list of performers, including Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter,
and many others.
On top of that, if there's one place
that defines country music's legacy, it's the Grand
Ole Opry, and this year marks an incredible milestone.
To celebrate the Opry's 100th anniversary, NBC and
Peacock featured a special three-hour event titled
Opry 100, A Live Celebration on March 19th,
2025.
Hosted by Blake Shelton, the event featured some
of the biggest names in country music, including
Luke Combs, Kelsey Ballerini, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley.
Combs, who has become a modern face of
country, delivered a powerful performance that pays homage
to the Opry's deep roots while putting his own contemporary spin on things.
For Combs, stepping onto the Opry stage to
mark such a historic occasion is a full-circle moment,
a nod to the institution that
helped shape his career and the music he loves.
♪ And hit me like a hurricane ♪
♪ You hit me like a hurricane ♪
(dramatic music)
His rise wasn't built on gimmicks or industry
polish, but on raw talent, relentless hard work,
and an unwavering connection to the people who made him who he is, his fans.
It's about the power of a song, the
kind that makes you feel something deep down,
the kind that tells a story you swear was written about your own life.
It's about the emotions, the memories, and the moments that music creates.
Whether it's a heartbreak anthem, a back-road
party song, or a heartfelt tribute to love
and family, his music brings people together in a way few artists can.
With every song he writes, every album he
releases, and every stage he steps on, Luke Combs isn't just making music.
He's shaping the future of country music itself.
His impact is undeniable, and his story, well,
it's still being written.
Because for Luke Combs, this isn't the finish line.
It's just another verse in a song that's far from over.
You know, I'm looking forward, really, to just seeing everybody again.
I think it's going to be the best thing. You know what I mean?
Like everybody kind of in the same room and able to hang out and talk to
each other, and just feel a little bit more normal than it has the last couple
of years.
But that's what I'm most excited for.
It's kind of getting that camaraderie feeling back.
I think that's what we all love about being here.
And the people who made me who I am is something that means the world to me.
(dramatic music)