Wikipedia

Luke Combs

Luke Albert Combs (/koʊmz/;[3] born March 2, 1990) is an American country singer. Born and raised in North Carolina, he began performing as a child. After dropping out of college to pursue a career in music, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he released his debut EP, The Way She Rides, in 2014.

Luke Combs
A bust shot of singer Luke Combs.
Combs in 2021
Background information
Birth nameLuke Albert Combs[1]
Born (1990-03-02) March 2, 1990 (age 34)[2]
Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S.[2]
GenresCountry
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2014–present
Labels
Spouse
Nicole Hocking
​
(m. 2020)​
Websitewww.lukecombs.com
Awards: Full list

In 2017, Combs released his debut album, This One's for You, which reached number four on the Billboard 200. His second album, What You See Is What You Get, was released on November 8, 2019, and topped the charts in multiple territories, becoming his first to do so. His music has earned him three Grammy Award nominations, two iHeart Radio music awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards and six Country Music Association Awards, including the 2021 and 2022 Entertainer of the Year award, their highest honor.

Early life

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Combs was born in Huntersville, North Carolina, the only child of Rhonda and Chester Combs.[4] The family moved to Asheville, North Carolina.[5][6] As a child he performed in chorus class, multiple school musicals, and joined his church choir, which performed once at Carnegie Hall.[7]

He attended Appalachian State University, where he worked as a bouncer at a bar before gaining stage time in that same bar.[8] He played his first country music show at the Parthenon Cafe in Boone, North Carolina. After five years and with 21 hours left on his degree, he dropped out to pursue his country music career. He later moved to Nashville, Tennessee for the same reason.[9]

Career

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2014–2019: Beginnings and This One's For You

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Combs released his first EP, The Way She Rides, in February 2014. Later that year, he released his second EP, Can I Get an Outlaw.[10][2] In November 2015 he released his third EP, This One's for You. In late 2016, he was named one of Sounds Like Nashville's "Artists to Watch".[11] In 2016, his first single, "Hurricane", sold 15,000 copies in its first week,[12] and debuted at number 46 on Hot Country Songs.[13] He signed a deal with Sony Music Nashville, and the debut single from This One's for You, "Hurricane", was re-released on Columbia Nashville.[12] "Hurricane" reached number one on the country radio airplay chart on May 15, 2017, holding that spot for two weeks.[14]

In June 2017, he released his major label debut album, also titled This One's for You, on Columbia Nashville and River House Artists.[2] It hit number one on Billboard's Top Country Albums[15] and number five on the Billboard 200[16] in its first week. The album's second single, "When It Rains It Pours", was released to country radio on June 19, 2017.[17] It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in October 2017. The album's third single, "One Number Away", was released to country radio on January 8, 2018. In June 2018, he released a deluxe version titled This One's for You Too, with five bonus tracks, two of which ("She Got the Best of Me" and "Beautiful Crazy") were issued as singles with both reaching number-one. "Beautiful Crazy" reached number one on Country Airplay in February 2019, giving him five number-ones on the Billboard country chart with his first five singles.[18] The song reached number one on three additional country charts – Hot Country Songs, Country Streaming Songs, and Country Digital Song Sales.[18]

2019–2021: What You See Is What You Get

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On June 11, 2019, he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.[19] In August 2019, This One's for You spent its 44th week at number one on Top Country Albums, setting the record for the longest reign at the top of that chart by a male artist.[20] His second album, What You See Is What You Get, was released on November 8, 2019.[21] The album has charted the singles "Beer Never Broke My Heart", "Even Though I'm Leaving", "Does to Me" (a duet with Eric Church), and "Lovin' on You", all of which have reached number one on the country chart.

In May 2020, he released the single "Six Feet Apart".[22] The single quickly became popular to listeners as it illustrated the challenges of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] In June 2020 he confirmed his next single would be "Lovin' on You", which was released on both his second album and the EP The Prequel, which predated the album. He announced a deluxe version of What You See Is What You Get, titled What You See Ain't Always What You Get, with five new songs; it was released on October 23, 2020.[24] The track "Forever After All" set streaming records in country music on Apple Music and Spotify.[25]

2022–2023: Growin' Up and Gettin' Old

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Growin' Up, his third album, was released on June 24, 2022.[26] The album has charted the singles "Doin' This"; "The Kind of Love We Make", which reached number one on the country chart and number eight on the Hot 100; and "Going, Going, Gone". In May 2023 Combs collaborated with English star Ed Sheeran on the single "Life Goes On".[27] Following the release of the single, Sheeran's solo version of the song was released on his fifth studio album - (Subtract).

His fourth album, Gettin' Old, was released on March 24, 2023.[28] A promotional single, "Growin' Up and Gettin' Old", and a single, "Love You Anyway", were released ahead of the album. His cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" was streamed more than 65 million times on Spotify in less than two months after the album was released, making it the most popular song from the album on that platform.[29] Combs's version of "Fast Car" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, higher than Chapman's original 1988 version, and No. 1 on the US Adult Top 40, US Country Airplay and US Hot Country Songs charts, as well as No. 1 on the Canada Country charts. The song garnered Combs the Single of the Year at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 8, 2023.[30] At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, Combs performed a duet of the song with Chapman.[31] He counts the song as his first favorite song and having an impact on him since he was a child.[32]

2024–present: Fathers & Sons

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In May 2024, Combs released "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma", the lead single from the Twisters soundtrack.[33] Combs released "The Man He Sees in Me" on June 6, 2024, along with the announcement of his fifth studio album titled Fathers & Sons, which was released on June 14, 2024.[34]

Combs and Eric Church put together the "Concert for Carolina" on October 26, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, which raised over $24 million for Hurricane Helene relief.[35]

Personal life

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In early 2016, Combs started dating Nicole Hocking, and the two became engaged in November 2018.[36][37] They married in Florida on August 1, 2020.[38] On June 19, 2022, they had their first born son.[39] On August 15, 2023, their second son was born.[40][41]

Combs began to struggle with anxiety and primarily obsessional obsessive compulsive disorder in adolescence through his college years; he has said that while it is something he has learned to control better, he still struggles with obsessive thoughts from time to time.[42]

In 2023, Combs obtained a $250,000 SAD Scheme default judgment against Nicol Harness, a fan who had sold $380 worth of tumblers featuring a likeness of Combs.[43][44][45] Combs subsequently issued an apology, sent Harness $11,000, and offered to sell the tumblers through his official merchandise store to assist with Harness's medical bills.[43][44][45]

Discography

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Main article: Luke Combs discography

Tours

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Headlining

  • Don't Tempt Me with a Good Time Tour (2017–18)
  • Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour (2019)
  • What You See Is What You Get Tour (2020–21)
  • Luke Combs World Tour (2023)
  • Growin' Up and Gettin' Old Tour (2024)

Supporting

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Recipient/Work Result Ref
2017 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year "Hurricane" Nominated [46]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Luke Combs Nominated [47]
2018 Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year "Hurricane" Nominated [48]
New Country Artist of the Year Luke Combs Won
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Luke Combs Nominated [49]
Top Country Album This One's for You Nominated
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year "When It Rains It Pours" Nominated [50]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Luke Combs Won
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
American Music Awards Favorite Album - Country This One's for You Nominated [51]
2019 Grammy Awards Best New Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs Won
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
CMT Music Awards CMT Performance of the Year Luke Combs and Leon Bridges Won [52]
Video of the Year "She Got the Best of Me" Nominated
iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Artist of the Year Luke Combs Won [53]
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Luke Combs Won [54]
Top Country Male Artist Luke Combs Won
Top Country Album This One's For You Won
Top Country Song "She Got the Best of Me" Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Luke Combs Won
Song of the Year "Beautiful Crazy" Won
Musical Event of the Year "Brand New Man" (w/ Brooks & Dunn) Nominated
2020 Grammy Awards Best Country Duo/Group Performance Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
Male Artist of the Year Won
Album of the Year What You See Is What You Get Won
Country Music Association Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Won
Album of the Year What You See Is What You Get Won
Single of the Year "Beer Never Broke My Heart" Nominated
Song of the Year "Even Though I'm Leaving" Nominated
"I Hope You're Happy Now" Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Luke Combs Won [55]
Top Country Male Won
Top Country Album What You See Is What You Get Won
People's Choice Awards The Country Artist of 2020 Luke Combs Nominated
2021 Nashville Songwriter Awards Songwriter-Artist of the Year Luke Combs Won [56]
ARIA Music Awards ARIA Award for Best International Artist Luke Combs - What You See Ain't Always What You Get Nominated [57]
Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Music Event of the Year "Does to Me" (with Eric Church) Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Luke Combs Nominated [58]
Top Country Male Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Won
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year "Forever After All" Nominated
2022 Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Artist Luke Combs Nominated [59]
Top Country Male Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Country Song "Forever After All" Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Won
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year Growin' Up Won
2023 Grammy Awards Best Country Album Nominated
ARIA Music Awards Best International Artist Himself Nominated
Broadcast Music, Inc. Country Writer of the Year Luke Combs Won
Country Music Association Awards Single of the Year "Fast Car" Won
Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year Gettin' Old Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Artist Luke Combs Nominated [60]
Top Male Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Billboard 200 Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Hot 100 Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Country Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Country Male Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Country Touring Artist Luke Combs Nominated
Top Country Album Gettin' Old Nominated
Growin' Up Nominated
Top Country Song "Fast Car" Nominated
2024 Grammy Awards Best Country Solo Performance "Fast Car" Nominated
People's Choice Awards The Male Artist Himself Nominated [61]
The Male Country Artist Nominated
The Song "Fast Car" Nominated
The Album Gettin' Old Nominated
The Concert Tour Luke Combs World Tour Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Search results for Luke Albert Combs". Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Luke Combs biography". Allmusic. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "You Should Know: Luke Combs | Billboard". YouTube. January 6, 2017.
  4. ^ "Luke Combs Admits Wife Nicole Has Been Major Turning Point in His Career After Earning 6 CMA Nods". September 2020.
  5. ^ Kelly, Hunter (November 9, 2017). "Luke Combs shares his CMA Awards success with his mom and dad". Rare Country. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Official Website of Country Music Artist Luke Combs".
  7. ^ Light, Alan (March 24, 2023). "Luke Combs Isn't Like the Rest". Esquire. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "How Luke Combs went from bouncer to bar singer in college". TODAY.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  9. ^ Gilmer, Jason. "Luke Combs returns to perform in hometown". BlueRidgeNow.com. Halifax Media Group. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "All discography of artist Luke Combs top albums of Luke Combs. Find best albums on musicbay.eu". Archived from the original on April 24, 2016.
  11. ^ "14 New Country Artists to Watch in 2017". Sounds Like Nashville. December 15, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Roland, Tom (October 25, 2016). "Newcomer Luke Combs Blows Into Mainstream With 'Hurricane'". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Billboard Hot Country Songs" (PDF). Billboard Country. June 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "Luke Combs' "Hurricane" Remains #1 At Country Radio; Darius Rucker Enters Top 5". Headline Planet. May 21, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "Luke Combs - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  16. ^ "Luke Combs - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  17. ^ "Luke Combs, 'When It Rains It Pours' [Listen]". Taste of Country. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  18. ^ a b Asker, Jim (February 25, 2019). "Luke Combs Is First Artist to Send First Five Singles to No. 1 On Country Airplay Chart, With 'Beautiful Crazy'". Billboard.
  19. ^ Dukes, Billy (June 12, 2019). "BREAKING: Luke Combs Invited to Join the Grand Ole Opry". Taste of Country.
  20. ^ Luke Combs' 'This One's for You' Spends 44th Week at No. 1, Sets New Record
  21. ^ Dukes, Billy (August 8, 2019). "Luke Combs Announces His New Album's Release Date". Taste of Country.
  22. ^ Huckerby, Craig (June 7, 2017). "Northern Ontario's Two Day Summer Rock Concert Cancelled". Sault Online. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  23. ^ "Luke Combs Releases Studio Version of 'Six Feet Apart'". Rolling Stone. May 2020.
  24. ^ Zisman, Erica (October 23, 2020). "Luke Combs: What You See Ain't Always What You Get - Deluxe Album Review". NYCS. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  25. ^ Black, Lauren Jo (October 28, 2020). "Luke Combs Shatters Streaming Records With 'What You See Ain't Always What You Get'". Country Now.
  26. ^ "Luke Combs' new album Growin' Up out today". Sony Music Canada. June 24, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  27. ^ "Ed Sheeran officially releases Luke Combs duet version of "Life Goes On" | ABC Audio Digital Syndication". digital.abcaudio.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (January 4, 2023). "Luke Combs Announces New Album Coming in March". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  29. ^ Young, Casey (June 1, 2023). "Luke Combs Officially Pushing "Fast Car" To Country Radio As A Single". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  30. ^ Gibbs, Audrey (November 8, 2023). "Tracy Chapman becomes first Black woman to win CMA Award 35 years after 'Fast Car' debut". USA Today. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  31. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (February 4, 2024). "Tracy Chapman performs 'Fast Car' with Luke Combs in heartfelt Grammys moment". CNN. Los Angeles. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  32. ^ Watts, Cindy (July 6, 2023). "Tracy Chapman Reacts To Topping Country Charts-With Luke Combs' Help". CMT. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  33. ^ Jeremy Chua (May 16, 2024). "Luke Combs drops new single "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma": Watch the stormy music video". ABC News. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  34. ^ Cantrell, LB (June 6, 2024). "Luke Combs To Release New Album On June 14". Music Row. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Woodward, Garret K. (October 27, 2024). "Eric Church and Luke Combs Sing 'Carolina' Together for First Time at Massive Benefit Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  36. ^ Kruh, Nacy (February 22, 2018). "Luke Combs Crosses Off Two Bucket-List Items – and They're Both Classics". Yahoo!.
  37. ^ "Luke Combs Is Engaged to Girlfriend Nicole Honking". Taste of Country. November 29, 2018.
  38. ^ "Luke Combs Marries Fiancée Nicole Hocking in Intimate Florida Ceremony: 'Here's to Forever'". People.com. August 2, 2020.
  39. ^ "Luke Combs + Wife Nicole Hocking Welcome a Baby Boy". Taste of Country. June 21, 2022.
  40. ^ Sacks, Hannah (August 31, 2023). "Luke Combs and Wife Nicole Welcome Second Baby Boy, Son Beau Lee: 'Couldn't Love You More'". People. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  41. ^ Long, Danielle (March 20, 2023). "Luke Combs and wife Nicole expecting baby No. 2: 'Joining the 2 under 2 club!'". GMA. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  42. ^ "Luke Combs Opens Up about Battling Anxiety on The Big Interview with Dan Rather". YouTube. AXS TV. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  43. ^ a b "How Does a Mom Get Slapped With a $250,000 Judgment Over $380 of Homemade Luke Combs Merch? Experts Cite 'Cottage Industry' of Mass Counterfeit Suits in Illinois". December 15, 2023.
  44. ^ a b Willman, Chris (December 13, 2023). "Luke Combs 'Sick to My Stomach' to Learn He Won $250K Judgment Against Convalescing Fan Who Made Tumblers; Says He Will Raise Funds for Her". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  45. ^ a b Donahue, Bill; Nicholson, Jessica (December 13, 2023). "Luke Combs Accidentally Sued a Fan For $250,000. Now He's Apologizing and Sending Her Thousands". Billboard. Billboard Media, LLC. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  46. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2017 Nominees Announced". Us Weekly. May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  47. ^ "CMA Awards 2017: Miranda Lambert Tops List of Nominees". PEOPLE.com. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  48. ^ "2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards: See The Full List of Nominees". iHeartRadio. January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  49. ^ Billboard Staff (April 17, 2018). "Billboard Music Awards 2018 Nominations: See the Full List". Billboard.
  50. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2018 Winners". CMT.com. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  51. ^ "Here Are All the Winners From the 2018 AMAs". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  52. ^ Freeman, Jon (June 6, 2019). "2019 CMT Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  53. ^ "Here Are All the Winners From the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  54. ^ "2019 Billboard Music Awards Winners: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  55. ^ "Luke Combs Wins Three Awards at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards". Sony Music Canada. October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  56. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (September 15, 2021). "Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs & Ethan Hulse Among 2021 Nashville Songwriter Awards Winners". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  57. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (October 20, 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  58. ^ Warner, Denise (May 23, 2021). "Here Are All the Winners From the 2021 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  59. ^ Atkinson, Katie (May 15, 2022). "Here Are the 2022 Billboard Music Awards Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  60. ^ Atkinson, Katie (November 19, 2023). "Billboard Music Awards 2023 Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  61. ^ Malec, Brent (January 11, 2024). "2024 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees". E Online. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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