Born Luke Albert Combs, Luke Combs is an American Country Music songwriter and singer born in North Carolina. The singer dropped out of college just before his senior year to pursue his musical career, relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, where he released his first EP, The Way She Rides.
EARLY LIFE:
Luke Combs was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 2, 1990. At the age of eight, Luke moved with his family to Asheville, North Carolina. He is the only son of Rhonda and Chester Combs.
The singer attended A.C. Reynolds High School, where he performed with various singing groups, including landing a solo performance at Carnegie Hall.
He also attended Appalachian State University, working as a bouncer. He later left college as a dropout and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his musical career.
As a teenager, the singer struggled with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although he has learned how to control it better, the singer still struggles with obsessive thoughts sometimes.
CAREER:
In February 2014, Combs released his debut Extended Play, The Way She Rides. This was followed by another EP titled Can I Get an Outlaw. Combs released his first single titled “Hurricane” in 2016.
The single charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 46. Combs released a third EP in November 2015 titled This One’s for You.
Later, Luke signed with Sony Music Nashville, and his single “Hurricane” was re-released. It charted at number one on the Country Radio AirPlay chart, holding the position for two weeks.
Combs launched his major-label debut titled This One’s For You in June 2107 on Columbia Nashville and River House Artists.
This One’s For You album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums and five on the US Billboard 200. In January 2018, the album’s single titled “One Number Away” was released to country radio.
On June 11, 2019, Luke Combs became the newest addition to the Grand Ole Opry.
Combs released the single “Six Feet Apart” in May 2020. The single gained wide recognition due to its illustration of the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Afterward, a deluxe version of What You See Is What You Get was released. It was titled What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, with an addition of five new songs.
ACCOLADES:
In 2017, Luke Combs won the New Country Artist of the Year award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. The singer also received the New Artist of the Year award at the 2018 CMT Music Awards, as well as the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards of 2018z
Combs received the New Male Artist of the Year and the Male Artist of the Year awards during the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards.
The song “Beautiful Crazy” won the Song of the Year award at the 2019 Country Music Association Awards. The album What You See Is What You Get was named the Album of the Year at the 2019 and 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards.
He also won the Songwriter of the Year award at the Nashville Songwriter Awards, 2021.