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In the world of country music,
there exist many a superstar.

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And then there's Luke Combs.

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A man who defied
expectations, built a career

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on sheer grit, and connected
with millions through

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songs that feel like old friends.

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I think anytime you're nominated
for Entertainer is pretty wild.

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Hard to believe still, really.

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Just being in the conversation
is really cool for me.

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It's something, I grew up watching the CMA

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Awards, and seeing your people that
you idolize win that, and just to be in the

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mix for it is pretty cool.

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Obviously, I think all of us
nominated would like to win.

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I would love to win.

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But if not, hey, it's
gonna be good either way.

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He's not your typical Nashville-made star.

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No frills, no gimmicks, just a voice, a

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guitar, and a gift for storytelling that
speaks to the heart of everyday life.

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We're gonna be doing a new song,
brand new song, on this year's show.

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It's gonna be unreleased,
un-teased, like no

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one's ever heard it
before, so I'm definitely,

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definitely stoked to see
what people think about it.

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From heartbreak to
honky-tonks, from small-town

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struggles to sold-out
stadiums, Luke Combs has

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captured the soul of modern country music.

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Join us as we find out what makes
this country boy-tick and how he stole

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the hearts of many in the South.

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It's cool.

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It's kind of like kid on Christmas a
little bit, at least for me, because it's

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neat, right?

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And it's not gonna happen that way forever.

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So, you know, enjoy it while you
can and just try to be appreciative of it.

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Born on March 2nd,
1990, in Charlotte, North

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Carolina, Luke Albert Combs was
just a small -town kid with big dreams.

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The little country boy grew up in the

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nearby town of Huntersville, a place
where life was pleasant and simple.

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Life moved a little slower, and
community meant everything.

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It was a place of
tradition, where neighbors

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knew each other by name, and Friday nights

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were for high school football
under the glow of stadium lights.

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Like many Southern boys,
Luke spent his childhood

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hunting, fishing, and
dreaming about the future.

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But while most kids pictured
Friday night touchdowns

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or escaping small-town
life, Luke's world was music.

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My dad has never been the hugest country

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music fan, but he's always been the biggest

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Hawaii Oakham fan, so
we were always listening

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to his records together
when I was growing up.

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So tonight will be really special.

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I'm super excited about it.

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He found his voice
early on, quite literally,

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singing in the church
choir at just eight years old.

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It was in that church where he
first learned the power of a song.

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He could hear the way a song could

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connect people, how it
could bring strangers together

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in a way nothing else could.

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A song wasn't just words.

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It was an experience,
something that stuck with

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you long after the last note faded.

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As he got older, his love
for music only grew stronger.

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He began listening to artists who spoke the

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language of his heart,
drawing inspiration from legends

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like George Strait, Alan
Jackson, and Randy Travis.

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But for a while, music was
just a passion, not a career plan.

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In the world of small towns, music
was often seen as a dream that was just

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out of reach.

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But Luke wasn't like most kids.

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While his classmates were
talking about their future

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careers, he was already
plotting his own path,

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one note at a time.

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After high school, Luke
enrolled at Appalachian State

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University in Boone, North Carolina,
where he studied criminal justice.

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His mind may have been on education,
but his heart was singing to him a melody

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he couldn't unhear.

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The hills of Appalachia had their own kind

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of magic, and it wasn't in textbooks.

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It was in the sound of the banjo,
the strum of a guitar, and the lyrics

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that painted pictures of love,
loss, and everything in between.

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The radios, the performances,
the very culture of

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Huntersville itself was country music.

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It filled the air in
the minds of many.

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He knew where his destiny lay.

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It was here, in the dorm rooms and

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dive bars of Boone,
North Carolina, that Luke

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Combs, the country artist, was born.

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Soon, Luke made a choice
that would change everything.

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He dropped out of college with just 21

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credit hours left, betting everything
on music, a risky move, maybe.

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But for Luke Combs,
there was no plan B.

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Music wasn't a backup.

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It was everything.

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The risk didn't feel like one.

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It felt like destiny.

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He poured his heart and soul into every

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performance, and slowly,
the world began to take notice.

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His voice, raw and powerful.

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His lyrics, honest and unapologetic.

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They were the perfect blend of
everything country music stood for.

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And just like that, a small-town kid
armed with nothing more than a voice, a

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guitar, and a dream, was
ready to take on the world.

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What started in those local bars and quiet

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corners of North Carolina was about
to become something much bigger.

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He had found his way, and the
world would soon hear his story.

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Luke Combs was no longer just a dreamer.

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He was an artist on the rise.

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Early 2014 was a big moment for Combs,

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the moment where he would seize his destiny

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and set out on his personal quest
when he packed up his car and left North

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Carolina for the heart of country
music, Nashville, Tennessee.

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Nashville is a town built on
talent, but it runs on hustle.

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Thankfully for our young
hero, he had plenty of both.

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He wasn't a songwriter with connections.

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He wasn't the polished,
next big thing Nashville

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executives were looking
for, but what he had

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was raw, unfettered
talent, and a growing army

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of fans who saw something special in him.

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With no record deal, no manager, and
no big-budget studio, Luke did it the only

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way he knew how, DIY.

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He wasn't waiting for
someone to hand him a shot.

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He was carving out his own path.

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He started self-releasing
music, building a fan

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base through Facebook,
YouTube, and word of mouth.

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Word spread quickly.

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Luke Combs was different.

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He wasn't trying to be the slick, radio

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friendly country star that was the norm.

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Instead, he was real.

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He was raw, and
people loved him for it.

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One song in particular changed everything.

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Yeah, I mean, it was when my song

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Hurricane kind of came out, and probably
before I even had a deal, and so it

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was kind of like, man, this really
feels like, it feels like real kind of at

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that point, because you see it,
and you kind of like print it out, like I

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remember printing it out, and it was like,

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man, this is really neat, you know, like

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seeing your name up there with guys that

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now you're kind of in the
conversation with is really awesome.

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Hurricane.

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A song he sang from the depths of
his heart that captured the pain a heart

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break and the storm of
emotions that come with it.

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There was no pretension
in it, just pure honesty.

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The lyrics told a story of heartache and

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regret, the kind of emotions
everyone could relate to.

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It wasn't just another country song.

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It was his story.

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People felt it.

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What started as an
independent release took off

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like wildfire, and within
just 24 hours, Hurricane

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shot to number one
on iTunes' country chart,

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beating out major label artists with
nothing but a grassroots following.

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It wasn't just a hit.

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It was a movement.

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It caught the attention of fans,
industry professionals, and fellow artists.

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Luke wasn't just an unknown talent anymore.

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He was the guy everyone was talking about,

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and that overnight success,
it turned into something

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much bigger than anyone
could have imagined.

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It certainly was a hurricane.

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That overnight success
rather fortuitously turned into a

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record deal with Columbia
Nashville, and with that,

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Luke Combs, the bar
singer from North Carolina,

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was about to take
his music to the world.

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He wasn't waiting for fame to find him.

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He was stepping up to claim it.

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The same passion he poured into every
song was now the fuel for a career that

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was skyrocketing.

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It became a multi-week number one hit

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on country charts and earned
him platinum certification.

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♪ The moon went
hidin’, stars quit shinin’ ♪

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♪ Rain’ was drivin’, thunder, lightnin’ ♪

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♪ You wrecked my whole
world when you came ♪

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♪ And hit me like a hurricane ♪

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This is my, gosh,
fourth year in a row being

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nominated, which is crazy to think about.

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I try to enjoy it
as much as I can.

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It would be so cool
to win it for the team.

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It's been a crazy year for
more than a few reasons.

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Yeah, it's always big.

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Everybody wants to win that one, but I

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think you're splitting hairs when you
look at who's nominated every year.

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You're talking five people, entire
body of work for a whole year.

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You really are getting down to the minutiae

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of what separates somebody
else from someone else.

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So I think just being nominated is huge,

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because it means that
you're at the top of your craft.

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You're amongst the leaders of
the pack in what you're doing.

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So that's cool.

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His debut album, This One's
For You, didn't just make waves.

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It redefined the country music scene.

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Five number one singles,
millions of records sold,

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and a voice that connected with
listeners like no one else in the genre.

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It was the album that fans had been

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waiting for and the country
music world took notice.

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Luke proved that talent,
heart, and authenticity would

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always win out over the
manufactured image so

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many other artists tried to portray.

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But what made Luke
different wasn't just the music.

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It was him.

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From years of online
exposure on social media,

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he had an unprecedented
connection with his fans.

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Who got to know the real him?

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A humble fella who looked like
them, sounded like them, was them.

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In an industry built on image, Luke Combs

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proved that authenticity
was all you really needed.

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He wasn't trying to be someone else.

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He wasn't pretending
to be anything he wasn't.

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What he brought to the table was the

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most powerful thing he
could offer, his true self.

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He wasn't just another country singer.

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He was the kind of artist
that country music needed.

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A voice that resonated with the every man.

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A guy who wasn't afraid to
stand tall and say, this is who I am.

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And in that moment, Luke Combs wasn't
just an artist with a growing fan base.

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He was poised to be country
music's next superstar.

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He was rewriting the rules and
his story was only just beginning.

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The best was yet to come.

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By now, Luke Combs had done the impossible.

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He wasn't just a rising star.

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He was the star.

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His albums were topping the charts.

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His songs were in
constant radio rotation and

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his tours were selling out in minutes.

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It wasn't just success.

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It was a movement.

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Luke had tapped into something
real, something genuine

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that country music had been craving.

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But there was something
different about him, something

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that set him apart from the
rest of country music's elite.

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Country music has long had an image,
a look, a persona, a way of doing things.

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There was a formula.

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The polished suits,
the perfect hair, the well

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curated social media
posts, the image was as

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much a part of the
industry as the music itself.

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But Luke, he broke the mold.

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He didn't fit the Nashville formula
and that's exactly why fans loved him.

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He wasn't chasing perfection.

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He was chasing authenticity and it
was obvious to everyone who listened.

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While other country stars
carefully crafted their image,

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Luke doubled down on being himself.

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He grew up on the greats and it

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showed, but unlike the
polished stars before him,

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00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,220
Luke Combs embraced imperfection.

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00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,414
He made it a point to show his
fans that he was just a regular guy

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00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,940
who had been lucky enough to live his
dream and he never took that for granted.

246
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,934
Yeah, so I'm doing a song called Where
the Wild Things Are, which was the first

247
00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,494
song I've ever cut that I didn't write

248
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,094
actually, and a dear friend of mine, Randy

249
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,934
Montana, wrote that song with a guy named

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00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,254
Dave Turnbull and I remember hearing it, I

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00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,300
don't know, five or six years ago probably.

252
00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,340
It's kind of a famous song around town,

253
00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,174
like passed amongst
writers and be like, you

254
00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,814
gotta hear this song, you know, it's great

255
00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,254
and it's a great story song and something

256
00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,420
different than probably
I've ever done on the CMAs.

257
00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,934
Where the Wild Things Are is a song

258
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,180
by Luke Combs that
explores themes of adventure,

259
00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,060
freedom, and embracing
life's unpredictable journey.

260
00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,174
It was well received by fans and critics

261
00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,180
alike, contributing to Luke
Combs' continued success.

262
00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,734
While it didn't top the charts like
some of his other hits, it became a fan

263
00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,054
favorite and added to his reputation as a

264
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,960
versatile artist with a strong
connection to his audience.

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00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:48,294
♪ Oh, oh-oh, the nights
ignite like gasoline ♪

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00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:54,974
♪ And light up those streets that never
sleep when the sky goes dark ♪

267
00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,660
♪ Out where the wild things are ♪

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00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,894
Through social media, through
concerts, through interviews, he

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00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,494
was always given pieces
of himself, keeping the

270
00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,820
connection between him
and his audience alive.

271
00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:16,660
And it worked.

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00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,940
Fans weren't just fans, they
were a part of his journey.

273
00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,540
It was also a time In October 2024,

274
00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,974
Hurricane Helene caused significant
devastation in Western North

275
00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,980
Carolina, prompting local communities
to seek assistance for recovery efforts.

276
00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,094
In response, country music
stars and North Carolina

277
00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,334
natives, Luke Combs and
Eric Church, organized the

278
00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,934
Concert for Carolina,
a benefit event held on

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00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:50,254
October 26th, 2024 at Bank of
America Stadium in Charlotte.

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00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,374
Oh my gosh, I mean, the Concert for
Carolina was, you know, one of the things

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00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,574
that I will be most proud of, I
think, you know, in 20 or 30 years

282
00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,174
when I look back on everything that I

283
00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,614
was able to accomplish, being able to give

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00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,974
back to, you know, the place that has
given me so much and the people who

285
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:16,300
made me who I am is something
that means the world to me.

286
00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,814
You know, as soon as reports and images

287
00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,454
started coming out about what was going on

288
00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,014
there, you know, I
immediately reached out to

289
00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:29,014
my manager and to Eric Church and I
said, hey, we have to do something and

290
00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,294
I want it to be huge and I don't
know how we're going to pull it

291
00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:32,700
off, but we got to figure it out.

292
00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:35,580
And so many incredible
people came together.

293
00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:38,654
So many different teams
worked together in such

294
00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,320
a small amount of time
to make that happen.

295
00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,974
I would be lying to you if I told you
it was an easy thing to put together.

296
00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,614
It was an absolute logistical mess to get

297
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,614
that done, but it was totally worth it.

298
00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,080
I would do it again
every day if I could.

299
00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,740
Yeah, it was a pretty amazing night.

300
00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,414
But even as Luke Combs sat at the

301
00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,020
top of the charts, something
else was happening.

302
00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,980
His life was changing and
with it, so was his music.

303
00:19:10,120 --> 00:19:13,140
My favorite experience is
always writing the songs.

304
00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:18,134
I think that's what I really love to
do, that process of, you know, I came

305
00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,414
together with Jesse Alexander
and Jonathan Singleton, two

306
00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,540
people who I've written with a ton before,

307
00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,614
and so that was easy and natural,
and I believe we wrote the song in an

308
00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:28,860
hour, an hour and a half.

309
00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:30,840
But, you know,
it was a lot of fun.

310
00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,760
And, you know, the music
video was really challenging.

311
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,460
I'm not a big music video guy.

312
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,660
I don't really love doing those.

313
00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,574
I'm not, definitely not,
wouldn't consider myself an

314
00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,614
actor by any stretch of the
imagination, but it was an interesting day.

315
00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:47,540
It was a long day.

316
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,294
I got completely soaked from head to toe

317
00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:52,414
in my clothes three
or four different times,

318
00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,860
so it was an interesting
day, for sure, but that was fun.

319
00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,094
Luke Combs' song Ain't No Love in Oklahoma

320
00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,014
captures the heartache of lost love in a

321
00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,020
place where emotions feel distant and cold.

322
00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,694
It has garnered widespread
success, resonating with fans

323
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,860
for its raw emotion and
authentic country sound,

324
00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:16,980
becoming a hit on the charts.

325
00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,934
♪ Scared of nothing
and I’m scared to death ♪

326
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,094
♪ I can’t breathe and I catch my breath ♪

327
00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,054
♪ But I keep chasing that same old devil ♪

328
00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:30,734
♪ Down the same old dead-end highway ♪

329
00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:34,694
♪ Ain’t no love in Oklahoma ♪

330
00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,934
They wanted me to write something up-tempo
and fun and fast, and that's what we

331
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,574
did, and it turned
out to be really great.

332
00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:44,414
You know, I didn't know
really what to expect.

333
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:48,214
I don't have too much experience doing
stuff like that, but it was a lot of fun.

334
00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:49,974
The performance is
really high energy, a lot

335
00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:54,454
of cool lights and fire
and stuff we've never done.

336
00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:59,014
We've never done that stuff ever
before, so I think it makes it a little bit

337
00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,334
cooler for us to, you know, as people
who don't, me and my band, we really

338
00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:04,574
shy away from that stuff.

339
00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,974
We like to let the music speak
for itself, but I think this song is the

340
00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,214
perfect time to dip our toe into
that, so we're excited about it.

341
00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:11,947
It's going to be a lot of fun.

342
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,340
Luke Combs had done it all.

343
00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,334
In just a few short years, he had

344
00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,854
gone from playing dive
bars to headlining stadiums.

345
00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,980
His rise had been
nothing short of meteoric,

346
00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,534
and there was no denying that the country

347
00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,620
music world had found its newest superstar.

348
00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:33,454
His albums were breaking
records, his songs were

349
00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:38,540
dominating the airwaves, and his
name was etched in country music history.

350
00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:45,140
But with success comes pressure,
and with pressure comes change.

351
00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,734
Being a country artist,
sometimes you can feel

352
00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,994
like you're not one of the cool kids

353
00:21:53,060 --> 00:21:55,654
a little bit sometimes, and
so it's really great to be here.

354
00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,820
Obviously, it's a little bit different.

355
00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:04,334
I think this year, this is all really new
to me anyways, but then adding all

356
00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,014
the safety protocols
and stuff, it's been really

357
00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:07,980
different, but it's been awesome.

358
00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:14,254
Just being in the
conversation and having the

359
00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,414
chance to win is really great, and I
know that people say that a lot, but

360
00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:21,534
I just try to enjoy it while I'm
here and not try to focus on stuff

361
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:22,540
that's out of my control.

362
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:30,494
It's been kind of a really unexpected
break and pause in the middle of a really

363
00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:35,814
chaotic kind of rise, I guess, to this
level, and so it has given me some

364
00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,020
time to step away from that, from the,

365
00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,574
I don't want to say spotlight because
I'm still out doing a bunch of stuff and

366
00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,814
trying to be as present as I can
for the fans, but yeah, I've written a

367
00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,014
lot of songs in the last seven or

368
00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,574
eight months, so that's been
really refreshing, something

369
00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,574
I haven't gotten to do really since I

370
00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,320
moved to Nashville, so that's
been a welcome surprise.

371
00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,214
Yeah, I mean, it was when my song

372
00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,974
Hurricane kind of came out and probably
before I even had a deal, and so it

373
00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:07,294
was kind of like, man, this really
feels like, it feels like real kind of at

374
00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:11,694
that point because you see it
and you kind of like print it out, like I

375
00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:13,734
remember printing it out and was like, man,

376
00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,294
this is really neat, you know, like seeing

377
00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:17,934
your name up there with guys that now

378
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,260
you're kind of in the conversation
with is really awesome.

379
00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,694
Despite all the accolades,
Luke remained the same

380
00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:33,100
guy, humble, grateful, and in
awe of how far he had come.

381
00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,420
But fame has a way of complicating things.

382
00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,660
The higher you climb, the
harder it is to stay grounded.

383
00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:47,414
The life of a country star isn't just

384
00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,854
about the music, it's
constant travel, never-ending

385
00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:55,440
performances, the pressure
to keep delivering hit after hit.

386
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,174
And for someone as dedicated as Luke, the

387
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,180
fear of letting people down was
always in the back of his mind.

388
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,494
His work ethic was
unmatched, but the weight

389
00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,180
of that responsibility could be heavy.

390
00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,334
It's enough to drive anyone mad, and yet

391
00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:16,414
through it all, Luke kept his composure, as

392
00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,980
he had one thing that kept him balanced,

393
00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:20,000
love.

394
00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:28,774
Beautiful Crazy is a hit song by Luke
Combs, released in 2018 as part of his

395
00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,300
debut album, This One's For You Too.

396
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,494
The song is a heartfelt
ballad about falling

397
00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,694
in love with someone
who's unpredictable and full

398
00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,860
of quirks, yet incredibly captivating.

399
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,540
It became one of Combs'
most successful singles,

400
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,014
topping the Billboard
Country Airplay chart for 13

401
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,620
weeks, and it earned platinum
certification from the RIA.

402
00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,854
Its success helped solidify
Luke Combs' elite figure

403
00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,254
in modern country music,
and the song's romantic

404
00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,100
lyrics and relatable themes
won over fans across the country.

405
00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:10,340
Beautiful Crazy became one
of Combs' signature songs,

406
00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,900
contributing to his rise to
superstardom in the country music scene.

407
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,054
♪ Beautiful, crazy

408
00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:24,814
♪ She can't help but amaze me ♪

409
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,014
♪ The way that she dances ♪

410
00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,494
♪ Ain’t afraid to take chances
And where's her heart I wanted to

411
00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:31,494
♪ And wears her heart ♪

412
00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,534
I wanna know, you wrote
the song Crazy Beautiful for

413
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,214
your wife, but before
you guys were official,

414
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,934
so I'm wondering, what
was her reaction when

415
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,054
you performed it for
her for the first time?

416
00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:43,454
Oh man, she loved it.

417
00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:48,414
I mean, it couldn't have went better,
so I wrote it like maybe two days before

418
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,934
I played it for her, and then I made
sure that one of her friends was

419
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,414
there when I played it for her so
that her friend would be like, oh, that's

420
00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,974
so nice and everything, so I kind of
planned it out, you know, it was kind

421
00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,894
of like a, it was kind of like a
no-fail situation, I feel like, and

422
00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,480
so luckily that worked
out, and here we are.

423
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:11,014
And another song,
Forever After All, which also

424
00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,414
became another hit single
by Luke Combs, released

425
00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:18,540
in 2020 as part of his album
What You See Is What You Get.

426
00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,054
The song is a romantic
ballad that expresses

427
00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:25,734
enduring love and the idea that true love

428
00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:31,040
lasts forever after all,
despite life's ups and downs.

429
00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:36,820
♪ Other things that I
could look at my whole life ♪

430
00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,940
♪ A love like that makes a
man have second thoughts ♪

431
00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:48,654
♪ Maybe some things
last forever after all ♪

432
00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:53,374
Forever After All is the first song I
wrote in me and my wife's house, and

433
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:57,094
it just felt like the perfect
first song to write in there.

434
00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:01,654
We were engaged at the time, and I
had two of my closest friends and co

435
00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:04,214
writers over, Drew
Parker and Rob Wilford, and

436
00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:09,414
Rob's in my band, and Drew's an artist
at Warner Now, and we always write great

437
00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,494
songs together, and I knew that I wanted

438
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,374
to write something
special as the first song

439
00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,934
in there, and we were all high-fiving
by the end of the day because it

440
00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,740
was just like, man, I really feel like
we knocked this thing out of the park.

441
00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,660
You know, using the footage wasn't
something that we were planning on.

442
00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:29,174
We did have a videographer at the
wedding just for us to see and use and

443
00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:33,894
kind of relive, but when it came
time to do the video, me and my wife

444
00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,214
talked about it, and we try to be

445
00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,814
pretty decently private
about our personal lives,

446
00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,654
but we also love having
that connection with the

447
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:43,974
fans, you know, because
they're the reason that

448
00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,494
we're here, and we know that they want

449
00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,780
to see those things and feel
like they're a part of our lives.

450
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,934
It was cool. It was cool to get to do
that and match the song really well.

451
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:53,260
People seemed to love the video.

452
00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,494
I know I got a little bit misty the
first time I watched it, for sure,

453
00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:58,534
but it was great.

454
00:27:58,600 --> 00:27:59,540
It ended up being perfect.

455
00:28:01,360 --> 00:28:07,700
In 2020, Luke married Nicole Hawking,
his longtime love and biggest supporter.

456
00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,974
While his career was exploding, she was his

457
00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:15,574
anchor, keeping him connected
to the life he had before the fame.

458
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,454
While the world around him was changing at

459
00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:26,900
lightning speed, Nicole provided
a sense of normalcy and stability.

460
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,214
The man who once sang about heartbreak and

461
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,260
beer-soaked nights was
now writing about love,

462
00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:35,740
family, and the future.

463
00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,300
His songs weren't just hits.

464
00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,014
They were a reflection of who he was

465
00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,700
becoming and an expression
of what he wanted life to be.

466
00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,780
And then, another life-changing
moment, fatherhood.

467
00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:01,694
The man who had once sung about the
struggles of being a small-town kid was

468
00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,180
now writing songs about the joy of home,

469
00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,254
the beauty of a solid relationship, and the

470
00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,380
challenges of living in the spotlight.

471
00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:14,134
Luke's sound matured,
but the essence of who

472
00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:20,054
he was stayed the same, a country
boy with a big heart ready to share the

473
00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,214
highs and lows of life with the people

474
00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,380
who had supported him from the beginning.

475
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:30,460
As his music evolved, so did
his role in the country music world.

476
00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,620
Luke wasn't just a chart-topping artist.

477
00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:35,980
He was a leader, a voice.

478
00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,134
For the generation
that didn't want to follow

479
00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:43,094
the trends but wanted
something real, something that

480
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,300
spoke to their experiences.

481
00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,254
And as his personal
life and career continued

482
00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,254
to unfold, there was no doubt that Luke

483
00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,540
Combs was more than just a country star.

484
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,260
He was becoming an icon.

485
00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:57,780
The world watched.

486
00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:02,100
His best songs, his best
days were still ahead of him.

487
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,900
By 2024, Luke Combs
announced his newest album,

488
00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,134
Father and Sons.

489
00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,780
This next chapter is personal.

490
00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,580
It's about life, family, and
the things that matter most.

491
00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:23,534
His song, Front Door Famous, reflects
on the idea of being a big deal in your

492
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,454
small town where
everyone knows you, but not

493
00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,940
necessarily in the spotlight
of mainstream fame.

494
00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,334
It highlights the charm
of being recognized and

495
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:38,940
appreciated by those who
matter most, your community.

496
00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,414
♪ Spotlight can’t replace it ♪

497
00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:45,574
♪ In a heartbeat, man, I’d trade it ♪

498
00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:55,540
♪ ‘Cause it ain’t got nothin’
on bein’ front-door-famous ♪

499
00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,614
Father and Sons is
characterized by its serene

500
00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,334
and cohesive sound, which
as a result accompanies

501
00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,174
his collaboration with his
long-time producers, Chip

502
00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:07,940
Matthews and Jonathan Singleton.

503
00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,980
Together, they created
an album that feels intimate,

504
00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,800
almost as intimate like a
conversation with the listener.

505
00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:19,094
The production compliments the
heartfelt subject matter, offering

506
00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,214
a poignant exploration of
Luke's personal journey into

507
00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,820
fatherhood and the values he holds dear.

508
00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:29,014
It's an album full of
warmth, tenderness, and

509
00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:33,380
the kind of authenticity that fans
have come to expect from him.

510
00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:40,614
The lead single, The Man He Sees
in Me, is a standout track, an ode to

511
00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:44,140
the aspirations and
responsibilities of being a father.

512
00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:49,374
In it, Luke reflects on the impact his
father had on him and how he hopes

513
00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,900
to pass that legacy on to his son.

514
00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,854
It's a song that resonates
deeply with anyone

515
00:31:54,920 --> 00:32:00,774
who has ever wondered what kind of
parent they will be or what kind of man

516
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:01,860
they will raise.

517
00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,894
For fathers everywhere,
the lyrics hit home, echoing

518
00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:11,140
the universal desire to be the best
role model and provider for their children.

519
00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,094
The song's emotional
depth has struck a chord

520
00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:19,574
with audiences, further
cementing the album's success both

521
00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:21,580
commercially and critically.

522
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:26,860
♪ Between him leavin’
home and drivin’ on my knee ♪

523
00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:34,054
♪ But maybe I’ll finally be
the man he sees in me ♪

524
00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:46,420
Every father who has a son has a
deep understanding of these lyrics.

525
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:57,500
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to
be a monumental year for Luke Combs.

526
00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,214
He's not only continuing
to connect with his

527
00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:05,460
ever-growing fan base, but he's
taking his music around the world.

528
00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:07,814
Luke is set to headline some of the

529
00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,294
biggest festivals in the
country music scene, including

530
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:16,174
Stagecoach 2025 and Jazz
Fest, marking major milestones

531
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:18,100
in his international career.

532
00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,894
But one of the most exciting events of

533
00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:25,260
the year is his record-breaking
stadium tour in Australia.

534
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,574
Luke Combs performed at
Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on

535
00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:35,334
January 24th and 25th,
2025, attracting a combined

536
00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:40,780
audience of approximately
100,000 fans over the two nights.

537
00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:46,740
Each concert drew around 50,000
attendees, filling the stadium to capacity.

538
00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:50,174
Despite an afternoon
storm that caused a brief

539
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:55,140
delay, the atmosphere was electric
when the concert finally began.

540
00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,254
Many decked out in
cowboy hats, flannel shirts

541
00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,660
and boots, their enthusiasm
impossible to ignore.

542
00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:08,134
Combs delivered a dynamic
two-hour set, performing

543
00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:12,734
24 songs, including fan
favorites like The Kind

544
00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:17,060
of Love We Make and
Beer Never Broke My Heart.

545
00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:20,174
The energy in the crowd was palpable, as

546
00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:23,740
Luke's powerful voice
reverberated through the stadium.

547
00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:26,374
One of the most touching moments of the

548
00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,814
evening occurred when a fan proposed to his

549
00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:32,214
partner during the show,
adding an extra layer

550
00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,380
of emotion to the already
charged atmosphere.

551
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:39,294
It was a beautiful
reminder that Luke's music

552
00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,420
isn't just a soundtrack to his fans' lives.

553
00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:46,120
It's a part of their most
important moments, too.

554
00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:50,014
This performance followed
the success of his 2023

555
00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:53,814
Australian tour, which
saw tickets selling out at

556
00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:58,780
lightning speed, a testament to
Luke's growing international fan base.

557
00:34:59,240 --> 00:35:01,654
The venue was a sea of Western attire

558
00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:05,574
as fans embraced the
country music culture, eagerly

559
00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,660
awaiting the chance to
see Luke perform live.

560
00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:11,894
His set list included his biggest hits like

561
00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:15,694
Lovin' on You and Beautiful Crazy, as well

562
00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,460
as a cover of Tracy Chapman's Fast Car,

563
00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,254
showcasing his versatility
as an artist and his

564
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,480
ability to connect with
fans on a personal level.

565
00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:27,900
It wasn't just a concert.

566
00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:34,220
It was an experience, and it left an
indelible mark on everyone who attended.

567
00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:37,694
The tour was insane this year, the whole

568
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:41,660
thing, from the stadiums to the
Australia tour to the Europe tour.

569
00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,620
We did 18 countries this
year, which was crazy, crazy.

570
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,820
So it was a wild, busy year.

571
00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:54,140
I mean, country, I think, has
never been bigger than it is now.

572
00:35:54,240 --> 00:35:58,460
I think the only time that
comes close is the 90s.

573
00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:02,860
Those early 90s, mid-90s
years were just massive, too.

574
00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:04,140
So it's neat.

575
00:36:04,240 --> 00:36:07,620
I think country's kind of cool right now,

576
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:09,980
and it's neat to be a
part of that in a small way.

577
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,854
Building on the success of Father and Sons,

578
00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:18,774
fans are eagerly awaiting what comes next.

579
00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:22,460
While specifics about future
releases remain under wraps,

580
00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:26,820
it's clear that Luke's creative
evolution is far from over.

581
00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:29,774
His ability to evolve while staying true to

582
00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:33,060
himself has been the
hallmark of his career,

583
00:36:33,240 --> 00:36:36,574
and it seems likely that
upcoming projects will

584
00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,614
continue to push boundaries
and further solidify his

585
00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:41,460
place in country music history.

586
00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:45,254
Oh, yeah, it's great.

587
00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:46,980
I mean, anytime is unbelievable.

588
00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:52,900
You know, I think it's, every time's
really hard to believe, honestly.

589
00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:56,854
I didn't ever think that I would get
this far, so I'm just really thankful for

590
00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:57,520
it is all.

591
00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:07,974
Luke Combs' journey
is far from finished, and

592
00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:10,134
with the success of Father and Sons and

593
00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:13,414
his upcoming global
tours, it's evident that his

594
00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,740
influence is only continuing to grow.

595
00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:19,694
2025 promises to be a defining year for

596
00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:23,180
Luke as an artist, father,
and global superstar.

597
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,654
As he writes the next chapter of his

598
00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:31,334
story, there's no doubt that his music will

599
00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:36,740
continue to inspire, connect, and
resonate with fans for years to come.

600
00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:44,860
I gotta ask you, COVID-19 has had it on
the entertainment business and touring.

601
00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:47,734
I wanna ask you, how have you pivoted,

602
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,774
and what are your thoughts on the
artists that can't go on the road right now

603
00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:55,460
and don't have the big, massive following?

604
00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:57,334
Sure, I mean, I think it's the perfect

605
00:37:57,400 --> 00:37:59,974
opportunity to be writing
the best songs that

606
00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,014
you've ever written, to
be engaging with your

607
00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:03,700
fan base more than you've ever done.

608
00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,020
That's all that I've tried to do
over the last seven or eight months.

609
00:38:07,240 --> 00:38:08,660
That's all that any of us can do.

610
00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,614
Obviously, going out
and playing shows is not

611
00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:14,854
something that most of us are
able to do, and actually, I think a lot of

612
00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,534
the smaller acts will be getting
into playing before bigger acts will be.

613
00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:21,854
So if you have that opportunity and
you can do it safe, I would urge people

614
00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:23,880
to go out and play
in a safe environment.

615
00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,420
But just write songs,
connect with your fans,

616
00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:28,574
get in the studio, do whatever you can

617
00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:32,100
to keep moving forward, and,
you know, just adapt to the situation.

618
00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:34,060
It feels really cool.

619
00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:36,174
I think being nominated
for Entertainer of the

620
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:39,934
Year is an incredible
accomplishment for anybody, and

621
00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:43,220
it's something that I'm really
proud of and a little intimidated by.

622
00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,174
You know, fingers crossed,
we'll see what happens.

623
00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:49,300
If it does, that would be incredible,
and if not, we'll give them next time.

624
00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:53,360
This show will be tremendously
different than any show.

625
00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,214
This is actually my fifth award show that

626
00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:59,374
I've done since COVID times, and
so I'm kind of a little bit more used to

627
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:01,540
the protocols than I think some maybe are.

628
00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:03,934
But this will be the first time with

629
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,174
everybody in the audience,
and I'm really looking

630
00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:09,940
forward to seeing everybody and
watching everybody's performances,

631
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,174
but I think I'm looking
forward to performing

632
00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:14,614
myself the most, playing with the guys in

633
00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:18,734
my band and getting to play, you
know, a song in front of my peers is

634
00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:22,574
always something to look forward
to, and we're going to have fun with it.

635
00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:27,814
♪ Maybe some things
last forever after all ♪

636
00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,020
From small-town bars to sold-out stadiums,

637
00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:36,180
Luke Combs started as a dreamer with
a guitar playing for whoever would listen.

638
00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:39,774
Today, he stands as one of country music's

639
00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:43,574
biggest and most
beloved stars, a voice that

640
00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:47,760
speaks to the everyday
struggles, joys, and triumphs of life.

641
00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:52,374
Yeah, you know, I think any time you're

642
00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:54,740
nominated for Entertainer is pretty wild.

643
00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:56,900
Hard to believe still, really.

644
00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:59,840
Just being in the conversation
is really cool for me.

645
00:40:00,240 --> 00:40:02,454
It's something, you grew
up watching the CMA

646
00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:09,054
Awards and seeing your people that
you idolize win that, and just to be in the

647
00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:10,220
mix for it is pretty cool.

648
00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:12,620
Obviously, I think all of us
nominated would like to win.

649
00:40:12,720 --> 00:40:16,420
I would love to win, but if not,
hey, it's going to be good either way.

650
00:40:17,720 --> 00:40:20,814
In a groundbreaking
moment for the genre, Combs

651
00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,374
has been announced
as the first ever country

652
00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:28,680
artist to headline the legendary
Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago.

653
00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:32,454
Known for its eclectic
lineup that typically leans

654
00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:36,894
toward rock, pop, and alternative
acts, Lollapalooza's decision

655
00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:40,174
to feature a country
headliner signals just how

656
00:40:40,240 --> 00:40:42,660
far Combs' influence has reached.

657
00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:45,534
He'll be sharing the
spotlight with an impressive

658
00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:50,654
list of performers, including
Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter,

659
00:40:50,720 --> 00:40:52,060
and many others.

660
00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:55,774
On top of that, if there's one place

661
00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:59,534
that defines country
music's legacy, it's the Grand

662
00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:03,700
Ole Opry, and this year
marks an incredible milestone.

663
00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:08,574
To celebrate the Opry's
100th anniversary, NBC and

664
00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:11,814
Peacock featured a special
three-hour event titled

665
00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:17,500
Opry 100, A Live Celebration on March 19th,

666
00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:18,740
2025.

667
00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:23,374
Hosted by Blake Shelton,
the event featured some

668
00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:25,934
of the biggest names in
country music, including

669
00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:30,780
Luke Combs, Kelsey Ballerini,
Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley.

670
00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,254
Combs, who has become a modern face of

671
00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:38,094
country, delivered a powerful
performance that pays homage

672
00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:43,260
to the Opry's deep roots while putting
his own contemporary spin on things.

673
00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,574
For Combs, stepping onto the Opry stage to

674
00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:50,507
mark such a historic
occasion is a full-circle moment,

675
00:41:50,573 --> 00:41:52,174
a nod to the institution that

676
00:41:52,240 --> 00:41:55,980
helped shape his career
and the music he loves.

677
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:06,254
♪ And hit me like a hurricane ♪

678
00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:10,940
♪ You hit me like a hurricane ♪

679
00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:23,214
His rise wasn't built
on gimmicks or industry

680
00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:26,780
polish, but on raw talent,
relentless hard work,

681
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:32,940
and an unwavering connection to the
people who made him who he is, his fans.

682
00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:36,414
It's about the power of a song, the

683
00:42:36,480 --> 00:42:39,700
kind that makes you feel
something deep down,

684
00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:43,980
the kind that tells a story you
swear was written about your own life.

685
00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:50,340
It's about the emotions, the memories,
and the moments that music creates.

686
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:53,814
Whether it's a heartbreak
anthem, a back-road

687
00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,814
party song, or a heartfelt tribute to love

688
00:42:56,880 --> 00:43:02,180
and family, his music brings people
together in a way few artists can.

689
00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:05,934
With every song he writes, every album he

690
00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:11,660
releases, and every stage he steps
on, Luke Combs isn't just making music.

691
00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:14,740
He's shaping the future
of country music itself.

692
00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:20,300
His impact is undeniable,
and his story, well,

693
00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:22,020
it's still being written.

694
00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:26,000
Because for Luke Combs,
this isn't the finish line.

695
00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:29,380
It's just another verse in
a song that's far from over.

696
00:43:31,240 --> 00:43:34,374
You know, I'm looking forward,
really, to just seeing everybody again.

697
00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:36,534
I think it's going to be the best thing.
You know what I mean?

698
00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:41,134
Like everybody kind of in the same
room and able to hang out and talk to

699
00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:45,334
each other, and just feel a little bit
more normal than it has the last couple

700
00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:46,000
of years.

701
00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:48,494
But that's what I'm most excited for.

702
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,454
It's kind of getting that
camaraderie feeling back.

703
00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:52,214
I think that's what we
all love about being here.

704
00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:57,174
And the people who made me who I am
is something that means the world to me.




