Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard – Luke Combs (August 18, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively and deeply personal episode, country superstar Luke Combs joins Dax Shepard and Monica Padman for a candid conversation about humility, success, mental health, and finding joy in life’s messiness. Fresh off a series of career highs, including his Grammy duet with Tracy Chapman and the announcement of his new single, “Back in the Saddle,” Combs discusses his North Carolina upbringing, his unvarnished view of country music stardom, and his lifelong battle with OCD. The episode explores how Combs remains grounded despite fame, how he pays it forward, and why authenticity is his guiding star.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Exploring Luke’s trajectory from small-town kid to country superstar
• Reflections on privilege, guilt, and gratitude amid success
• Candid discussion of intrusive thoughts and Pure O OCD
• Changing landscapes of country music, social media, and fan dynamics
• The importance of friendship, family, and giving back

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Luke’s “Bronco Raptor” Surprise (03:41 – 06:53)

• Story: Luke tells how Garth Brooks, after inviting him to sing at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, shockingly gifted him a Ford Bronco Raptor—a dream car, especially for a non-“supercar guy.”
  • Luke Combs (04:47): “To be honest… so I’m like, for what?”
  • Dax (04:50): “What do I have to do sexually for this?”
  • Insight: Combs’ gratitude and humility shine as he stresses how surreal and generous the gift was, despite barely knowing Garth personally.

2. North Carolina Roots and Humble Beginnings (07:06 – 14:06)

• Family: Maintenance-man father; HR-mom; moved from Huntersville to Asheville for opportunity. Family income: modest, with both parents working hard. Luke is an only child, but highly social.
  • Luke Combs (14:07): “No, I’m a friend’s guy. I’m in the mix.”
• Formative Experiences:
  • Combs’ high school had a strong arts focus; teachers pushed him to take music and performance seriously but never let him slack.
  • Reluctant to commit to music as a career early on due to realistic, blue-collar expectations.
  • “I just thought you had to kind of hate your job.” (Luke Combs, 23:44)
• Key Quote:
  • Dax (24:16): “No one got to fast pass like I got to.”
  • Luke Combs (24:54): “I feel the same way… they went to school for a decade. I got all this stuff from doing what I like to do. You feel real guilty about it.”

3. Navigating Success, Guilt, and Gratitude (24:10 – 27:28)

• Success vs. Hard Work: Both Dax and Luke express surprise and tension over achieving so much through their passions—contrasted with friends who worked traditional, “harder” jobs.
  • Luke Combs (26:18): “If I buy into it… then you feel like kind of a bad person.”
  • Monica Padman (27:08): “This concept of deserving is very silly. No one deserves anything... Just having gratitude.”
• Giving Back: Luke finds joy in gifting and helping others, tying his satisfaction to generosity rather than acquisition.

4. Early Music Hustle—From Bars to Facebook (27:53 – 38:14)

• College Years:
  • Attended Appalachian State; bouncer at college bar in Boone, NC.
  • First show at Parthenon Café; charged $1, drew 200 people—his “grand ole opry at the time.”
• Building Fan Base:
  • Nonstop local gigging—multiple shows weekly, expanding to other states, self-booking, driving in a Chevy Avalanche.
  • “We’re playing at minimum three shows a week, sometimes five.” (Luke, 37:24)
  • “Grimy good stuff” of independent career-building (Dax’s words, 38:30)
• Social Media Era:
  • Early Vine success, transitioned into modern TikTok, reflecting on the ways the digital age accelerates (and can hinder) artist growth.
  • "The moment is too big for you… It’s like having your first football game at the Super Bowl." (Luke, 39:13)

5. Changing Music Industry and Audience Expectations (40:35 – 43:20)

• Immediate Exposure and Backlash:
  • Discusses pressure for viral hits and the paradox of fans wanting “new music that they already have heard” (41:20).
  • Observes how rapid exposure often leads to equally swift backlash.
  • "People don’t respect you if they made you.” (Monica quoting J. Carmichael, 42:34)
• Radio vs. Streaming:
  • Terrestrial radio still powerful in country, but streaming dominates listening habits; fans favor familiarity over discovery.

6. Breaking the Mold in Country Music (44:23 – 46:56)

• Image & Acceptance:
  • Luke openly addresses not fitting the "hot country guy" image, giving credit to Chris Stapleton for “kicking the door open” for artists like him.
  • "He was already a god before he ever got discovered… you have to have that confidence, right?" (45:23)
• Mindset:
  • Luke (46:56): “I won’t be denied because I feel I have the ability. Like, okay, I can play in the league.”
  • Even after success, he measures accomplishment by his ability to simply “pay all my bills” doing what he loves.

7. The “Hurricane” Breakthrough (43:29 – 48:43)

• **Independently releases “Hurricane”; surprises industry with huge organic sales.
• “I thought that was normal… that’s how it happens for everybody.” (Luke, 43:54)
• **Record deal with Sony follows their initial pass (“The Nashville no”); debut album “This One’s For You” spends 44 weeks at #1.

8. Unlikely Superstar—Remaining Grounded

• On Instant Success:
  • Keeps focus on process, not outcomes—never took anything for granted even as singles kept going #1.
  • Still astounded and grateful: “19 or 20 now. I haven’t had one not go to #1.” (Luke, 49:18)

9. Covering “Fast Car” and the Tracy Chapman Moment (50:22 – 56:27)

• Cover’s Magic:
  • Selected “Fast Car” for recording on a whim, never expecting the massive audience response.
  • Candid about being “naive” to the gender perspective in the song.
  • “I was not like, ‘man, there’s gonna be a lot of eyes on this thing.’” (Luke, 50:45)
• Grammys Duet:
  • Shares backstory of duetting with Tracy Chapman—her mysterious reputation, the shock of her agreeing.
  • Rehearsals built confidence and allowed him to live fully in the moment: “It was just so surreal doing that song with her… I’ve been listening to that song since I was a kid.” (Luke, 55:32)
  • Dax marvels at Luke’s visible joy onstage: “I rewound it like four times… you look at her and I’m like, I think he’s present for this.” (Dax, 55:21)

10. Mental Health & Pure O OCD—An Uncommonly Candid Discussion (56:40 – 71:57)

• What is Pure O/OCD?
  • A form of OCD characterized by obsessive, distressing thoughts (“themes,” e.g., religion, violence, sexuality) but with mental, not outward, compulsions.
  • Luke details how exhausting rumination dominates attention and life.
    • “Imagine being in fight or flight mode 90% of the day.” (Luke, 71:57)
    • “My life revolves around preventing it… I mean, I don’t eat gluten anymore.” (Luke, 72:47)
  • Stresses therapy/CBT, self-education as vital coping tools.
  • Notable Honesty:
    • Q: Has OCD helped your music?
      Luke (71:03): “No, I don’t think it’s part of my success at all. If I just never had it, that would be awesome. There’s no good part.”
• Support & Stigma:
  • Encourages open conversation, acknowledges how rare it is for country stars to discuss mental health candidly.
  • Dax: "I think it's harder if you're a country star. Every actor we talk to... they've all been in therapy. But country? No one's going, 'I'm in therapy.'"

11. Luke's “Back in the Saddle” (73:26 – 73:58)

• Announces new single, inspired by wanting to reconnect with fans after a personal, family-focused year.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Luke Combs on Garth Brooks' car gift:
  “He’s like, ‘No, man. Garth bought you this.’” (04:39)

• On family financial reality:
  “Between the two of them, they probably made $60,000 a year.” (09:09)

• On feeling undeserving:
  “You feel real guilty about it. There’s no sympathy for it, either.” (25:39)

• On mental health:
  “It’s like seeing a grizzly bear come out of the woods. But it’s in your mind.” (58:36)

• On the danger of reassurance:
  “The reassurance seeking… makes my brain pay more attention to it.” (59:50)

• On Pure O’s impact:
  “I would say definitely the course of my life kind of has been dictated by that at certain times.” (60:38)

• On whether OCD contributed to his success:
  “No, I don’t think it’s part of my success at all. If I just never had it, that would be awesome. There’s no good part.” (71:03)

• On the magic of duetting with Tracy Chapman:
  “It was just so surreal doing that song with her… I’ve been listening to that song since I was a kid. It’s one of the first songs I remember.” (55:32, 55:42)

• Monica on money and giving:
  “The only thing I feel, actually I can feel about money is when you give it away." (27:08)

• Luke on gratitude:
  “The only thing you can do, man, is try to give stuff to people who don’t have as much as you and just be thankful that you’re in the position you’re in.” (26:42)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Garth Brooks’ Bronco Raptor story: 03:41–06:53
• Upbringing, family background: 07:06–14:06
• Guilt/Gratitude about success: 24:10–27:28
• Early gig grind in NC: 27:53–38:14
• Country music industry changes: 39:10–43:20
• Challenging “image norms” in country: 44:23–46:56
• Breakthrough with “Hurricane”: 43:29–48:43
• “Fast Car” cover and Chapman duet: 50:22–56:27
• In-depth on Pure O OCD and therapy: 56:40–71:57
• “Back in the Saddle” announcement: 73:26–73:58

Memorable Moments

• Luke’s awed humility at receiving a car from Garth
• Dax’s admission of “fast-pass guilt” for career success
• Monica and Luke agreeing that giving is the deepest joy of wealth
• Comic riff: Dax’s proposal to be Luke’s “vibe guy” on tour
• Luke’s visible, emotional reaction while recounting performing “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman
• Luke’s uncommonly honest answer about OCD: he’d erase it if he could

Tone and Language

• Warm, self-effacing, funny, and direct; typical Armchair Expert camaraderie
• Luke’s humility, openness, and humor balance Dax and Monica’s curiosity and empathy
• Occasional playful roasts (esp. about country stars’ cars, or Dax’s obsession with acreage)
• No sugarcoating of mental health struggles; practical wisdom throughout

For New Listeners

If you’re curious about Luke Combs’ path, want an honest take on the weirdness of fame and fortune, or are seeking candid discussion about OCD, this episode delivers it all with heart and humor. Luke’s authenticity, gratitude, and self-awareness emerge as central themes—proving that even the biggest country stars wrestle with real, relatable messiness.