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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
LUKE COMBS: The Man Behind The Success (Marriage, Fatherhood & Life With OCD)
01:43:08
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- [00:00]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [01:54]
Luke Combs
The guy that says he's always going to be there and that will do anything to be there is the only guy that's not there. I'm in Australia when Beau is born. My whole identity is that no matter what, I'm going to prioritize my wife and my children over my job. I dread the conversation with my son.
- [02:12]
James Smith
What do you think you'd say? Hey everyone, welcome back to On Purpose, the place you come to become happier, healthier and more healed. Today's guest is someone that I've been so excited to have on the show I'm speaking about, Luke Combs, Grammy nominated multi platinum country artist and one of the most successful musicians of his generation. His music is known for its Honesty, heart, and relatability, and has reached millions around the world. Beyond the success, Luke is known for his humility, his deep commitment to his family, family and especially his fans. Today, he joins me to talk about fatherhood, mental health, and how he stays grounded through it all. Please welcome to On Purpose, Luke Combs.
- [02:56]
Luke Combs
Oh, yeah. Thank you for having me. Man. That was a. That was a heck of an intro. I got a lot to live up to.
- [03:01]
James Smith
I feel like you did all of it here. You lived all of it. You're. You're doing all of it.
- [03:04]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
I mean, it's.
- [03:05]
James Smith
It's amazing when, you know, I just met your team, and they're wonderful, and the way they speak about you is wonderful, but it's genuine. And I'm like, what? When I hear about your reputation, your reputation precedes you. Before this interview, I'm hearing Luke's the nicest guys.
- [03:20]
Luke Combs
You know, I like hearing that.
- [03:21]
James Smith
Has that been work? Has it been hard to stay grounded? Or is it just who you are?
- [03:27]
Luke Combs
Yeah, I think it's both. You know, I think. And, you know, I've always thought that, you know, when you reach a certain level of success or what. I hate fame. I hate the word celebrity. I hate those words. They're weird, and they make me uncomfortable a little bit, but it's reality. Like, I also accept it, and it's just. Just weird to, like, say it. I don't want it to ever sound like a braggadocious thing, but I think when you get to a certain point, like the fame or the success or the influence, like, it just kind of accentuates and exacerbates the inherent person that you are. Right? Like, if you're. I think if you were a great guy and you become rich and successful and famous or whatever, like, it gives you the opportunity to be more of who you already are. It gives you a chance to be more giving or more passionate or more, I don't know, more narcissistic, if that was your. You know, if that's already, like, if you have a proclivity to be that way anyways, it just. It just kind of inflates that. It makes, like, the super version of who you already are, you know, but it does take a lot of work, too. Me and my team are. Are really close. You know, every. Everybody's like, oh, you know, we're a family out here, or what? You know, it's like, I hear that all the time, and I truly believe it. And. And I hope that everyone else that says that believes that, too. But that's really. That we try to operate, you know, it's kind of like, you know, it's. It's, you know, one for all kind of mentality on the road with us. And I think you, you know, I mean, it's not hard, in my opinion, to be kind to people. And maybe that's just because that's the way that I am, you know, and that's down to the doorman at the hotel or my manager, you know what I mean? Or, you know, it's like, in my opinion, it's not. It's not a difficult thing to do to just choose to be kind and be grateful for this, even if I'm having a tough day, you know what I mean? I'm still go out of my way to be kind to people because I think, you know, it's an important thing to do. You know, it's. It's every interaction that I have with someone, from a random fan I meet at the grocery store to my kids. Like, every impression makes an impression, whether it's a small one or a huge one, you know, and so I always just try to be really mindful of that in my interactions with, with, with anyone.
- [05:51]
James Smith
Did you ever believe this would be your life?
- [05:53]
Luke Combs
Never. Never.
- [05:54]
James Smith
What did you think life was going to look like?
- [05:57]
Luke Combs
You know, I was a. You know, if you would have asked me 10 years ago or 12 years ago, I would have been really afraid of the answer, you know, because I, I had no idea. I feel like I was kind of aimlessly floating. I felt like I was kind of checking boxes that were like. I felt like I was supposed to be checking, which was like, like I graduated high school and it was like, okay, what now? And it was like, well, you go to college, just what happens, you know, it's what you're supposed to do, you know. And so I went and did that and I had a great time in school. I really. I. I didn't like school. I liked being at the school, but I didn't like, be in being in school, if that makes sense, you know, So I was doing a lot of that and I, I would spend a lot of time, you know, like, I was majoring in business at the very beginning, and then I switched to criminal justice, and I enjoyed criminal justice a lot more than I enjoyed business. I. I had. I just liked that, like, studying that. It was interesting to me and then, but it was still like. It just never felt quite right, you know. It was like, it just doesn't feel like. And I was get scared as every year would tick by in college, it was like, oh, I'm a year closer to having to make this like really important life decision that I'm like, don't feel prepared to make in any way or don't feel good about making, like. And I didn't really, I guess maybe understand or have the ability to process that at the time. It was just like time keeps going whether you want it to or not. And so you're just kind of like sitting. Like the light at the end of the tunnel gets closer. But it was almost the opposite effect. Like it felt like I was in this great place. Like I'm in school, I love my friends. I love the social aspect. I enjoy being around people my age that are, you know, like minded and having the activities I love to do. It was almost the opposite. It was almost like the darkness at the end of the tunnel was like this idea of like being a real adult and like college ends and then you're like, you basically just go into the workforce and then you're miserable for 30 years and then you retire. And it was like, it was so scary, that like idea of that because I hadn't found like something I was passionate about at that time. And so it was a scary proposition to go, like, when this ends, what now? You know what I mean? So that was kind of my experience there and that was the, the way that I was living my life at that time. And then when I found, you know, when I picked the guitar up, you know, towards the end of my college career, it was like immediately all made sense. It like flipped, like the whole script just flipped. It was like, then it was like, oh, like I'm almost out. Like now I can go do the thing I want to go do. And it all made sense, but if I hadn't found that passion, you know, I don't know what I would be doing right now, to be quite honest.
- [08:45]
James Smith
And is that what it felt like? It felt like discovering a passion. Like, it felt like, oh, definitely.
- [08:50]
Luke Combs
It almost felt like discovering what I was meant to do. It was almost like beyond a passion. It was like, well, this is what I was like meant to do. Like this, what I was like put on earth to do is this thing. Just because I'd loved singing my whole life, man. It was like, it was a big part of like my self worth was derived from like my identity. I derived from like, this is the thing that I'm good at. Like, I'm not good at anything else as far as, from a skill standpoint. I thought, oh, okay, well, I'm a good friend. Like, I'm a good son. Like, that stuff wasn't kind of. I felt confident in those things, but I didn't feel fulfilled in, like, what will my role be in the world? Like, what will I contribute to the world? And it never had to be some big thing. Like, my idea of it wasn't. Well, there's some. But I feel like if you're good at something and you have a passion for it, you have this inherent sense of like, I can contribute or make the world a better place in some way by doing the thing that I'm good at. I can positively impact people's lives by doing something that I love to do and being great at it. And that can benefit other people in other ways. And music was my way of doing that.
- [10:01]
James Smith
Yeah. What's like a childhood memory that you have that you feel defines who you are today?
- [10:07]
Luke Combs
I think I have a tremendous ability to suffer.
- [10:12]
James Smith
Wow.
- [10:12]
Luke Combs
Because of the OCD things that I've dealt with. I've talked about that stuff a lot, almost ad nauseam, some not in a negative way, but I'm very open about it. I'm not afraid to speak about it. But that was very defining for me. I had a great childhood. My parents were great, great home, hard working. My parents are still married, they're still around. So I worry sometimes when I talk about, like, how tough it was being younger for me. And like, I worry when my parents see these things that they think that that has some reflection of, like, them as parents. It doesn't at all, you know, like, they went above and beyond for me as parents. And becoming a parent myself has made me. I'm more thankful for them every day as I raise my kids because I realize how difficult it is and I realize how hard it was. And I've gained this great appreciation even more so for them as I raise my own children. So I don't want them to ever get the ide that it was. It was anything to do with them. But the whole nature of that kind of ocd, there's a lot of like, suffering in silence. Right. And it's given me this really great outlook on. I know what bad is is, dude. Like, I've been to the bottom in here and it's like I'm not there. You know, I still have a proclivity to be able to go there if certain things line up. And, you know, I were to have an OCD moment or something. But those moments are few and far between and they're a lot shorter lived than they used to be. And I'm not afraid of those moments anymore. I lived my life when I was younger in fear of, like, when is this going to come back? And why does it. I don't even know what it is at that time. It's like I wasn't, like, a diagnosed. You know, it was something I felt like I even had a hard time explaining to my parents, like, what they're like. What do you. What do you mean? You know, like, they're not. I mean, they weren't. You know, they're not clinical psychologists, so they don't really understand, you know, and so I can't imagine how afraid they were at the time of, like, well, I wish we could help our child. You know, I can't imagine how helpless he would feel if my kids came to me with something that I didn't understand. I would be like, gosh, I don't even know how to explain, like, where do I even take them? You know? And so that was a really defining part of. Of, like, my childhood, you know, it's not the only memory, but it's the one that kind of sticks out as, like, this common theme. Like, every couple of years, I would go through these really brutal OCD stents without even knowing what was going on.
- [12:39]
James Smith
Wow. Do you feel comfortable talking about some of those days and.
- [12:42]
Luke Combs
Oh, certainly, yeah, certainly. I mean, filled, like, days, like. Filled with, like, rumination, you know. Like, a lot of, like, you know, people ask me about and what the experience is like, and I try to describe it to people, and it's almost, like, indescribable sometimes. Like, I think they think and not. This is not a slight to anyone that may think this. If you haven't experienced it, you almost can't understand it to some extent. And they're like, well, how. How often is, like. I'm talking about, you know, 95% of the day, from opening your eyes to closing them at night, you are thinking about this thing, and it's causing you a tremendous amount of anxiety and, like, mental anguish to try to, like, find the answer to this, like, unanswerable question. It's. It's scary because it's like, you're so. I think it's helped my songwriting, and I think it's helped my ability to be creative. I think the creativity can be a blessing and a curse in that way. It can help me create scenarios in my mind that really don't have a leg to stand on, and I can build them into, you Know one world trade in my mind from nothing. And that can be really great in a songwriting sense. It can be really dangerous in, like, a mental health sense. So those days would be, go to bed, you close your eyes and you go, gosh, like, I just hope in the morning I'm not thinking about this thing. And the second you open your eyes, it's the first thing you think of. And then you spend the entire day either thinking about it or trying not to think about it and hoping that it would go away and feeling hopeless and saying, why me? Why am I like this? What did I do to deserve this? Like, almost having some, like. Almost. Like, there's almost like an anger to
- [14:24]
James Smith
it, a shame and guilt as well. Yeah.
- [14:26]
Luke Combs
And you're just like, what, like this? Like. Because outwardly, like, the world around me was so great. I have this great, you know, these great parents that go out of their way to take care of me. I have great friends, we have a nice home, it's safe. I have food to eat. I'm in a great school, I have great friends, I have a great life. I have talent, I have drive, you know, but that would just. It would just. I mean, it's like, basically, if everything in the room was so great, and there was one pile of dog shit on the floor, and all the lights went off and they just shined on the pile of dog shit, it was like, that was the only thing I could focus on, you know? I hate to put it in such a crude way, but, like, it's a
- [15:09]
James Smith
great way to clean.
- [15:09]
Luke Combs
It's like the room is perfect, but the dog pooped on the floor, and all you have to do is clean it up, but you don't know how to clean it up, and you can't get rid of it, and it becomes the only thing you think about, and it's like all you focus on. And, like, you don't have the ability to focus on all the good things or even the mental capacity to be appreciative of the good because you spend so much mental energy on the negative thing, the one negative thing.
- [15:31]
James Smith
What were those thoughts as a kid that kept taking over like that?
- [15:34]
Luke Combs
So those themes, you know, they change every time. So, like, if you go through. Let's say you go through a theme, you know, I'm sure you're aware of OCD stuff. It all is theme based, right? And you basically only have one theme at a time. It's funny, like, let's say I was worried about, like, if I was having intrusive thoughts about, like, committing violence against someone or something, and they're causing me all this stress, and I'm like, what does that mean about me? What does that say about me? And then if I switch, like, if my theme were to switch to the next day, I'm like, well, what if I was a schizophrenic and I didn't know it? And you're like. And you're panicked, and you're completely panicked, and you're all consumed by that. I'm talking in an instant, like, let's say I've been worrying about all this violent stuff, all these horrible thoughts and things that you don't want going through your head. The second I have that new thought of, like, what if I. What if I'm schizophrenic? Right? And then you go. Instantly, you can think on all the violent stuff and go, well, that was dumb. I'm not even worried about that at all. It doesn't even seem like something you ever would have even worried about. You're like, that was so stupid. Why did I waste three months of my life stressing about that thing? But when you're in it, it's not like you don't have the capability of. To turn it off, you know? I remember my dad would say, and this is no slight to him. This is, you know, this is classic, like, dad stuff. He'd be like, well, son, just don't think about it. Yeah, I'd be like, well, man, that would be great. That's kind of the whole point of, like, well, that's what I'm trying to get to, you know?
- [17:07]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Yeah.
- [17:07]
Luke Combs
I'm trying to figure out how to do that. That's kind of the struggle, you know, and as no slight, because, again, we. I'm undiagnosed.
- [17:14]
James Smith
People didn't know.
- [17:15]
Luke Combs
You don't know what's going on.
- [17:16]
James Smith
Like, no one talks about it.
- [17:17]
Luke Combs
Go out and take a walk, you know, or. And it's like, it's not that simple. You know, I'm sure that would have actually helped quite a bit, but it's not quite that simple. And so, yeah, I mean, you know, you spend the whole day, like. I mean, there's days when I'm like, I don't even want to go to school, man. Like, because I'm just gonna be thinking about this all day and be stressed about it and be thinking about it at football practice and think about it in choir and think about it in math class and think about it at lunch with my friends and just. You're Just constantly, your brain's just constantly bombard you with like, these like, life or death feelings of like, you need to address this issue. It's a big issue and it has to be addressed right now. And you, you are in this heightened state of like, you're almost in like, fight orf flight mode all the time. And it's just exhausting. It's so mentally exhausted, like having this battle with yourself. And I'm very thankful to be, you know, to have gone through that. It's definitely made me a better person and made me more appreciative of the life I have now. The grasp on the understanding of my own mind and, you know, thankfulness and just joy and reveling in the good times when they're around, which thankfully now is 99% of the time. You know, I just. I'm well equipped to have the tools, you know, and not that I'm immune to it or anything like that, but I'm hyper aware of it and I can. I'm more aware now of the things that. The thought patterns and the way that it happens and the way that it comes about. And I'm. And I'm an expert at combating that in my own head. And that's been a really great blessing, you know, But I. And having the platform now to speak about it and be okay with it. And it's never something I was particularly ashamed of. It was just something that I didn't know how to verbalize and know how to, like, speak about in a way that other people can understand. And I feel lucky to have the ability now to be a voice for someone that's out there right now that may be in the situation I was in. And they're 12 or 13 years old and they're going, look at this guy. Like, maybe, maybe there's. If there's one kid that doesn't feel as hopeless as I felt watching this now, like, that it's all worth it to me. Like, being able to, like, be that light for someone else and hopefully, you know, is a really great feeling, to be honest.
- [19:43]
James Smith
Which relationship was most negatively impacted in your life at that time because of it?
- [19:49]
Luke Combs
My relationship with myself. I didn't really have a lot of time to figure out who I was because I. I couldn't think about anything else. Maybe I would have picked up guitar in seventh grade when my parents bought it for me because I would have had time to focus on that. You know, I can't do anything about that now. And things worked out the way they were Supposed to work out. I mean, obviously, you know, I. I mean, here I am, you know, and it's. That. That was the one that was tough, is like, you don't get any time to, like, do all these. Like, this kind of, like, my childhood was great. It was idyllic, really. Besides this, I don't want to sound like it was, like, constant dread and doom and, like, there were certainly spells of that, and it was like, those were kind of, like, the defining things along the way. And. But there was a lot of good, too, you know, I don't want to make it sound like I had the worst life ever, because I didn't. But it very, very hard at times, and it was very isolating and made you feel very alone and, like, very vulnerable and very confused. You know, what is going on. Like, I don't imagine my friends are dealing with this, you know, and if they are, I would talk to my friends about it. I mean, Austin, who I'm sure you met, is my best friend from childhood, really. And I talked to him about it. You know, he knew. It's like. But, you know, they don't have any answers, but they're like, bro, you're. It's a. It's all good, you know? Like, they were always very supportive. No one was like, you're weird. I can't believe you're doing this. Like, I'm lucky that everyone in my life was supportive of my struggles, and I'm glad that I was open about them and felt the ability to be open about them. That in itself is a blessing, you know, I can't imagine a kid out there right now whose family's like, listen, you better stop talking about this. I'm sick of hearing about it. You know what I mean? It's like that, but just crushes my soul, you know, it's already so hard, even if everyone is open to the whole thing. So that would say that that was the relationship honestly affected the most. Because if I didn't tell you, if you would have met me at 13 years old or 14 years old, like, you wouldn't have even known. Yeah, it's not something you can see. It's all in here. Like, that's why they call it purely obsessional, because the only. Because that's a bit of a misnomer in my opinion, dear medical people, It's a misnomer, but there are tons of compulsions. They're just all mental compulsions. They're not outward. So they call it purely obsessional, because all the compul. It's like, I'm like, oh gosh, this glass. I better get it. You know, this thing, this moving this glass around and getting it to feel right is all happening in here instead of out here.
- [22:24]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [22:25]
Luke Combs
You know, the, like checking the stove a hundred times to make sure it's off. I'm doing that up here instead of doing it. There's no physical manifestation of the compulsions. So yeah, huge, huge part of my life.
- [22:38]
James Smith
Yeah. No, I appreciate you saying it. I mean, yeah, of course. You sharing it is helping so many other people, as you said, listening, learning, trying to, you know, that kid who wants to tell their family, tell their friend, you know, and recognize that it's not some dysfunction that they have, but just something that they're experiencing. What does OCD look like now in your life?
- [22:57]
Luke Combs
What happens is not any different. I think now when it does happen, I'm just so much more aware of it, you know, and it's good, it's good because when it happens I can just, I straight up tell her. Like when I'm like, hey, this is going on, like, just so you know, like if I seem a little absent minded or if I'm like, if you say something and I didn't quite pay enough attention to it, like it's not just me being aloof, it's like I'm. I'm kind of going through this and so she understands that. So I don't have to worry about that. Like, I don't have to worry about her. Why are you being weird? Like, it's just an honest thing and she feels for me, which is nice to know that there's someone that understands what I'm going through that's supportive of it and doesn't judge me for that at all. And you know, I mean, again, she's no therapist either, so. But I. I'm so well equipped now.
- [23:50]
James Smith
What. What has been that equipped? What's actually helped? I mean, I mean people who are struggling honestly, the.
- [23:55]
Luke Combs
The interesting thing about it is like not like not giving any, like any credibility or attention to the thoughts is ultimately the thing that makes it go away. Right. But the years and years and years of not knowing that your go to is like think about the thoughts and try to figure it out and try to solve it. So when you do that, like I didn't find out what I had until I was probably like 19 or 20. Really. Like, I didn't find Pure O. OCD until then. I'd been dealing with it for seven or eight years at that time. And Once I found it naturally enough, I obsessed about it, trying to figure it out, like, what does this mean? And. And a lot of that not, not from. I don't want to try to, like, I'm not trying to say, like, oh, it was really great and I figured it out. It was basically like one of the big no no's of OCD is seeking reassurance that whatever the thought you have is not founded in any fact or reality. Right. Like, that's the trap. It's like trying to solve the problem. So when you're, when you're young and you're in it, you're constantly seeking reassurance in your own mind to, like, discredit the thoughts that you're having. And so I would use that diagnosis. I would go and study this. I would go study what's puro and what's, you know, understand the way that people that have it think and the tools. And like, I was looking that stuff up to try to alleviate the anxiety from the thoughts. Little did I know, and not that anyone should do this, I would not suggest it, but little did I know I was basically teaching myself to be an expert hurt on the disease that I had or the mental illness that I had. And so now I'm so well versed and studied in it. And again, not a therapist, don't claim to be. Now I know the thought patterns and I'm so familiar with, like, I can feel it coming on. I know when it's happening, I know why it happens, and I know I just have the entire tool belt of, like, getting rid of it if I need to. And I think that as, I mean, it's a blessing and a curse, you know, it was a curse, curse the way I got to it. But it's a blessing now in having that knowledge. It keeps me from, from, you know, slipping into that state a lot. A lot. You know, and when I talk about ocd, I mean, that's the most interaction I get from people reaching out to me a lot is, hey, man, like, you're the only guy I know that's ever talked about this. Because it's kind of like an obscure variant of ocd. It's not as common as, like, stereotypical.
- [26:40]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Sure.
- [26:40]
James Smith
You know, you're hearing about it more and more now, though.
- [26:42]
Luke Combs
Certainly. Yeah, certainly. It's like, it's definitely an understudied thing. I mean, there was a time even 10 or 12 years ago I was looking it up that some OCD doctors were like, that's not a real thing. Yeah, I'm like, wow, what a dangerous thing to like say in public. Like, what an arrogant thing to say. Like if you've never had it to. Even though you're an expert regardless. And I'll probably get roasted for this online. Like, like, how dare you say it if you've never like, you like saying someone's mental condition like doesn't exist is an incredibly damaging thing, especially given the nature of the one that you're talking about. Because that in. And that statement in and of itself could send someone into a six month spiral. Like that statement could kick off an entire another episode of like life crippling OCD for. With ocd. Because then they would read it and go, oh my God, it's not real. I really am a murderer. Or I really am going to crash my car into school. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, it's like, just makes people like so panicked, you know?
- [27:52]
James Smith
Yeah. And I had a friend who just constantly kept thinking she was going to do something bad to her kids and so she had to be away from them for weeks.
- [28:00]
Luke Combs
Oh, it's horrible.
- [28:01]
James Smith
Yeah, I get it.
- [28:02]
Luke Combs
Avoidance behavior. Another terrible thing. One of the worst things you can do because then you're giving the thoughts like the power of like. Yeah, that's really, is an issue. So now you're isolating yourself from your kids. So there really is a problem now it gives the thoughts more credibility. So you're taking action and telling yourself these thoughts are important. So I need to remove myself?
- [28:22]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [28:23]
Luke Combs
You know, it's crazy, man. It's a vision. It's like a rip current in your mind.
- [28:27]
James Smith
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
- [28:28]
Luke Combs
Your instinct is to, you know, swim this way and really you should just do the not struggle and just swim this way. You just want to swim. That was all you want to do. You know, it's crazy. It's a crazy spiral.
- [28:50]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Hey, it's me, Jay. And I just wanted to share this one phone call I had with a friend. It was when I just made one of the biggest decisions in my career and I was nervous about how it would be received. Then my friend called me out of the blue just to check in. And hearing their voice, their encouragement, completely changed my perspective. That moment reminded me how powerful a simple connection can be. And did you know that 2026 will mark 150 years since the first phone call? March 10, 1876. From that one call, it all grew. The first long distance lines, the first call across America, the first across the Atlantic, the first commercial cell service, Even the first 911 system AT&T has been connecting people in so many ways for 150 years. I can't help but wonder how many lives were changed, how many important conversations happened, even how many lives were saved, all because people could reach each other. 150 years of connecting. That's not just history, that's a reminder. When technology brings people together, we can do incredible things.
- [29:52]
Luke Combs
Connecting changes everything. AT&T.
- [29:58]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [30:12]
Luke Combs
Post.
- [30:13]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [31:53]
James Smith
You've spoken so beautifully about your parents. What's something that your parents did for you? What's a lesson they taught you that you're trying to to pass on to your children?
- [32:02]
Luke Combs
Yeah, I mean I think really just work ethic, you know. I mean my parents, I mean they taught me a lot of things. You know, my mom was just, you know, she's like wonderful. You know, my dad was wonderful and My dad wasn't like, he wasn't like my buddy growing up. Like, he was like, he was my dad. You know what I mean? Yeah. He was a maintenance man at the bank and it was like he worked 40 hours and he came home and he mowed the grass and he drank beer with his buddies. And like, not that I was neglected in any way, but like, we weren't like, like pal and around a lot because there wasn't time. He was constantly working to provide me with food and provide mom with, you know, mom was working too, you know, so it was a very, very working class home. And that's what our life centered around was mom and dad have shit to do and they're gonna do it, and that's, you know, that's just the way it is. And, you know, obviously that provided me with a lot of things and, and I'm. I'm grateful for that. I never had to wonder what, what, you know, clothes I was going to wear to school or what food I was going to eat when I got home. Like, those worries were gone and so, you know, nothing but gratefulness for that. And my, you know, it was like they. I learned so much from seeing that, you know, luckily I'm in a position now where it doesn't have to be that way. It had to be that way for them. There was no other option. It was either, you know, it was work and provide or don't provide. You know, those were the two options they were presented with. My life now is obviously a lot different than that. It's. I have the ability to do both. I have the ability to do it on my own schedule when I want to and where I want to I spend, you know, I have conversations with people that, you know, everyone wants to know what's it like to be, you know, a musician and, you know, being. When you're touring and. Well, do you miss your family? And it's like, well, obviously I miss them when I'm gone, gone. But I'm not gone like that much now. Like, I guarantee I spend more time with my kids than 90 of people, probably because they're not in school. And if I'm not here with you, I'm there. Like they're on nowhere else, basically, except for deer season. But other than that, I'm not anywhere else. You know, like, I'm there and, you know, in a couple of years they'll be at deer season. You know what I mean? So I get to, you know, like, when I'm home and like, I'm Home. And I'm not. I'm not splitting my time at home between, okay, well, I've got to do 50 work things today and, you know, the kids are at school and I don't ever see them, and then I leave and they're, you know, begging me to, you know, play with him for five minutes. It's like when I come home, dude, like, I'm cooking breakfast, I'm cooking lunch, I'm cooking dinner, like, changing diapers, I'm giving baths. Like I'm that, like I'm in it. You know what I mean? Like, I'm hands on. I want be. I want them to know that at the most critical stages of my career, that they were still the top priority for me. And my parents showed me that in a different way. It was like, hey, we are going to go work these jobs that we don't like so that you can have the best life that you can have. And so I learned that from them. I just get to manifest it in a different way for my kids.
- [35:24]
James Smith
Yeah, I like the way you put that. Yeah. That for you, for them, it was doing something they didn't like to show you that they're number one out of love. And yours is almost like I'm actually going to put aside something that I like to show you. To show you how important you are.
- [35:38]
Luke Combs
Exactly.
- [35:39]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [35:39]
Luke Combs
It's a. It's a different version of the same sacrifice. Yeah, for sure.
- [35:42]
James Smith
Absolutely. From the outside, I'm always fascinated by how things look from the outside and the inside. From the outside. Your career, we had this, like, meteoric rise. What was it like for you? What was the feeling that was actually happening?
- [35:54]
Luke Combs
Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was certainly. But it also felt like it feels like I've been doing it for a year and it feels like I've been doing it for a hundred years at the same time, if that makes any sense. You know.
- [36:05]
James Smith
Tell me about that.
- [36:05]
Luke Combs
Those early years, man, were really hard, you know, I mean, the music industry has changed so much in the last 11 years. I mean, I really have been in it in a. In like an official. Like, I've got a record deal. Like, I'm promoting my music in, in the, in the grand way that it's done now. That's only been going on for. I mean, I guess, like this would be year 10 for me. Probably year nine, maybe. Yeah, year nine. Because 2017 was my first number one. Signed my record deal in the fall of 16, and then didn't really ramp it up until like the beginning of 17. But had been doing stuff on my own for a long time before that. And you know, you almost learn more doing that stuff, like doing it on your own. And you know, I wonder if people miss that a little bit now because it's like you, you know, you almost get invited to the table when it's time to be there, you know, instead of like fighting for this spot at the table, like in town. Like, I don't know if as many people are like moving to Nashville now. Like, you almost know if you're going to make it or not now because of social media. And I was one of the first people did that. Not intentionally. I don't want to make myself sound like a genius. I'm not. It's like that I just got, I just lucked into that. Like I had vine came out on this big platform. I'm just singing on there and playing little six second covers. And then Instagram comes out. I'm doing that and I use that as a marketing tool for myself. Again, not in like any way of like, this is the future. I don't want to be like, I predict it. You know, I'm not trying to Steve Jobs it and say I invented itunes. That's not the case. I just lucked into it. It happened to be the perfect time for that, for people to be receptive to that. And now that has become the model. That is the way you do it. So I was just one of, if not the first guy to do that. I wish I could say it was intentional. I just lucked into that really. And so when I moved to town, I had all these sales numbers, ticket sales, that to me I was like, well, this is normal. Like this is just, how could people not be doing it this way? This is the way it goes. But I moved to Nashville. I don't really know anyone. I have one or two connections to like some buddies that were nude in town that wrote songs and didn't have anything else going on. And I would just go out to writers nights and try to meet people and I found like minded people and we wrote songs together and then, you know, one thing turns into another and here we are. But I don't know that that happens as much now because if, let's say you were a new artist and you. I want to be a country singer. It's my dream. Well, you just get on TikTok or Instagram and you write songs at your
- [39:01]
James Smith
house and you see how people feel.
- [39:02]
Luke Combs
Yeah, you see how people feel. And if all of a sudden it becomes this Undeniable thing. And then the record labels are calling your house. So when you get to Nashville, it's like the culture of that, like the new people in town that are all banded together trying to succeed and do this thing, like that's kind of not there right now, you know, because. Because why would you now when you could just stay, live at your parents house and not pay rent and not take any risk. You don't have to go play shows because why would you. It's all an unnecessary risk at this point. And I'm not saying that's right or wrong. Everything progresses and changes. But I think it has kind of like unintentional consequences. And again, not that that's inherently wrong. It's just the nature of the beast right now. So I'm thankful for the. I was of the kind of the last generation. Like I kind of got to experience both. I got to do the social media, like get feedback instantaneously. Create my own space, my own community, have my own fans before anyone else got to decide or control that process. But I also got to move to Nashville and be a part of a. A culture that, you know, we created ourselves. And I e. We being like me and my friends created kind of our own. Yeah. Bubble of success that we all came up in together. That was really cool to be a part of. It's one. It's one of my favorite parts of like my whole story is like. I mean my first seven number ones was everyone's first number one song. When my first record was turned into Sony, there was one person on the entire record that even had a publishing deal. Wow. It was just all people I had like met at bars and, and like wrote songs with that are now like lifelong friends of mine, you know, and people that I still collaborate with to this. Not everyone I'm still super in touch with, but the core crew is like people that I like go on trips with and like have around my kids and stuff. You know what I mean? So it's like, that's like, you can't create that artificially. It has to be an organic thing. So I feel sad for some of this generation that may lose that. And they, they probably have their own community and ecosystem that I'm unaware of that feels just as great as mine. But I long for the like, the nostalgia of that is like I want other people to get to experience that the same way that I did, but they may just be having that same experience in a different lane, you know?
- [41:33]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [41:33]
Luke Combs
At least I'm hopeful that they Are.
- [41:34]
James Smith
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can relate to a lot what you're saying, because my work kind of around the same time, 2016 was the year I, again, just like you, no strategy, no technique, just started sharing what I believed in, what I cared about on social media.
- [41:50]
Luke Combs
Right.
- [41:50]
James Smith
And it took off.
- [41:51]
Luke Combs
You were 28 at that time. Yeah.
- [41:52]
James Smith
And it took off. Took off organically.
- [41:55]
Luke Combs
Right.
- [41:56]
James Smith
I didn't know where it was going. I didn't have a plan for where it was going. And so I can totally relate to what you're saying about this idea of just putting something out there and you weren't doing it because the. You thought the platform was going to get you somewhere else.
- [42:08]
Luke Combs
Exactly.
- [42:09]
James Smith
It was. It was just the platform was available.
- [42:11]
Luke Combs
The thing that I love about it is it creates no, like, barrier to entry.
- [42:17]
James Smith
Totally.
- [42:18]
Luke Combs
It's like purely what resonates with people. It's like strictly talent based. It's like strictly work ethic based. Like, it's all based on, like, how hard are you willing to work? How much do you resonate with people? What's your music? What do people think of your music?
- [42:33]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [42:34]
Luke Combs
So it's cool in that sense. And whether it's a podcast or a music or I don't, I can't even imagine like, or a chef. Like, I think of like, you know, Joshua Wiseman who's like, he starts out putting videos on YouTube and he's like, now he's like this, one of the most influential food creators in the world. You know what I mean? Like, it's just so cool that you can create something from nothing on your own accord now. And you get to control the narrative and of how your career is going to go as opposed to, you know, this kind of nameless, like these nameless people and entities going like, well, you're gonna do that and wear that. And you know, they basically, they get to it. It's great for everybody because there's no risk for the labels in a lot of ways. They don't have to go, we'll sign 10 guys and hopefully one of them works out. And they go, now we'll just sign 10 guys and they're all going to work out.
- [43:24]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Yeah, exactly.
- [43:25]
Luke Combs
Because we know, we just know it's going to work out. It's already proven. We have the proof right there. So it's kind of a win win for everybody in this situation, at least I think. But it's cool, man. It's a cool time.
- [43:35]
James Smith
Yeah. There was a moment in your life you were talking about your family being a Priority now. But there was a moment in your life that kind of shifted you back in that direction, right. That made you take a bit of a break. Break.
- [43:46]
Luke Combs
I mean, I think it was. I mean, Covid was a big reason for that. Obviously. It was like my career was white hot when Covet happened. And it was kind of like it was a bummer. It was a bummer for a lot of us, you know, a lot of musicians, you know, I. There's a lot of people that didn't survive the whole Covid thing. You know, like, you kind of come in and it's like all of a sudden you're, you know, I can't imagine having been a new artist, like a brand new artist when that happened, because then it's like you kind of only get the one shot and then if it, if it dwindles at that time just because of the what's happening in the world, like, well, that can be kind of it. That was tough. But my family thing, you know, I. We have our first son text, and then five months later we find out we're pregnant with our next bow. And so that was a whirlwind. I mean, like, you know, you're having a five month old, you're figuring out how to be a parent, have a baby, and then all of a sudden you have another baby. You know, you have two babies at the same time, you know, almost would have rather had twins. Would have been an easier transition, to be quite honest. You know what I mean? Like, it was almost more difficult having like, because then they're at two different ages, but they're both so fragile. And like, I mean, when Bo was born, like, Tex couldn't even walk yet. So it was like, my wife's got one on the hip and one in the cradle, and it's like, I'm out, I'm in, I'm in Australia when Bo is born. And that's like, like crushing, like devastating things. My whole identity is that no matter what, I'm going to prioritize my wife and my children over my job, over what I do. Like, they're my number one priority. I want them to know that. And then here I am having this moment of like, well, guess who wasn't there? Like, the guy that says he's always going to be there and that will do anything to be there, is the only guy that's not there. And so, so it was a huge blow to. It was like, man, well, you set yourself up to do everything you can to be there. And then the plan doesn't go the way that you thought it was going to go. And it's nobody's fault, obviously. It's just a way of the universe's decision at that point. He comes two and a half weeks early, four days from going home and he decides to show up and everyone's like, what you can't believe you plan the tour. The tour is already planned. We, the tour is planned before we even find out we're pregnant with, with Beau. So there's no canceling the tour. It's sold out before we even know we're pregnant. You know, so you have this obligation to your fans to go and, and, and do that and put the shows on and, and power through. And I didn't, I didn't tell anyone that until after I got home. You know what I mean? Like, I kept it to myself because, you know, there was never this big, like I didn't want it to be this big woe as me, like PR campaign sad I am and look how hard it's been. It's, I mean it's, it's kind of what, you know, that that could happen going in, I think. And so you have a right, you have a duty to your fans to continue the show on, you know, I mean, even if I would have left, I would have not been home.
- [47:03]
James Smith
Yeah, yeah.
- [47:03]
Luke Combs
I mean I woke up.
- [47:04]
James Smith
Yeah, you wouldn't have made it in time. Right.
- [47:05]
Luke Combs
It's 8am Sydney time. My wife texts me 6am Sydney time or whatever. I don't even know what that time zone is called, but 6am So I wake up two hours after the text of like I'm going to the hospital, obviously. Call her first thing, she's in the hospital. I mean, thank God my sister in law was there. My mother in law was flying in that day. My parents lived in town, so the support system was there. And I'm. For that I am eternally grateful. You know, Brings serious perspective to the it takes a village kind of thing, you know, I can't imagine if my wife would have been alone during that thing. It would have been even more crushing. But knowing that she had people that she trusted and cared about being around was a huge relief for me. It didn't make it any easier, but it was better. And so that really shifted my focus of like what happens from here? Like how do I make, you know, how do I make changes based on this thing? Like I dread the conversation with my son at some point point, like, because obviously he doesn't know that he's two and A half. Like he's not even going to understand that for five years, you know, But I dread that conversation of being like, you know, well, dad, you, you know, you made this record about being such a good dad and then you weren't there when I was born, but you were there for text and you were there for the next kid and why was I the only one that you weren't there for? So I worry about that a lot.
- [48:30]
James Smith
Interesting.
- [48:31]
Luke Combs
And I think that it will be okay. But it, I haven't quite yet processed as when to have that conversation. Obviously not anytime soon. But when I do have that conversation, how do I, you know, say that to a seven or eight year old and it be meaningful? I think it's bigger than one conversation. It's not like, hey, I wasn't there, get over it. That's it. We're not talking about it. You know, it's, it's more nuanced than that. I'm sure it will be a lifetime of, you know, conversations and I'm hopeful that he'll be understanding. I'm sure that he will if I do my job right and my wife does her job right. I think he will be if he turns out to be a good, a good person the way that I hope that he does.
- [49:15]
James Smith
What do you think you'd say?
- [49:17]
Luke Combs
I'd probably just break the news. You know, I think the first conversation is going to be I want to tell you before you find out first. I think that's the most important thing is getting ahead of, you know, I don't want him to one day, you know, have access to the Internet and come across this thing and it's, you know, Luke Combs misses the birth of his child to be at the show. And then he's like, well, I didn't know that. Which child is it? And then it's like, oh, it was me. Why didn't he never tell me? You know, I think that avoiding that is like number one. So I think that's the first conversation. You kind of like let that like wash the shock a little bit of that, like wash over him. And then I think there's a follow up conversation which is, hey, you know, like, you know, I would do anything for you. You know, I would have given anything to be there. But like, even if I make the best effort I can, like there, there's no way I would have been there. Like he was born at, by 10am and like 2, at 2 hours after I wake up, he's born. So like I wouldn't Even have been able to, like, get a plane and be at the airport yet, and he would have been born already. So it's not like I tried and didn't make it. It was like there was no way that I was going to make it. And so I think I'm, like, mentally, like, past the guilt of it now because I beat myself up about it for a while. I couldn't even talk about it for a while without getting super emotional about it. And I think you just have to move forward and you just have to cross that bridge when you come to it. And I'm lucky to still have to be five years older or five years wiser when that conversation has to happen and have had more time to process and think about it. But, I mean, it's the nature of the beast, man. Like, you know, and if you work at the butcher shop, you're probably going to get blood on you when you. When you're at work, or you're probably going to come home smelling like raw meat. You know what I mean?
- [51:19]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Like, you knew that.
- [51:20]
Luke Combs
You kind of knew that going in for sure. You knew it could happen. You hoped it wouldn't, and it did. And so now you just have to live with it and deal with it and address it and not let it become an issue.
- [51:30]
James Smith
Yeah. In days like these you sing when the sky is blue and the grass is green Green how much better can it be if I got you and you got me we got everything we need and even if it grew on trees well, money can't buy days like these and you talk about money in that song and in Rich man as well, and how money can't buy happiness. How do you define a rich life?
- [51:55]
Luke Combs
This is always such a tough subject for me because I think there, you know, there's no hiding. There's no hiding that I do really well. And that's something that I have some guilt around. Not guilt from having money or having success. I feel like it's a question of why do I deserve it more than maybe someone else. I don't deserve it more than anyone else. But you feel this guilt of. I almost feel. It's not an imposter syndrome. It's not the same as that. But you feel like, man, well, I feel like I have more than I deserve, or I don't deserve to have been this successful. Or you feel guilty for being this successful, and you kind of get this feeling like, well, maybe people can't relate to me anymore. And I hate that because I haven't changed other than the circumstances of my life now, at least I think that I would like to think that everyone around me would agree with that. So I hope I'm not sounding egotistical by saying that, but I would be willing to bet that a lot of the people that know me well would say, say it's the same guy with a different, different bank account. And so those songs are even difficult. I find it a little bit, like, cliche for me to even say that. And I danced around putting Rich man on this record because I was worried about sounding hypocritical, right? Because the whole idea of the song is a guy in a bar who's basically supposed. The character, his character is supposed to be a farmer, right? Like, the narrator of that song is, is not supposed to be me. It's supposed to just be a guy who's in a bar and he sees two other guys having a conversation. And it's basically a guy in overalls who is supposed to. In my, my eyes, we wrote it was a farmer or whatever, an older guy and then a younger guy who's kind of in a suit. You know, he's doing the whole business guy thing, and he's stressed out about the stock market. He's stressed out about work and all these things. And, you know, the farmer just kind of gives him this allegory in the song of, like, you know, hey, rich man, you know, I know you didn't ask, but I'll say this, man, all the money in the world don't mean man, because it can't go with you when you die, buy you time or hold your wife and kids hands. And for me, I'm very aware of how much better my life is by having things that I have. And I'm cognizant of that. And I'm not trying to hide that. I'm very grateful for that and appreciative of it. And I'm aware of, you know, that it, it makes me, it can make me sound hypocritical in that sense. And I, I, I tussled with that a lot when putting the song on this record because I didn't want people to be like, look at this big blow hard telling me how to, you know, think about my life or whatever. Like, I'm not trying to tell anybody how to feel in any way on, on that song or on this record. And I think for me, though, there are these moments in life where I am, you know, you say the sky is blue, grass is green. I remember that day we text was a baby and we're living in our house, like, an hour from Nashville at that time. We've since moved, and it was just beautiful outside. And it was like, my beautiful wife is there, my kid is there, and my career is going really well, and I'm just really thankful. It's almost just like, there are these days to me that, like, you can't put your finger on, like, why they're so great. You're still surrounded by the things that you have and the people that you love in the same way that you were yesterday, in the same way that you will be the next day. But it's like everything just lines up, and it's like you just. You're almost on this, like, high of life. Like, it's. The birds are singing and the temperature. You know, it's. You know, it's like the weather's like that every day here. By the way. You know, I forget it's January when I'm.
- [56:02]
James Smith
Yeah, it's spectacular.
- [56:03]
Luke Combs
Yeah, it's unbelievable. And it's like, you know, it's like these bluebird days, and, you know, your fam. Everything's just hitting on the same wavelength. For what? I don't really even know how to describe it, but that was my mindset, writing days like these. It wasn't about, I live in a nice house or I have this thing. It was like, it wouldn't have mattered where we were or what we were doing. It was just everything in the universe lined up that day for it to be like, this perfect day. And it's not the first one I've had, and it's not the last one I'll have. But damn it if they aren't few and far between. And damn it if I'd. And wish they came around more often, you know? And you just. I love those days, and they're so rare, and they're just. That song, to me, totally captured that moment in time so perfectly, you know? And I just love those days. And I think that there's nothing that I owned or nothing that I bought or nothing that I could buy or nothing that I could do that could recreate that feeling. So regardless of the situation that I'm in now, there's no doubt that. That money helps with those things. There's no doubt. I don't want to sound like you guys. Like, well, it don't matter if you got. That's the bridge of the song. Rich man is. You know, I. I say that in the bridge of that song is like. Well, you know, it ain't no secret. Having money's nice, you know, but making a living don't make a life, you know, And I believe that, and I know that's easy for me to say, so I don't want anyone to. Out there to think that I'm, you know, know, discounting the fact that I have. Have it way better than a lot of people. I'm. I'm painfully aware of that and I struggle with that, to be quite honest.
- [57:43]
James Smith
Yeah, I. I appreciate you saying that. Part of just, you know, how you can walk around, especially when beautiful things happen to you and you totally. I couldn't agree with you more that it's not that you don't want to have beautiful things happen to you. You just want it to happen to a lot more people.
- [57:59]
Luke Combs
Sure.
- [57:59]
James Smith
And. And you want beautiful things to happen to everyone around you. You won't be a four things to happen to strangers that you've never met, because that's. That's the joy of it. It's only beautiful if.
- [58:10]
Luke Combs
Right?
- [58:10]
James Smith
More and more people get 100%.
- [58:13]
Luke Combs
Yeah, you know, it is, man. It's a. It's a crazy world out there, man. It's hard. It's hard, man. It's really, really hard, you know, and you, you know, when you're in, you know, position guys like us are in, man, like, we're so lucky, you know, and you just have to, like. I do everything in my power to give that feeling back to other people, whether it's people that work with me or giving money to charity or whatever it may be, or volunteering me, going to sing at something, like, any way I can give back. I always try to do that at any chance that I have, because that's just something that my mother instilled at me at a young age. I grew up working at the food bank in Asheville. She would take me over there and we would work at the food bank. And she's explaining. Explaining what this is and what this place is. And, you know, that at the time made me like, wow, man. Like, you know, this makes me really thankful for, you know, everything we got. And, you know, I can't imagine going home and opening up the cabinet. There's nothing in there. You know, there's no. It's not even a can of corn in there. You know, I couldn't imagine that feeling. And so she. She forced me to do that when I was younger. And I'm thankful for that because, you know, she's still doing things like that. You know, she still goes out and works at the, you know, at the animal shelter, at the food bank in. In Nash. And, you know, I. I got to go from that to, you know, after Helene, you know, that ravaged the part of the country that I grew up in. And when we put on the benefit concert in Charlotte, my portion of the proceeds, part of my portions of the proceeds rebuilt the entire food bank that I worked at growing up. It was completely destroyed, like, completely gone. And I got to walk my success and influence have the ability to do something that great and rebuild their entire facility. And that is like something that's. You can't even put words on. And like, the amount of pride I have in that is immense. You know, like, my most proud moment of my career from here on out and forever will be, you know, the show that we did that night and getting to see these charities send me videos and emails, and here's what we did, and here's how this worked and here's how this happened. And it's just cool to get to be a part of that, you know, and it's not. I don't come at it from. It's not like an egotistical pursuit. It's just like, you get to like, watch the money that you raised. You get to watch, you know, people be directly impacted by these things that we got to do. And I owe all that to my team, you know, and I owe all that to everyone else. Like, I always say, like, I'm the guy that works the least amount. Like, I am. I have the easiest job in the whole thing. Like, I think obviously I do a lot of things. I'm in a lot of places, I go to a lot of different things, and I'm constantly working. But when you love it, it doesn't feel that way. And I'm just grateful for everyone else on my team that allows me, you know, their, you know, they get to be a billboard for me when they there out, you know, meeting. Even if I'm in there, you know, getting touched up before this thing and they're talking to you and you're like, man, well, these people are nice. So I really do believe it's top down. You know, I try to be great and give my team the ability to be great because we work in a good environment, we respect each other, and that transfers, man. And people can feel that. I think people can feel that energy when, when you're around. And that's my biggest point of pride is when we're at a shot show, whether it's the stadium or we're going and doing a club gig for, you know, we did. We played a club gig last year, first time in five years. And it was wild. It's like, like 850 people in the Georgia Theater in Athens and like, a venue we used to play and like, it felt like the biggest venue in the world. And you go back and when I'm walking through the halls backstage or whatever, like, even the people working the doors or like, they'll say to, to me, your, your team is the best team we've ever worked with. Like, everyone was so kind and so gracious and they communicated so well and they're all professional and they were all in great spirits. And like, to me, that is like, that's the legacy I want to leave behind is like, sure, I had a lot of success. Sure, I had a bunch of hit records and sold a lot of tickets and sold a lot of T shirts or whatever, but all that be damned. Like, you know, my headstone, you know, here lies good man, good dad, good husband, good friend, good son, good boss. Like, that's the things that I want to be remembered for. And so I live every day trying to make those happen to the best of my ability.
- [63:12]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [66:23]
James Smith
I saw a video of you starting a concert or at one point in a concert, basically saying, guys, I'm not feeling well today. I'm still going to do the show, but we're going to give you a refund. And I'm like, dude, you did the show. Like, like you showed up. Yeah, you did the show, but you didn't. You were like, I'm not going to be my best or something like that. Yeah, I was like, wow, that's amazing.
- [66:46]
Luke Combs
I remember it was in Maine is where it was.
- [66:50]
James Smith
That's it.
- [66:50]
Luke Combs
Ye. We did two nights in Bangor, Maine and the first night, that's the Place show was great. Run of the Mill show, which, and by run of the mill, I mean we had a great time. It's great, it's fun. We got buddies in town. But the particular that venue is wonderful, by the way. And we were backstage and they have great, like they have a fire pit going and they're bringing you out food and like all the employees are so nice and it's Just a great atmosphere to hang out out in. And so we had some friends in town and, you know, up having some cocktails, but we were all outside. I'm talking two or three times as loud as I normally was because we're playing music, we're having some drinks, we're staying up late. And the next day I wake up and I'm like, man, my voice is like just a little, like, it's just a little rough, you know, like, not my worst morning I've had, like, by a long shot. And I know I. I've done that enough times to know how it goes and know how it's perfect progressing. And so as the day went on, I'm like, I'm like, well, man, this isn't like progressing the way it normally does. Like, it doesn't feel like it's getting much better. So I don't know, I guess maybe around 2 or 3 o' clock I call my manager and I'm like, hey, this ain't going so hot. I'm starting to get a little bit worried because we have the show tonight. And I said, could you. I. And I've done this maybe twice. Ever. Once was in Australia. This was the second time I said, I was like, I need to get a steroid shot to do the show tonight. And I hate doing that. If you're any kind of singer, you should not get those because they're horrible for your voice in the long run. Don't. It's not something you should be doing a lot. It should be an absolute emergency parachute situation. Which it was for me because I'm like, well, everyone's here. I get the steroid shot and I'm like, okay, I'm going to be good. I'm going to get through this. A couple hours goes by, I go to do my warmups, I do my warmups. Let's say we're on at 9, I'll do my warmups at 8. It's 20 minutes, 25 minutes, and then I'll join the band and we all hang out, have some drinks, get together, whatever. And I get five minutes into my warmup and obviously, I mean, everyone's already played, dude. Like, the first of threes played. Direct support's already done. Like, people are just waiting for me to come out at the this point. I get five minutes into my warmup and I call my manager. I'm like, dude, I'm not gonna be able to sing tonight. And he was like, what do you mean? I was like, I don't know, man. Steroid shot. Like, it. It didn't work. Like, it worked. The first time I got it, I was like, it didn't work. It didn't do enough. Like, I physically am not going to be able to do it enough. And so we were having conversations, well, what's the options? You know, he's like. He's like, well, we'll just cancel it. We're just. That's what we do. And I was like, no, dude, that's what everyone else does. Like, we're not doing that. Like, I. I'm not. These people are here, dude. Like, this is. Those concerts, man. Like, concerts are expensive. And I'm aware of that. Like, I have so much respect for how hard people work and things they sacrifice to come and see me play. Because I used to be one of those people, you know, I would work all summer to save up to go see one concert. And it was a big event, man. It wasn't just, oh, this is the thing I'm doing tomorrow. It was like, I'm building my whole summer around this one night, you know? And I know there's hundreds of people, thousands of people, of people, you know, a thousand yards away from me that have done the same thing. And I can't live with the idea that they are going to be let down. And they're sure as hell I'm not going to be let down by somebody else that isn't me. So I told Cappy, I said, listen, dude, I said, I'm going out there and I'm telling him, like. And he's like, what do you. What do you mean? And I'm like, I'm going out there and I'm telling him on the microphone, then I can't do the show. And I said, me and the band will play for an hour.
- [70:39]
James Smith
Hour.
- [70:39]
Luke Combs
I said, we'll play all the hits. I'll sing the best I can. But, like, we're just gonna refund everybody's money. And he's like, I'm in, dude. Like, whatever. Whatever you want to do, let's do it, you know? And he's. Who cares about the money? Like, doesn't matter. We'll get. We'll all refund it. So go out. And usually we have, like, you know, there's the big intro song and, like, the video and all this stuff. I'm like, we gotta kill this, dude. Like, we're not doing the hype up video. And then I'm walking out telling them, not playing.
- [71:05]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [71:05]
Luke Combs
So I walk out. I remember being, like, so somber and, like, My heart rate is just through the roof. I'm, like, so nervous because I've never done anything like this before. And I remember saying it, like, hey, guys, I'm not gonna be able to do the show tonight. And it's, like, just raining down booze, man. Like, it's just. People are brutalizing me.
- [71:25]
James Smith
Oh, wow.
- [71:26]
Luke Combs
And, like, as I feel like they have the right to do, like, I would be pissed too, right? Like, Mr. Big Time comes out here and tells me not going to do the thing or whatever. And I go, but wait. I was like, before you guys get upset, like, I'm still. We're still going to play the show. It's just not going to be as good as I feel like it needs to be for me to take money from you and use it for the betterment of my life or my team. Like, you deserve. You know, you spent all this money to be here, and you've got hotel rooms and babysitters and, like, I can't make that right. So I still want to give you the shit show. I'm just not going to take the money from the tickets, like, and. And I just. Just. So this just free show, but it's just not going to be as good of a show as I feel like you deserve for all the sacrifices that you've made to be here. And we played for probably an hour, hour 15, and we played all the hits, and I sang the best I could and the crowd sang, and it was a really cool night. It was really stressful, and, man, I got to give it up to my fans. Like, a lot of fans reached out to me and they were like, hey, man, I donated my reaction refund because, like, we loved the show and we thought it was still great and we appreciate you being a standup guy, and we just wanted to. We just felt like it was wrong to take the refund. Now, not everybody did that, and I can understand that. I wouldn't be mad if nobody donated their refund, you know? But then we came back. I think it was two years later. We came back. Like, scheduling was crazy, but we came back and did a night there. We were, like, doing stadiums, and then we came back and did the little amphitheater and banger, and it was cool, man.
- [73:01]
James Smith
That's awesome.
- [73:02]
Luke Combs
Great story. You know, greats turned into a great story.
- [73:05]
James Smith
But I was stress.
- [73:06]
Luke Combs
I was very stressed about that.
- [73:07]
James Smith
I can imagine. I can imagine. But that's awesome. I. I love. I'm so glad you told me that story because I just saw the clip, like, on social media that I'd seen and I, I thought, wow, that's incredible. But now to hear the backstory.
- [73:18]
Luke Combs
Yeah.
- [73:19]
James Smith
Behind it. I mean, you know, earlier you were talking about your wife. You've been together for 10 years now. Thereabouts. Yeah, it's mine and my wife's 10 year wedding anniversary this year together 13 years.
- [73:29]
Luke Combs
That's awesome.
- [73:29]
James Smith
And so it's fun when you've lived that life with someone.
- [73:32]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
How.
- [73:32]
James Smith
How did you guys meet?
- [73:34]
Luke Combs
We met. She was. She actually was living in Nashville. I was living in Nashville. We had met in passing a few times. Not. Not many, not more than five minutes here and there, like. But we kind of had some of the same friend group. Like, you know, think of like the Venn diagram. There's like a couple people in the middle. You know, we all know a bunch of different folks and stuff. So met like that and she worked at B bmi, which is a huge I' what that is for those of you that don't. A performance rights organization that, you know, just collects and distributes royalties to songwriters and that's how they get paid for the most part. There's a few organizations that do it. BMI is the biggest one. And she was working there at the time. She did kind of like specialized like HR work there. BMI also puts on a songwriting festival in Key West. The Nashville branch puts on one in Key west and it's called the BMW BMI Key West Songwriters Festival. It's every year so much fun. So their whole office like shuts down like the. I mean, it's like, I can't tell me how many people work. They're probably in the hundreds. And they all just kind of go to the keys and help out with events or just hang out or whatever, you know, it's not like a stressful work week. And you know, maybe it is for one or two people, but the rest of them are kind of chilling and having a good time. And so they invite around 200 songwriters down there, all like kind of in the country space. And it's cool because bmi, you know, they foot the bill for your flight, they put you up in a hotel. Like it's an all expense kind of paid, like trip to Key west. And you play a couple songwriters rounds and fans come and it's, it's really fun. It's really killer. Like, if you love country music, if you love songwriting, you have to go. It's really, really great. So it's my first year going to that. I was probably the last guy picked to go. I have no publishing deal, no record deal. And my buddy Chann Wilson, who is fantastic, he was going down there. I remember me and him were having lunch and he was like, he's like, man, why don't you come down to Key west, dude? And I was like, well, it's like, I didn't get invited, you know? So he called up his rep at bmi. I was like, hey, I'm eating lunch with this Luke Holmes guy. And they. I had had a meeting over there with them. I was there and they were like, yeah, man, like, he can just room with you or whatever. So I was like, hell yes. I was pumped up, get down there, there, run into her at an event, and kind of hung out, like, for the evening with friends and stuff. Like, spent a couple hours together, hanging with friends and stuff. And then once I came home, we made plans to get together, like a couple weeks. Like, a couple weeks after I got home. We ended up staying in touch via text or whatever and made some plans to. Made some plans to get together. And you've been dating ever since, man. Like, it was just go crazy, you know what I mean? Mean, like, she didn't have any reason to think I was cool at all, man. Like, I was wearing a T shirt and gym shorts when I ran into her. And, like, she was, like, working two jobs, like, making a killing, and I got, like, nothing going on at all. She just thought I was cool for whatever reason. So I thought that was pretty awesome. So it worked out, man, and it was great because she's been there with me, you know, since the beginning and, you know, seen me through a lot lot, and, you know, we made it through the whole rise together and all the craziness together. And she's the best, dude. I mean, you know, I mean, she really is. Like, I just can't imagine, like, I wouldn't be here without her. You know, I'd have. There's 10 hit songs that I wouldn't have written, you know, because I wrote them about her, you know, so I'm very, very thankful for her, man. And she's a great mom, and she's a great wife and a great friend, and she's just a great person. So I'm very blessed to have that, like, connection with her, man. Like, that's been huge, huge positive light in my life. Like, having her is, you know, she's one of the biggest reasons for my success, certainly.
- [77:34]
James Smith
How did you know she was the one?
- [77:36]
Luke Combs
It's funny as you say this. Like, everyone's like, oh, it's like, oh, you know, like immediately like it's for love at first sight kind of thing. And you know, I, I think that sometimes maybe does a disservice to, to the seriousness of like a relationship of like the level that, that me and my wife have. We have grown together, you know, we have become adults together, we become parents together, we've lived together. Like, that's not something that happens overnight. Like, sure, there are those feelings, like, those inherent feelings of like lust or attraction. Like, I think sometimes that people can confuse that for like this love at first sight thing. And they're like, this is the person that I have to be with because I'm so attracted to them. And like, sure, the physical connection is really necessary, but the emotional connection, I think we forget sometimes in today's day and age that that is like. It's like a plant, dude. It's not something that, that grows up overnight, dude. Like, it's something that takes nurturing. It takes, you know, you gotta water it, you gotta trim it, you gotta. Like, you'd have to be doing maintenance to this thing. Thing. And when you do that together, you grow better together, you know. And there is no. Like, this is when I knew, like, I knew that I was very attracted to her and I knew that she was a great person and I knew that I wanted to spend more and more and more time with her every time I spent time with her. And so I would say that, like, it just. There was never any moment where I was like, maybe this isn't the person I should be with. You know what I mean? She never, she never gave me that. There was never this thought of like, well, maybe this isn't. You know, it was like there was never any questioning it. So maybe I do. Did always know, but maybe I just wasn't smart enough to, to see that at the time. But I think the connection that we've grown over the years is, is the beautiful part of it, you know, and it's like, it only gets better with time. It's like wine or something. You know what I mean? Like, it's probably pretty good right out of the. But then when it's, you know, 10 years old, it's a whole different story. And then 20 years old and 30 and 40 and so on and so forth. It's. It's a really cool thing, man. And it's, it's a blessing to get to. To get to experience life with somebody in that way and have somebody to share your triumphs with and your. The peaks and the valleys and all of these difficult things, like my OCD stuff. She's very supportive of all that. And it's like, she's always supporting me. She's never bringing me down. You know what I mean? Like, she didn't take no for me, and that's important as well. But it's like. But that's cool to me, man. Like, it's. You know, I don't want somebody that's willing to just do whatever I say all the time. That's not. I want to get it twisted that that's the way it is, because it ain't that. Like, she's the boss, bro. Like, she is the boss, and, like, that's cool to me, man. Like, I like that. Like, I like her being, like, getting her advice on, like, songs or getting her advice on Mer. She has such an eye for that, so much more so than I do. And, like, we've done all these cool, like, merch collections where it's like, the Luke and Nicole thing, it's, like, her deal, and she does the photo shoots, and, like, she's doing all the merch and, like, letting her. Like, I can. I just trust her implicitly with that, like, with. Not just with me as a man and as a husband, but, like, even with my brand and, like, my business. And, like, she's not someone that, like, I'm ever worried about, about, like, embarrassing me or, like, you know what I mean? And. And not that she ever even could, but, like, it just, like, having this high level of, like, trust and respect for her, I like to think that she has that for me, too. But it's nice on my end to. To have that and feel that. It's a very comforting thing to know. It's like, you know, when you go home, there's this person that's, like, regardless of everything else, is, like, on your team no matter what, you know? And that's. That's. That's cool.
- [81:43]
James Smith
What did she see in you before you saw it in yourself, brother?
- [81:46]
Luke Combs
I got no idea. I got no idea. I. If I knew, I'd be selling it about that. If I knew what it was, man, I would be borrowing it up and putting it on the Internet. You could Amazon it right now if I knew what it was, because there's some magic.
- [82:02]
James Smith
That's the new thing.
- [82:03]
Luke Combs
Yeah, dude.
- [82:04]
James Smith
Nicole's potion. Yeah.
- [82:06]
Luke Combs
Luke's. Whatever it was. Dude, I tell you what, it wasn't. It wasn't my model, like, figure by any chance, by any stretch of the amount. Imagination. I don't know, you know, I. I haven't really considered that. That. I've thought about it a bunch of times. Like, I'm. Oh, gosh. I don't know. Like, I remember. I remember my dad saying to me one time, like, I think I had this crush on, like, a girl in high school or something. I was kind of, like, asking my dad for, like, advice on it, and I was like, man, like, I just, like. I'm like, this is kind of cool or whatever. I'm like, why is this going on? He's like, I'll never forget this here was like, hey, some. Sometimes, son, you just don't ask questions. And it was like. I was like, okay. And so when it was, like, when it comes to that stuff, I'm like, maybe I don't want to know. You know what I mean? I'm just like, whatever, you know? And so I just think sometimes when things are good, you don't really have to know why.
- [83:00]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [83:01]
Luke Combs
You know, I think you can. You know, then you can. Maybe you can ruin something like that. I don't. I'm not sure, but I. I don't know.
- [83:09]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
I mean, I.
- [83:09]
Luke Combs
And I think that, you know, I like to think maybe that she could tell that I'm a good person. I think. And, you know, I think that, you know, now she knows that, you know, I've got her back, she's got mine. You know, she. You know, her and the kids are number one, and, like, I'm doing stuff for them and. But obviously, that wasn't happening when we met. Like, it wasn't like we had kids together, you know, But I think, you know, I think she could just tell, like, well, maybe this guy is, like. He's different than other guys that I've met. I'm not sure. You know, maybe she dated a bunch of losers. I. I don't know. You know what I mean? I mean, I'm not sure, you know, but. No, she.
- [83:46]
James Smith
She.
- [83:47]
Luke Combs
She's rad, dude. But I don't know.
- [83:49]
James Smith
Does she ever roast you?
- [83:50]
Luke Combs
Oh, bro, all the time.
- [83:52]
James Smith
Yeah, my wife roast me all the time.
- [83:54]
Luke Combs
All the time. She rips me apart, and it's like. It's awesome.
- [83:57]
James Smith
What would you say if she was here and she was roasting you? What would she say?
- [84:00]
Luke Combs
I'm trying to think.
- [84:01]
James Smith
What would she tell?
- [84:01]
Luke Combs
She's like. She picks on. She's like. She's. She's like, you're nerdy. She's like, you're. You're like, definitely a nerd. She definitely thinks I'M nerdy. I like to play video games. And she's like, oh, like, you know, she, like, lets me do it. She's like, do whatever you want. But she's like, I'm not.
- [84:17]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
You're a Ned.
- [84:17]
Luke Combs
I'm not gonna not call you a nerd while you're playing video games.
- [84:20]
James Smith
You know what I mean?
- [84:21]
Luke Combs
Like, it's just that kind of stuff, man. She just doesn't let me get away with anything, you know, in. In a good way, in a playful way, you know? For real, though, don't let me get away with nothing either. But, like, she can also be super playful. And, yeah, she knows herself, man. She's so confident in herself, and she's so confident in. In, like, in us and our family. And, like, I think that's really cool. It's really attractive, man, to like, have someone that is so confident in themselves. And I've learned a ton from her, man. I've learned a ton about, you know, being just, you know, proud of who I am and, you know, having, you know, these kind of strong convictions and not being afraid to speak your mind and not being afraid to say the things that you. You know, the things that you believe in and share your opinions. I mean, you know, I. I was. I was not as apt to do that until I met her. And she helped me, you know, Also, the thing. One of the. This is a. This is a sleeper pick for favorite thing about her is, like, I wasn't a picky eater. As you can probably tell, I was not a picky eater growing up, but I was a little bit. Like, if I didn't like something, I was, like, completely out on it. Like, I'm like, don't like it. Mushrooms hate it. Mustard, hate it. Like, all. There was a lot of things that I didn't like. Like, and she really was like, you know, you ought to, like, try stuff. You know what I mean? Like, you're just kind of like. She's like, mushrooms are good and mustard is good. And I'm like, no, it's terrible. I've hated it since I was a kid. And, you know, it's just little. I don't know. That's such a funny thing to like. But, like, mushrooms are, like, probably one of my top five favorite foods ever now. And, like, I would have probably never tried them if it wasn't for her. And I love mustard now. All these things, like. And it's just. That's a small example of a bigger picture of, like, she's just helped me become more Confident in myself. Challenging you and challenging me and pushing me to do things that are hard and pushing me to do and encouraging me to do things that are difficult that normally I would have, you know, faltered at before. And she's just like, you know, she's. She's like. She's my homie, dude. You know, she's the best.
- [86:35]
James Smith
I love that. I look forward to meeting her.
- [86:37]
Luke Combs
Yeah.
- [86:37]
James Smith
She sounds awesome.
- [86:38]
Luke Combs
She is.
- [86:38]
James Smith
She sounds awesome.
- [86:39]
Luke Combs
Yeah. You.
- [86:40]
James Smith
You sing in your song the way I am. I'm sorry, baby I really tried to change. It's like there's something broken in my brain. The more I try to fix it, the less I understand. But you still love me just the way I am and I'm like, yeah.
- [86:52]
Luke Combs
It's like, yeah, that's on Rips, man. I. I didn't write that song, and that's why I love it so much, is like, that statement so perfectly fits, you know, a lot of the themes of my life. The OCD stuff, you know, and that was. A friend of mine wrote that with another. Another great songwriter in Nashville. And when I heard it, it was just. It was so sonically different than anything that's coming out of town right now. I mean, there's nothing like that song coming out right now. It's a very stereotypical country sound, but probably from 40 years ago. And that's kind of what drew me to it is like. It just felt like this kind of moment that was. Was unexpected not just from me, but from. From anyone, really. It's very slow. It's way too long. It's got a. Just straight up steel guitar solo. Like, old steel guitar. Not, like, cool steel guitar. Like, that's in, like, you know, some, like, poppy song. Like, it is, like, straight up, like, tears. Like, something George Jones would be singing, you know, and not that I'm that, but it's like, lyrically, I resonated with it so much already, and then sonically, it was just so different. It was like. I mean, it felt like an absolute, like, layup of a song to do. I just felt like I feel like it's going to be a big moment for people, and I think that that's why ultimately I chose that song as the title for this record. Is it. It just like, you know, it's just. It really does just that that's. I'm so okay with the way that I am now, Honestly. At risk of sounding ironic, you know, it's like, I. I, at 35, I obviously don't have life all the way figured Out. But I'm as comfortable, if not more comfortable in my skin than I've ever been. I feel like my mental health is way higher than it's ever been. My mindset, my outlook is all so great, and I just, you know, I have so many people to thank for that. You know, my wife, obviously, my kids have helped a ton of. And just great friends, great teammates, great band members, great, you know, collaborators, and great, you know, everybody just does so much for me, you know, and. And that's kind of, you know, that's made me into the way that I am, you know, and that said, just that title in and of itself, really, I felt like, encapsulated, you know, the message I was trying to say with this album is, you know, this is. This is where I am now, whether that's musically or as a person. And I'm just excited. I'm excited people to hear this record. I haven't done, like, a commercial project in, like, almost four years now, and it's time, and I. I just, you know, I hope it's as received as I. I want it to be, and if it's not, it's okay, you know, but you just have to put, you know, what you feel like is your best foot forward, and you just have to be willing to live with with the results of that, no matter what.
- [89:52]
James Smith
Absolutely.
- [89:53]
Luke Combs
And I'm more okay with that now than I've ever been.
- [89:55]
James Smith
Yeah. And that going away for four years was important. Born.
- [89:58]
Luke Combs
It was. Yeah. And it was like, you know, it's not like I retired, but it was like we really backed the touring stuff down. Like, last year, I didn't have my own tour for the first time in ever since I started. And that was weird. It was really fun because all we did was these big festivals, you know, and so the festivals are fun. They're a different challenge than. Especially the stuff we did this year. You know, we did Bonnaroo, La Palooza, Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits, like, crowds that we would normally step in front of. And so I was. I really looked forward to that challenge, you know, getting with my band leader and making set lists that were different for every one of these shows and going well. How do we. How do we meet this crowd in the middle? You know what I mean? Like, as much as I there was to half the set, I wanted to come out and kick the door down and play honky tonk, like, country stuff. Like, I wanted to do that, and we did that. But I also wanted to. To say I'm also Willing to meet you where you're at a little bit and like, help you understand not just me, but that our genre in general is. Is not just this stereotype of. It's. It's not some caricature of, like, this thing. It's like, it's like, it's something that you can love too. And maybe you don't know that, and maybe tonight is not the night that you fully understand that, but hopefully, hopefully tonight makes you even be at the inception of maybe I could love country music. And maybe in 20 years, we're finally where I think we need to be. Not. Not exclusively because of me, but that moment helps a couple people have that epiphany or experience. And the betterment of the genre is something that is really important to me. And letting people know, it's like, hey, man, like, we're here. Like, we're like, we're more popular than we've ever been now, and it ain't stopping anytime soon.
- [91:59]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [91:59]
Luke Combs
And I want to do my part to be a part of that future and help out the genre, like, in. Regardless of what that means for me personally or my success, you know, I mean, a lot of those shows, I. I lost money doing those shows. I took a lot less money than I used to usually would to get the slot because I wanted to be able to go and do that. Yeah, I hope some people felt that on those nights, but they were a lot of fun. We. We sure enjoyed them. And the crowds were just amazingly, like, welcoming and warm, which was really cool, man, because I was nervous, you know, like, not nervous, like, I don't want to go out there, but just, like, gosh, man. Like, man, like, you could really fall on your face out here and be tough night if, like, it doesn't go well, you know, like, if you're not well received, headline in Austin City Limits, like, that'd be tough. Or like, you come out in Bonaru and you're headlining and it's like, people aren't into it. Be pretty crushing. Not. It could be like a pretty crushing night if it doesn't go well, you know? So I, I. But at least everyone made me feel like they went well. And maybe they didn't, but I felt like my perception was that they went really well and I felt I enjoyed it.
- [93:11]
James Smith
Yeah. Yeah, dude. I can relate because I get asked to teach meditation in all these places, like, random places that you wouldn't expect this. I did. I did a meditation on main stage at Bonnaroo a few years back.
- [93:20]
Luke Combs
Yeah.
- [93:21]
James Smith
And everyone was Just like, wanting the main act to come out. And it's like you're having to get everyone into a zone before they experience the thing they want to experience. And it's like the pressure of that. And thankfully, it went okay. It wasn't, you know, everyone. And everyone was surprisingly quiet. It was impressive.
- [93:38]
Luke Combs
Wow.
- [93:39]
James Smith
But it was, you know, it. I. My world's very different to yours, but it's that same pressure of just like, how do you get people at this music festival, Right.
- [93:48]
Luke Combs
To be quiet, to have this moment opposite, but, like, the antithesis of why they're there.
- [93:54]
James Smith
Totally. But when people do it, what's fascinating when it's worked is the music that comes after it. Everyone's senses are, like, ready for it because they've gone.
- [94:03]
Luke Combs
So it gives them a moment to, like, like, reset.
- [94:06]
James Smith
Totally.
- [94:07]
Luke Combs
It's like sniffing the coffee beans at Yankee Candle before you smell the other candle. You know, you're like, I've smelled all these great candles, and now I don't even know what this candle smells like. So you have the. You're the coffee beans.
- [94:18]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [94:18]
Luke Combs
I'm the coffee that no one knows they need. And then they smell them and they're like, I'm glad I smelled those coffee.
- [94:23]
James Smith
That's how I'm gonna explain it. Next to. That's. That's what I'm gonna.
- [94:25]
Luke Combs
There's. Here comes your coffee endorsement, right?
- [94:28]
James Smith
Yeah. I'm the coffee. I love that.
- [94:29]
Luke Combs
It's calming.
- [94:30]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [97:52]
James Smith
Because everyone said how much fun you were, we were like, we'll put together a fun game for you. We do this for special guests. So this one was done for you. This game is called the Everyday Guy Test. So we're gonna see whether you fail or pass the test. Obviously, it's all for fun. I'm just putting it out there right now that I would fail this test. So I may. Yeah. So here we go. The Everyday Guy Test. At a restaurant, do you order tap or filter water?
- [98:20]
Luke Combs
Let me tell you what, I didn't grow up going to restaurants where they even asked what kind of there was no water choice like that. To me, that's a whole new world for me. But they, they're like, they'll come up and they're like, was it do is tap okay? Or like, or bottled or still? Or. I'm like, how many choices are there waters do you have? You know, it's like, would you like it boxed or bot decanted? And like, like, just water would be great. I usually my answer to that question is whatever is easiest for you. Yeah, whatever's the easiest. Because to me, it's just all water.
- [98:56]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [98:57]
Luke Combs
Like, I'm not a guy that's of the belief that like 9.5 ph water is going to make a difference, to be quite honest. And it probably does. And that may be my downfall at some point, but I'm like, hey, whatever makes your night less of a hassle for me.
- [99:14]
James Smith
I love that.
- [99:14]
Luke Combs
Just. Just give me that. I'm fine with the first thing you can grab. Get it and I'll drink it.
- [99:19]
James Smith
I love it. Regular milk or almond milk?
- [99:23]
Luke Combs
Regular milk. I do like, I do like an almond milk. I have no beef with an almond milk, but I do, I do. I would say probably if I had to choose regular milk. And you're not going to beat the creaminess of it.
- [99:35]
James Smith
All right, this one, I was cracking up when the team put in there. Do you tip based on math or. Or vibes?
- [99:42]
Luke Combs
Oh, vibes for sure, dude. Vibes for sure. I'm an over tipper. I'm like an over tipper.
- [99:47]
James Smith
I'm one of those.
- [99:48]
Luke Combs
I'm like, I'm like, yeah, like, we go to a nice meal, 100 bucks, like, great. Like, you know, depending upon the place, of course. But it's like I, I always try to over tip, man. I'm. I'm just grateful for anybody, you know, that works in the service industry. I, I, you know, I know how difficult it is, you know, dealing with the public. And not everybody's so great. Not that I'm so great, but I think try to just be, you know, it's just another version of like, passing along the blessings that you have to someone else and being grateful.
- [100:18]
James Smith
You're winning right now, man. This is amazing. You're be. You're beating this game. Like, this game is. This game is losing. Guys, let's. Let's do a few more. Last time you went to the grocery store last week.
- [100:31]
Luke Combs
Okay, I go every week, at least twice a week.
- [100:33]
James Smith
Choice of grocery store. Is there specific.
- [100:35]
Luke Combs
Okay, you're going to like this one. I like Publix. Closest one to me in the same shopping center. I got a sprouts.
- [100:42]
James Smith
Nice.
- [100:42]
Luke Combs
So if I'm going, like, if I'm going strictly food I'm probably going to Sprouts, Paper goods, Diet Coke.
- [100:51]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [100:52]
Luke Combs
Going to Publix, you know what I mean? I love a Publix. I love a Pub sub, but I love a Sprouts, man. It's like a. I love Sprouts. It's like a less stressful Whole Foods, you know what I mean? Like, you go in and you're not like feeling like you're in the way, you know? And I went to this Erewhon place.
- [101:08]
James Smith
Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah.
- [101:09]
Luke Combs
You want to spend 60 doll something going to that place, dude? I mean, it's nice in there. It is. Like, if you had a different variant of ocd, you would love that place because everything is like, there's not a speck of dust in that place. You know what I mean? But if there was, you would have to pay for it, probably, because it is not cheap, I'll tell you that much. But great, great.
- [101:30]
James Smith
So good. So good. Do you pack your own clothes or does someone pack for you, bro?
- [101:34]
Luke Combs
I pack my own stuff, dude. I pack them for me, dude. I'm a grown ass man, dude. I'm packing my bag.
- [101:42]
James Smith
Oh, good. All right, last one, last one. This one's the last time you Venmo requested someone.
- [101:48]
Luke Combs
Oh, gosh, let me look. It's probably been a while. Venmo request. Yeah, it's probably been quite some time, I would say. Let me see. I can pop it up here. I. I just. I'm. I know. I'm genuinely curious.
- [101:59]
James Smith
Yeah, Yeah.
- [102:00]
Luke Combs
I don't know that I've requested Venmo. I've paid people on, but actually request requesting. I don't even know that I would even have one, to be quite honest. I've only used. I've got VIN mode. My buddy sent me a Venmo for some deer stands.
- [102:17]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Okay.
- [102:18]
Luke Combs
Redneck as that is, that's my last Venmo thing. But I can't even find a time that I Venmoed someone else for something nice. Because I feel like a lot of the times, like, I'm not a guy. Like, listen, dude, if you're going out to eat with me, like, I'm paying. Like I'm paying. Like I'm not a guy that's like, whoa, cool. It's, you know, just send Me Venmo Me $20 for the check or whatever. Like, so, yeah, not. Not any Venmo request for me.
- [102:45]
James Smith
You passed the test. The everyday guy test.
- [102:47]
Luke Combs
I survived.
- [102:48]
James Smith
Yeah, you're the survived. Yeah, you.
- [102:50]
Luke Combs
You.
- [102:50]
James Smith
You killed that. Your answers are amazing. I Was like, we need to, we need to test a few more people.
- [102:55]
Luke Combs
You should have been like, what kind of ranch would you need? A spanning rancher. I mean, like, I thought it was going to be like, what kind of diameter, you know? I'm like, oh boy.
- [103:04]
James Smith
I wouldn't know the answer.
- [103:05]
Luke Combs
Yeah, I was just. Trust me, I wouldn't either. I wish I was handier than I am. My dad is very handy, but I, I'm. I did not get that gene, man.
- [103:13]
James Smith
My dad was not handy. So I'm not handy. You, you missed out there.
- [103:17]
Luke Combs
I can, I can do it a little bit, but not to the level. I would like to. I would love to be able to like take an engine apart and just be like, yeah, we'll just build.
- [103:25]
James Smith
Wouldn't that be amazing?
- [103:26]
Luke Combs
Dude, people that do that are geniuses, man. I don't care what anybody says, dude. That stuff is so hard, man. My mind is not like, like math is not great for me. It just takes me a lot of time to do. I, I know how to do it. The basic stuff, obviously, but like, dude, anything past division and multiplication, I'm like, you're speaking Chinese. I have no idea. You know, I got, we got people for that.
- [103:52]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [103:53]
Luke Combs
And I'm glad. That's the way the world is.
- [103:55]
James Smith
Yes.
- [103:56]
Luke Combs
You get somebody that's good at that. I do the thing I'm good at. You do the thing you're good at.
- [104:00]
James Smith
Totally.
- [104:00]
Luke Combs
Community. Bing bang right there.
- [104:02]
James Smith
And everyone wins.
- [104:03]
Luke Combs
Yeah, and everybody wins. Everybody's happy.
- [104:05]
James Smith
All right, finish, finish the sentence on these ones as first thing that comes to your mind. The thing I take way too seriously is video games. Which games?
- [104:16]
Luke Combs
Battlefield 6 recently has been kind of my. That's kind of been my thing recently. Like NCAA football. I'm a big football guy. Take that way too seriously. Yeah, definitely video games.
- [104:30]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Are you playing online or are you playing.
- [104:31]
Luke Combs
I play online. No, I'm not playing NCAA online. It's too sweaty. Like everybody's too good. You know, there's people. Obviously I don't take it seriously enough because I'm God awful online, but I just really playing against my buddies. But like, man, you talk about like I'm been out of shape. Like I lose. I'm. It's like affecting my day to some extent and I lose a lot. So I'm not very good. So maybe I probably shouldn't take it too seriously. But I do, I love it.
- [104:57]
James Smith
The pettiest thing I've done recently.
- [105:00]
Luke Combs
Oh, it's all going to be practical joke. Like joke Related. Like, me and my buddies are just. We just shred each other all the time. I mean, it's hard to pick a particular one, but, like, the jokes. Like, the jokes can be, like, sometimes. Like, when we have. Like, me and my friends were so comfortable around each other, and, like, we all kind of have a similar sense of humor and we all, like, know how it operates. Sometimes I have to forget, like, when we're around people that don't know us at all or that have just met us and we're in, like, full friendship, like, joking mud code that I'm like, maybe these people don't. Maybe we should just a little bit dial it back. Because people are gonna think we're weird, dude.
- [105:44]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
Yeah, yeah.
- [105:45]
Luke Combs
Or they're gonna be like, these guys are complete to each other. So it's like, it's all love.
- [105:50]
James Smith
Yes. Yes.
- [105:51]
Luke Combs
If you didn't know us, you might be like, man, these guys are ruthless. You know what I mean?
- [105:55]
James Smith
Me and my boys. Yeah.
- [105:57]
Luke Combs
Like, sometimes I just gotta back it off. Like, forget that. Not everyone knows that. Has known us for 20 years. Yeah.
- [106:02]
James Smith
My wife has to be like, no personal jokes. Like. Like, yeah, you're not allowed to make. When your guy friends are. Don't make him around other people.
- [106:08]
Luke Combs
If there's. If it's just close friends. Let's avoid all the, like, all the jokes about each other. Yeah. That's my pettiness right there.
- [106:15]
James Smith
My guilty pleasure artist or song is.
- [106:19]
Luke Combs
Ooh. Right now. It's Olivia Dean. Is my.
- [106:24]
James Smith
I love Olivia Dean.
- [106:25]
Luke Combs
Gosh, her voice is so good, man. That's not, like, something people probably think I'm listening to, but the melodies are so good, man. It's. There's like, some. There's like, some Amy Winehouse stuff going on there, which I loved her, man. Unbelievable. There's some, like, early John Legend stuff going on. Like, female John Legend vibes. Like, when he was really rocking the piano, like, the albums were real piano centric. He had that. The album Another Again was like a soundtrack to, like, probably, like, my junior year of high school. And when I heard the Olivia Dean record for the first time, my wife put me on to that. I was like, this is like. Like, I felt like I was listening to Another Again, like, all over, like, for the first time. And I loved that vibe of that album. Like, I think her record, it also came out at such a great time. Like, and by time, I mean, like, winter, fall. Like, it's that kind of, like, it's like holiday adjacent. Like, feeling like the piano. Piano like, good. Like, it just feels good to listen.
- [107:32]
James Smith
Absolutely.
- [107:33]
Luke Combs
So I'm. I'm really. I'm really, really vibing on that hard lately.
- [107:37]
James Smith
I love that. Two more of these. Which fellow country star would you call to help you bury a dead body?
- [107:44]
Luke Combs
Oh, man. Fellow country. Probably Craig Morgan.
- [107:49]
James Smith
Okay.
- [107:50]
Luke Combs
Craig is, like, ex military. He's, like, one of the most wild dudes I know, and he'd be so happy to, like, help you. He's, like, the sweetest guy in the world, but, like, if you crossed him, I would be so afraid of, like, what potentially could happen. And, like, he's a guy. To call him like, hey, man, like, I need you to come over here. And he'd be like, well, heck, buddy, I'll be right over there, you know? And he'd get over and just. He'd be like, what do I. What do we do with that? And he's like, oh, man, I've done that tons of times, you know, like, he's just like. He's done everything. Like, he's like.
- [108:23]
James Smith
He knows how to do.
- [108:24]
Luke Combs
Do everything. Like, he's like the perfect, like, man's man guy. Like, he's the sweetest dude ever. And I thought you just wouldn't ask any questions. He'd be like, man, well, let's get it done, buddy. You know? He's awesome.
- [108:36]
James Smith
So good.
- [108:37]
Luke Combs
So good.
- [108:37]
James Smith
All right, first artist you'd want next to you on a long tour bus ride.
- [108:43]
Luke Combs
Okay. Probably, like, Jordan Davis. He has been on tour with me a couple times, and I feel like we're just really. We have, like, a similar vibe. Like, our crews are similar. Like, his relationship with, like, his team and his buddies, I feel like, is very similar to mine, and I. He's. I mean, he's a family guy, like, great dad. Another guy that I feel like is like, that is not a country artist. Ed Sheeran is like, that man. Like, he's. Me and him, like, kind of connected on that level of, like, we kind of have the same outlook on life a little bit, I feel like. And not that we're identical, obviously. We're very different as artists, but, like, like, you just pick up on that vibe of, like, well, this guy's like, I guess that this guy's like, like me. The Good Charlotte guys are like, that. Benji and Joel Madden, to me, are like, two of my favorite. I had dinner with them last night, and I have dinner with them every time I'm in la, and they're like. I mean, two of the best guys, like, I've ever Met, dude. Like, and I just. Like, I love finding those people. You have that kind of, like, just connection with that kind of goes beyond, like, words sometimes. Like, this, like, this guy gets me. I get this guy. We each other. Like, we're just. We just, like, the. We're just vibing, dude. Like, we're just. We're just bros. Like, from the second we met and Jordan was like that, Ed was like that, and Benji and Joel had been like that. Those would be, like, my picks for guys. Like, if I had to spend a long time with, then it would just be, like, easy, man. Like, there would be no, like, nothing weird, nothing difficult. Like, they're gonna just be easy to deal with. Like, those would be my guys.
- [110:21]
James Smith
That sounds like a great tour, Buster. Yeah.
- [110:23]
Luke Combs
Be fun.
- [110:25]
James Smith
Oh, Luke, you've been so much fun, man. Like, I felt like I've learned about you. You've been so profound. Hilarious.
- [110:31]
Luke Combs
Appreciate that.
- [110:32]
James Smith
Your good energy. Like, I've had such a good time getting to know you.
- [110:35]
Luke Combs
I appreciate that.
- [110:36]
James Smith
We. We end every interview with the final five. These have to be answered in one sentence maximum. We ask these to every guest. Salute, Combs. These are your final five. Question one. What is the best advice you've ever heard or received?
- [110:50]
Luke Combs
Wow. What a profound question. Don't ask questions. Back to my dad. Don't ask questions.
- [110:58]
James Smith
Second question. What is the worst advice you've ever heard or received?
- [111:02]
Luke Combs
Don't ask questions.
- [111:05]
James Smith
That's a good one. That's a good one. Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, that's good. Question number three. Describe what it felt like performing Fast
- [111:13]
Luke Combs
Car with Tracy Chapman, Mount Everest. Like, like, undeniable. Like, just. It's, like, almost, like, out of body.
- [111:23]
James Smith
Yeah. I love that. In the future, when your kids are asked about you, how would you hope the first sentence goes?
- [111:29]
Luke Combs
He was the best dad. Nice.
- [111:32]
James Smith
And fifth and final question. We asked this to every guest who's ever been on the show. If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
- [111:40]
Luke Combs
That is wild. I hadn't considered that. I'm sure you get some funny answers. I'm sure you get some serious answers. I would feel like it would. It would be like, don't. Don't pee on the seat. Like, the airport. Like, it already sucks enough, dude. Like, and then when I sit down and you're old. Piss on the toilet. Like, it is just. That's the end for me. Like, just, come on, dude. Like, don't pee on the seat, and I won't pee on the seat. And we all just. We're adults. It's not that hard to not piss on the seat at the airport. It's already gross to be in there, you know, and don't. Like. It's like, why are we audibly farting? And, like, in. Like, at the urinal, like, in the. Like, you don't have to. You know, it's. Listen, if my buddies fart in front of me, it's funny, dude. I think it's really funny. My kids fart. It's really funny when a stranger farts next to me, like, just pulls the Jake break at the urinal beside me. I'm like, this guy's an animal. And I respect him, but I'm also almost afraid of what he will do. Yeah. And if. If he's willing to do this, he's willing to do anything. Yeah.
- [112:58]
James Smith
That is. That has to be one of my favorite answers of all time. That is amazing. It is practical. It's important I fully stand behind it. I fully agree.
- [113:09]
Luke Combs
I didn't realize how bad it was.
- [113:11]
James Smith
Yeah.
- [113:11]
Luke Combs
Until went to other countries, and I was like, the bathrooms are so, so clean.
- [113:16]
James Smith
Totally.
- [113:16]
Luke Combs
Why. Why are all of our bathrooms disgusting? What does that say about us? And now I. I can't unsee it. I can't unsee how clean public bathrooms are in the rest of the world. And it's. I'm not okay with it. We got it. We gotta stop.
- [113:29]
James Smith
I love it. Luke Combs the way I am. Luke, I'm so excited for everything that you have coming.
- [113:34]
Luke Combs
Thanks, James.
- [113:35]
James Smith
Love getting to know you. You're awesome.
- [113:37]
Luke Combs
Likewise.
- [113:37]
James Smith
And wishing you all the best, all the success.
- [113:40]
Luke Combs
Thanks for having me.
- [113:41]
James Smith
Love that you're bringing so much abundance into the world and for others as well. So thank you.
- [113:45]
Luke Combs
Appreciate that. Yes, sir.
- [113:45]
James Smith
Thank you, man. Thank you.
- [113:46]
Luke Combs
All right.
- [113:47]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [113:54]
Luke Combs
Follow your own inner guide. It directs us. It might not make sense. It might not make sense to us. Might not make sense to anyone else. Certainly won't make sense to anyone else. And that's okay. It's fine.
- [114:07]
Podcast Host/Advertiser
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- [116:15]
Luke Combs
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.