Luke Combs on Growing Fast While Staying Grounded

Sun Feb 01 2026

Luke Combs has had one of the fastest rises in modern music, landing more than a dozen No. 1 country hits and going from bar gigs to sold-out stadiums in just a few years. Combs sits down live with Willie Geist at City Winery Nashville to talk about songwriting, becoming a father, and how he has handled sudden fame without losing himself. Plus, he reflects on covering “Fast Car,” choosing instinct over the chase for hits, and why enjoying the process matters at every stage of his career. (Venue Sponsored by City Winery.)

Transcript

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Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down Podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. I've got a truly special conversation for you this week with one of the biggest stars in all of music, Luke Combs. And I say truly special. Not just because it is extraordinary to get a star that big to sit and spend an hour with you, but it is the latest of our Sunday Sit down live events and this time we've taken our show on the road to Nashville. You remember over the last year or so, we've invited the viewers into the room at City Winery, New York, first for a conversation with Nate Bargetzi, later one with Ina Garten, and then with Jim Gaffigan. Great nights, people having a cocktail as they listen to us. We got audience questions involved, all of it. And so now we've taken it to Nashville. I will say out of the gate. I went to school in Nashville. I went to Vanderbilt University. It's a second home for me. So I was thrilled to be back there. Had dear friends in the crowd alongside so many Sunday Today viewers who, again, I was floored to hear, traveled from all over the country and made a date of this to sit and listen to me and Luke. So if you're not familiar with Luke Combs, he's just one of the biggest stars on the planet, sells out football stadiums all over the world. He's got a tour coming up in March on the back of a new album that comes out on March 20th called the Way I Am. He sells out the football stadiums in the United States before going abroad and selling out stadiums in Paris and Amsterdam and Sweden, and then, yes, three nights at Wembley. He's sold out three Nights at Wembley Stadium in the uk. They wanted to do a fourth, but the place was booked. That's how big he is. If you don't know Luke Combs grew up in North Carolina. You hear all about his upbringing, how he got where he is. Didn't start playing guitar till he was 21 years old and a student at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. It's been 14 years, in fact, to the day that he and I sat down. And you'll hear him refer to a picture that we show up that he had posted that day. 14 years to the day since his first gig. Now he's effectively on Nashville's mountaintop. He worked his way there. He's, as he says in the interview, there's no packaging, there's no marketing to it. He's just a dude who writes a good song, plays a good guitar and can really sing. And I think you'll get enjoy getting the chance to get to know him over the course of our conversation. So let's get you inside the room. We'll begin as I introduce the night to that crowd that was fired up and ready to go. And then we bring Luke out for a great conversation. So sit back, relax, and join me in Nashville for a Sunday sit down live with Luke Combs. What's up, Nashville? Man, this is amazing. Nashville is like a. I came here in the fall of 1993 from New Jersey to go to Vanderbilt University. Go Dorse. I learned about bourbon, I learned about college football, and I learned about country music. There's no college football tonight, but we've got the other two dialed up for you, so we're good.

Summary

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Episode: Luke Combs on Growing Fast While Staying Grounded
Date: February 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In a live edition from City Winery in Nashville, Willie Geist sits down with country superstar Luke Combs to discuss his meteoric rise, the power of authenticity, and how he’s managed to stay grounded as one of the world’s biggest musical acts. The discussion touches on Luke’s North Carolina roots, what drives his songwriting, fatherhood, touring stadiums worldwide, and the story behind his triumphant cover of "Fast Car." With a packed (and animated) crowd and audience Q&A, this episode offers an in-depth, candid look into Combs’ journey, process, values, and vision for the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Luke’s Beginnings and Rapid Rise

[07:44–12:46]

Luke recalls his first-ever gig at the Parthenon Café in Boone, NC:

“I see a guy that was borrowing his neighbor's guitar. That wasn't even my guitar... No band, obviously. Hour set. That's as long as I could play.” (Luke, 08:52)
He reflects on going from playing bars at 21 to selling out Wembley Stadium:

“In the lifespan of a singer, a country music singer, 14 years isn’t that long. And certainly to go from that to where you are now.” (Willie, 10:09)
The birth of his kids and the shock of sudden global stardom, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic pause, prompted introspection:

“I don’t find myself having a ton of time to process that stuff. Obviously with two kids, you know, about to have three under four. So that's going to be—yes. Thank you.” (Luke, 10:23)

The New Album & Creative Process

[11:17–19:41]

New album The Way I Am releases March 20:

“This album is just fastballs... I still got it, you know what I mean? To be honest, that was the intention of this album.” (Luke, 11:40)
Previous album Fathers and Sons was “selfish”—for himself & his kids.
He describes a “no secret sauce” approach: “It's just like, just do what you feel like you're good at and see if people love it and hope they do.”
On writing and collaboration:

“I really do owe most of this record to my collaborators and my co-writers. They really carried me on this one. Obviously having my boys and trying to be the most present dad I can be is a big time commitment.” (Luke, 15:55)
He sifted through as many as 300 song ideas, recorded 40, and whittled it down to 22 tracks.

Staying Grounded Amidst Fame

[12:46–15:20, 42:21–45:10]

Luke explains the importance of appreciating each fan, keeping humility:

"I feel very indebted to anyone wearing my T-shirt... It really is an important thing to me…every person in here is the reason I'm here." (Luke, 12:56)
He stresses that success or fame doesn’t have to force change:

“This idea that you, like, have to change when you get success or fame or influence or anything—it's all a facade to me. It’s the way you choose to operate, and the way you choose to interact with people.” (Luke, 43:31)
On authenticity and “no gimmick”:

"There is no thing. I mean, I think if you looked at me in a vacuum and you put the stats up there, 6 foot, 290 on a good day... decent guitar player, like decent songwriter... yeah, this guy plays at the bar now. He does live down the road. It's just me instead." (Luke, 45:46) "It's just not that hard to be nice to people. It's really not that hard." (Luke, 46:44)

The Power and Appeal of Country Music Globally

[23:20–28:36]

Discussion on country’s global mainstream breakthrough—a Nashville thing no more:

“Country music has been stigmatized for a long time. I remember growing up, you would ask somebody, 'What kind of music do you like?' They'd be like, 'Well, I like anything but country'...Saying you don't like country music is like saying you like bread—there are so many kinds.” (Luke, 23:48)
Streaming erased barriers for listeners worldwide:

“Now there's no barrier to entry…you have the freedom to explore the things that you love and find the music that you want to listen to... the fans win at the end of the day.” (Luke, 26:06)

Origin Story: From Choirs to Nashville

[30:18–38:44]

Never imagined music was a “realistic” career:

“As crazy as it sounds... all I did was sing all the time and never one time was I like, maybe I could sing for a living.” (Luke, 30:35)
Left college short of a degree, came to Nashville at 24 after realizing “I was going to be the 'some college' guy.”
Early years in town full of hustle, writing, and forging friendships with other “dreamers.”

“There's one person that had a publishing deal on the album and my first seven number ones. It was everyone’s first number one.” (Luke, 36:44)

“Hurricane”: The $200 Bet that Paid Off

[38:48–41:46]

Used last $200 to master and release “Hurricane,” which sold 10,000 copies independently and led to everything:

“Use that money, master the rest of the songs, record the rest of the album, meet my manager, use the album to then get a record deal. Here we are.” (Luke, 41:28)
On hit-picking:

"Every time I've tried to pick, like, 'This song is going to be the best song,' everybody hates it. I missed again. But I got some right, you know." (Luke, 41:46)

The “Fast Car” Phenomenon & Grammy Moment

[48:27–68:04]

On covering Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”:

“It's the first song I remember being, like, my first—It was my first favorite song... Every five, six, seven years, I would, like, rediscover that song.” (Luke, 49:00)
Learning the iconic riff took weeks of practice; once he could play & sing it, audiences always lit up.
Recorded the cover at the end of an album session—almost as an afterthought.

“We had literally the best musicians in the world in the room... I was like, what if we just did a cover of Fast Car?” (Luke, 50:54)
Legal/permission aspects on covering, and how Tracy Chapman came to be involved for the Grammys:

“She’s just a G, dude. Nobody knows where she lives. She doesn’t have a manager, like, nothing.” (Luke, 55:20) “...That would be the most starstruck I ever was. And I’m so glad she couldn’t see me because she would have been, like, ‘He’s so weird and uncomfortable and stuff...She let me ask her a million questions.’” (Luke, 55:52; 56:02) “And then (at the Grammys) we absolutely shut this place down... Nobody knows it’s happening... I knew what nobody else knows.” (Luke, 66:42)
On the legacy of the moment:

“That performance and the impact it had…it’s more powerful than a Grammy. Like, that’s forever. No one will ever forget that.” (Willie, 63:50)

Fatherhood and Home Life

[75:31–77:41]

On what he does for himself outside music:

“I’m a big hunter…Video games. I like to cook, man. I do a lot of the meals…It's our job together. Our kids didn't ask to be born. We decided that together. So step up and do the thing, man.” (Luke, 75:31/77:13)
Shares pride in an equal domestic partnership, helping with kids and home.

Advice to Future Artists

[82:33–84:51]

Candid and practical mentorship:

“You can't be afraid to bet on yourself…The 'no' wasn't no, it was 'not yet.' You just have to keep trying to get better and enjoy the process of not being where you want to be. The goal is not the destination, it’s the journey, dude…Just enjoy it.” (Luke, 82:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Evolution of Country:

“Saying you don't like country music is like saying you don't like pasta…Have you tried the cheese kind? It’s really good.”
— Luke Combs, 23:48
On Authenticity:

“It's just not that hard to be nice to people. It's really not that hard.”
— Luke Combs, 46:44
On Success:

“The goal is not the destination. It's the journey, dude…Getting there is the fun part. Being there is the fun part, but getting there is even funner, for sure.”
— Luke Combs, 84:33
On ‘Fast Car’ Grammy Performance:

“I knew we were gonna absolutely shut this place down with this performance, because nobody knows it’s happening. Everybody thinks it’s just me performing. They don’t know Tracy’s coming out.”
— Luke Combs, 66:42
Combs on Teamwork (regarding his bar and business):

“There is no me without all those people. And they…work harder than I do, to be quite frank about it.”
— Luke Combs, 70:08

Audience Q&A Highlights

Duets and Collaborations:
Luke waits to feel that a song is truly a duet and often reaches out himself if he knows the other artist. He's respectful if they say no—explains people have turned him down, which he doesn't take personally. (72:02–75:10)
Favorite Off-Tour Activities:
Hunting, gaming (currently Battlefield 6), and cooking for his family. Luke takes pride in domestic life and equal partnership at home. (75:31–77:41)
Advice for New Artists:
Don’t be afraid to bet on yourself, and treat “no” as “not yet.” Focus on improving daily and enjoying the process, not just the outcome. (82:33–84:51)

Timestamps for Major Segments

Luke’s first gig and humble beginnings: [07:44–12:46]
Songwriting, album process, and gratitude to fans: [11:17–19:41]
Country music goes worldwide & impact of streaming: [23:20–28:36]
Career break with “Hurricane” and Nashville hustle: [38:48–41:46]
Staying true and navigating fame: [42:21–45:10]
Authenticity in artistry: [45:10–46:44]
The “Fast Car” saga: [48:27–68:04]
Bar in Nashville and team gratitude: [69:45–71:07]
Advice & audience questions: [71:27–84:51]

Episode Tone

The tone is candid, humble, and often humorous—Luke’s self-deprecating wit and down-to-earth philosophy shine, matched by Willie Geist’s warm, conversational interviewing style. Much of the episode centers on the value of sincerity, teamwork, and remaining thankful and “normal,” even at the top.

Summary Takeaway

Luke Combs emerges as a model of humility and authenticity—his “ordinary guy” persona isn’t just an act, but the bedrock of his creative process and public life. His reflections on music, fame, family, and country’s future are rooted in gratitude and a refusal to let stardom alter his core self. Whether discussing billion-stream hits, Grammy moments, or making mac and cheese for his kids, Combs’ refrain is clear: remember where you came from, stay real, and always enjoy the journey.