Luke Combs is a popular country music artist from America, who is known for the songs: Hurricane, Forever After All, Even Though I'm Leaving, etc. The artist has been nominated for the Grammy Awards twice and won the Billboard Music Awards three times.
Many characterize Combs' style as a combination of popular 1990s country music motifs with modern production. Today he is one of the most successful and popular country artists.
From the moment Combs performed in Nashville bars to serious nominations, a little more than two years passed. The reason for the rapid success of the artist believes a combination of the following factors: “Hard work. Readiness for self-sacrifice. Luck. Time. Surround yourself with reliable people. Writing songs that I myself would like to hear on the radio.
Childhood and youth Luke Combs
Luke Albert Combs was born on March 2, 1990 in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the age of 8, the boy moved to Asheville with his parents. From an early age, Luke has been vocal. Thanks to this, he fell in love with music and decided to make it his main activity.
While studying at school A.A. C. Reynolds High School in Asheville Combs has performed in various vocal groups. Once he even got the opportunity to perform solo at the famous Carnegie Hall in Manhattan (New York). In addition to singing classes, the performer also attended a football club in middle and high school.
After graduation, the performer chose Appalachian State University in North Carolina for higher education. He studied there for three years, and in his 4th year he decided to prioritize music and move to Nashville. Already while studying at the university, Combs wrote the first songs. He even performed with them at a country music show at the Parthenon Cafe.
“I went to clubs and played shows, but I didn’t make much money,” said Combs, who dropped out of high school without a degree in criminal justice. “Eventually I thought I should move to Nashville or just stop doing it.”
Luke needed money to move, so he had to work two jobs. However, even thanks to such employment, he did not receive enough money. When his first music salary was $10, the aspiring artist was both surprised and excited that a hobby could become his profession. He quit both jobs and continued to make music. “It's a thing. I can make a living doing this,” Combs said in an interview with The Tennessean.
First popularity
Luke Combs' path to the big stage began with the EP The Way She Rides (2014). A few months later, the artist released the second EP Can I Get an Outlaw, thanks to which he received his first popularity. To record two EPs, the artist had to collect money for some time.
He also posted videos of his performances on Facebook and Vine. Thanks to this, the aspiring artist has collected thousands of subscribers. Because of the excellent recognition on the Internet, Luke began to be invited to perform in all the bars of the district. Sometimes several hundred people came to listen to Combs's music.
Combs' fame skyrocketed when he released the single Hurricane in 2015. He hit all the hit parades of the country. Moreover, he took 46th position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Luke co-wrote the song with Thomas Archer and Taylor Phillips.
He didn't see anything special about the track, but he put it on iTunes anyway. The composition was liked by a significant number of listeners. And in the first week alone, almost 15 copies were sold.
With the money earned thanks to the song Hurricane, the artist recorded another EP, This One's for You. His activities attracted major labels. And at the end of 2015, he signed with Sony Music Nashville. In addition, in 2016, the artist released a video clip for the single Hurricane, directed by Tyler Adams.
Luke Combs: Achievements in recent years
The singles When It Rains It Pours, One Number Away, She Got the Best of Me and Beautiful Crazy all charted. The artist even managed to become the first solo artist since Tim McGraw in 2000 to have two tracks simultaneously in the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay.
"Welcome to the club, buddy," Tim McGraw congratulated Luke in his Twitter post.
In June 2017, the artist released his debut album on the label called This One's for You. In a short period of time, it peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard 200 and number 1 on the US Top Country Album. Combs was then nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards for the music video for Hurricane. He also received the New Artist of the Year award at the 2017 Country Music Association Awards.
At the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, Luke was nominated for "Best Country Artist". His album This One's for You won the Best Country Album award. Unfortunately, the awards were given to other performers. However, Combs managed to win the New Artist of the Year award at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards. In addition, he was nominated for the Vocalist of the Year award.
In 2019, the album What You See Is What You Get was released, which included 17 tracks. The work for some time occupied a leading position in the charts of Australia, Canada and the US Billboard 200 chart. Also this year, Luke was nominated for the Grammy Award as "Best New Artist", but he lost to Dua Lipa.
Personal life
In 2016, Luke Combs performed at a festival in Florida, where he met his future wife, Nicole Hawking. They saw each other in the crowd and Nicole invited Luke to join her group of friends. It turned out that the girl also lives in Nashville. When the weekend was over, they returned to the city together.
According to Combs, at the time of meeting with Hawking, he was a musician who was going through all the difficulties of the profession. The environment of young people doubted that the relationship between Luke and Nicole would develop. However, the couple started dating. The performer has repeatedly said that the girl became his best friend and inspired him to write songs about love.
In 2018, Luke proposed to Nicole in their kitchen, and she accepted. The couple decided not to announce the news until they arrived in Hawaii and were able to take better photos for the post. Combs and Hawking were engaged for about two years. They made the wedding only on August 1, 2020. It was attended only by family members and close circle of the newlyweds.
