No matter how big his music gets, no matter how many records he sells or awards he wins, Luke Combs always insists on one thing: He’s just a regular guy. It’s that same down-to-earth mentality that helps explain why he’s one of the biggest artists in country music today. The rise of this humble kid from Asheville, North Carolina, has been anything but ordinary. A college dropout who worked for a while as a bar bouncer, Luke found himself with a No. 1 single, “Hurricane” in 2017, barely two years after leaving home to pursue his music dreams in Nashville, Tennessee. From there, the records have tumbled: To date, all 17 of Combs’ solo singles have topped the country music charts—a feat unmatched by any other artist in the history of the genre. In this special issue, we get up close and personal with Luke, looking at his meteoric rise, his personal struggles and controversies, and how he met the love of his life who inspired him to write some of his biggest hits. Plus, we get a sneak peek at his tour and learn what’s next for the music superstar.
