Fans and critics alike hail Luke Combs as one of the most successful and influential country music artists of this era. Currently, Combs has put 11 songs at the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Additionally, his debut album sat at the top of the publication’s Top Country Albums chart for fifty straight weeks. For those keeping count at home, that’s about two weeks short of an entire year.
So, Luke Combs is well on his way to being one of the most successful artists in country music history. In fact, he strives to be just that. However, he isn’t letting his success give him an over-the-top ego. In fact, he may be one of the humblest men on the planet.
Combs opened up about his drive to be the best in the business on the latest episode of The Marty Smith Podcast.
“I want to have the proverbial Jumpman logo of country music. That’s what drives me now,” Luke Combs told Marty Smith. At the very least, he wants to be, “in the conversation,” when people talk about the greatest country music artist of all time. However, he says that is a long-term goal. Combs doesn’t expect to be there currently. That desire, Combs said, is a “driving force,” for him.
Luke Combs’ Humble Drive To The Top
To really illustrate his point, Luke Combs brings up Tom Brady. “Why is Tom Brady playing another year of football? He’s already the best ever. Why keep going?” Combs then adds that there is definitely a “competitive aspect,” to the country music world.
“I didn’t come here to go ‘I’d like to be okay,’ I would be fine with that. I don’t have this ego that goes ‘I have to be the biggest guy and the best guy all the time.’ I don’t. Do I want to be? For sure.”
Marty asked what criteria Luke Combs would use to define being the best. Combs admits that he isn’t sure if there is one. However, he said, things like Entertainer of the Year awards, ticket sales, number one songs are comparable to MVP awards, and championship rings for athletes.
On the other hand, Combs said he doesn’t have to have any of those things. In fact, he added, “If it all stopped tomorrow I would be okay with it.”
However, the way Luke Combs sees it, there’s no reason he can’t chase the pinnacle of country music success. After all, he’s already in a great starting position to do so.
He concluded by saying that he has a, “Once in a lifetime opportunity. Once in a generation opportunity… to be the best. I’m definitely going to give it my all to make that happen. Whether it does or not,” Combs shrugs, “It’s alright.”
