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Luke Combs Reveals Backstory for ‘Cold As You’ Ahead of CMT Artists of the Year Awards

It seems impossible for Luke Combs to write anything but hits. His songs resonate with the public. They’re everyday verses that remind us life and love can be fleeting. Just as he can articulate a sentimental tune about first loves, Combs is equally well-versed in revenge break-up songs. Explaining the back story for his hit “Cold As You,” that’s exactly what the singer says he was trying to drive home.

Ahead of the CMT Artists of the Year Awards – set to air this evening, October 13 at 9 p.m. E.T. – Combs describes why breakup songs like “Cold As You” become popular. About a year ago, gathering with fellow songwriters Randy Montana, Shane Minor and Jonathan Singleton, Combs said the song just kind of unfolded organically.

“We could have written 50 verses of the song,” he said in an interview with CMT.

The idea was to create some juxtaposition from his more sappy love songs, he said. Combs likes to be relatable. And he says not everyone in the audience is going to enjoy that love ballad as much as some high-energy song about drinking a beer with friends on a Friday night or drowning out your ex in a bar.

Luke Combs Has Something for Everyone

Because everyone is going through something different in their lives, Combs said he wants to bring a little something for everybody. With “Cold As You” anyone going through a heartbreak can get down with the pretty blunt lyrics about moving on and letting go for a night. It’s a song about dwelling in that hate you feel right after you have a messy breakup. And those kinds of high-energy songs get the crowd going, Combs said.

With lyrics like:

“They got “Whiskey River” on a jukebox
A honky tonk sawdust dance floor
A neon, five o’clock, broke clock
And plenty damn many when you want one more
Of this broke heart fool on an old bar stool
Drinkin’ beer almost as cold as you

A bunch of good time numbers on the stall door
A picture of you on a dart board
Them cinder block walls ain’t ever been cleaned
Still ain’t as dirty as you done me…”

Combs really sets the scene for a scorned lover. However, the song is also fun. It’s upbeat. And the music video is also filled with a bunch of easter eggs, Combs says. Complete with appearances of the “couple” from his “Hurricane” music video, his mom as a bar patron and actual footage of Combs recording the song appearing as TV entertainment, there’s a lot to see.

In addition to Luke Combs, other artists being honored this evening include Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett and Mickey Guyton.