Friday, August 7, is a big day for Luke Bryan, but it wasn’t supposed to be. The singer will release his seventh studio album, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, which was originally supposed to be released on April 24, but was ultimately pushed back as the world began to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. While some artists chose to continue releasing music, Luke knew in his heart that he needed to wait.
“In the world of what we can complain about, me moving the album back … it felt like the only thing to do,” Luke told The Tennessean. “When I’m out promoting my music, I’m happy about it, excited about it. In April, we all knew what head spaces we were in.”
The record might have been delayed, but the ten songs on the record are still just as relevant as ever, and maybe more.
“I think my albums reflect all forms of life,” Luke maintained. “When you listen to the whole body of the album, there’s certainly love songs, songs that deal with loss … songs that have sexy undertones.”
“No matter what’s going on in the world, I’m gonna still always treat my albums like bringing everybody to the party,” he added. “I’ll try to state who I am as a person and try to make music that my fans can relate to, but then still push some envelopes.”
Luke just celebrated his 23rd Billboard No. 1 hit with “One Margarita.” The uptempo song might have seemed an unlikely choice to release while everyone was forced inside, but the 44-year-old once again relied on his instincts, which did not prove him wrong.
“Deep down, I know I go about this business the right way,” Luke shared. “Everybody’s got their opinions. My main thing is I gotta wake up every day and do the songs I truly believe (are) what’s in my heart.”
Not all the songs on Born Here, Live Here, Die Here are as party-fueled as “One Margarita.” Luke also shows off his tender side in “Build Me a Daddy,” which Luke didn’t write but knew right away that he wanted to record.
“It was a song that really affects everybody,” Luke acknowledged. “The beauty of country music is people really respect those songs that touch on real, real tough stuff, and this song touches on a little boy losing his dad.”
Luke is also proud of the title track, which celebrates small towns all over the country, even if the message of the song doesn’t necessarily apply to him.
“I’m a little bit of a hypocrite,” the Leesburg, Georgia native said. “I grew up in that type of town where so many people are happy being born there, living there and certainly dying there. There’s nothing like the people of small towns and how real they are.”
Luke postponed his Proud to Be Right Here Tour until 2021. Born Here, Live Here, Die Here is available for purchase via Amazon