Luke Combs is the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, for the second year in a row. Although Combs already won the trophy once before, he admits he wanted it just as much this year, and maybe more.
“I remember last year when I won, a bunch of people reached out to me after winning,” Combs recalled backstage at the CMA Awards. “They said, ‘Hey man, you just enjoy tonight. It may never happen again. And it’s the pinnacle of success that you could have in this business.’ And I’m not gonna lie to you, I was so nervous tonight about it. I was doing some interviews on Monday, and people were asking me about it. And I remember having this somber thought of, ‘Oh man, this could be the last two days that I’m in here ever. I may never witness again.’ And so really, it’s just being present in the moment that you’re in now.”
Combs is trying to soak up all that he has right now, not only in his professional life, but his personal life as well, including time with his wife, Nicole, and baby boy, Tex.
“My parents are still around,” Combs reflected. “I’m just being thankful for the things that I have right now, enjoying the moment that I’m in and not looking forward and not dwelling on things that are in the past. So really just being present. I get to live my dream every day with people that I love living with. So I just try to be as thankful for the end of the day as I can.”
Combs also understands the responsibility that comes with being the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year — a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
“Obviously Entertainer is so huge,” Combs acknowledged. “It’s for everything that we do, and all the time that we spend away from home. And it feels like such a huge award for me, and my team, and everybody on the road with me that spends all this time away to make sure that we do the best we can..”
Combs also won the CMA Award for Album of the Year, for his Growin’ Up project. He has several more dates on his calendar throughout the remainder of 2022. He will embark on his World Tour in 2023, performing 35 concerts in 16 countries, spanning three continents. Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, Flatland Cavalry and Brent Cobb will serve as the opening acts for some dates, with Cody Johnson and Lane Pittman also joining him overseas. Find music and tour dates at LukeCombs.com.