Imagine starting your music career in college, and I don’t mean at some prestigious music conservatory. I mean like a regular state university where you are literally playing acoustic sets in bars and frat houses while trying to finish a degree. And fast forward just a few years and you are the most dominant force in country music.

He didn’t come through the Nashville hit -making machine. He didn’t have a famous parent or a powerful mentor. He built his audience one barstool at a time, literally posting videos of himself singing covers and originals.

• Today we are going to do a deep dive into the rise of Luke Combs
• He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up in Asheville
• His debut single Hurricane broke through in 2016
• His debut album, This One’s for You, eventually went quadruple platinum
• Luke Combs represents a new model for country music stardom, one built on authenticity and direct fan connection