| Luke Bryan | |||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1976 7, mf=yes | ||||||||
| Birth Name: | Thomas Luther Bryan | ||||||||
| Birth Place: | Leesburg, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||
| Alma Mater: | Georgia Southern University | ||||||||
| Children: | 2 | ||||||||
| Module: |
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Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country singer, songwriter, and television personality. Bryan is a five-time "Entertainer of the Year", being awarded by both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association.[1] In 2019, Bryan's 2013 album Crash My Party received the first Album of the Decade award from the Academy of Country Music.[2] He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with over 75 million records sold.[3] Since 2018, Bryan has been a judge on American Idol.
His first ten albums – I'll Stay Me (2007), Doin' My Thing (2009), Tailgates & Tanlines (2011), Crash My Party (2013), Spring Break...Here to Party (2013), Spring Break...Checkin' Out (2015), Kill the Lights (2015), Farm Tour... Here's to the Farmer (2016), What Makes You Country (2017), and Born Here Live Here Die Here (2020) – have included 30 number-one hits. Bryan often co-writes with Jeff Stevens.
Luke Bryan was born in Leesburg, Georgia,[4] to LeClaire and Tommy Bryan, who owned a peanut farm.[5] [6] Shortly before Luke was going to move to Nashville at age 19, his elder brother Chris was unexpectedly killed in a car accident. [7] His mother, LeClaire, had made a statement: "We knew Luke at some point would come to Nashville," his mother said. "But ... you can't leave your family, and ... I couldn't bear the thought of him being away."[4]
Instead, Luke went to college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, briefly dated his future wife Caroline, and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Luke reconnected with Caroline several years later when he was performing at a bar in Statesboro when she was in town, later resuming their relationship and eventually marrying.[8]
Two years after graduating from college, Bryan finally made it to Nashville,[9] when his father urged him to pack his truck to pursue a career in music. He initially gained success as a songwriter, but soon after signed as a performer; his first major success was "All My Friends Say".
Soon after his arrival in Nashville, Bryan joined a publishing house in the city. Among his first cuts was the title track of Travis Tritt's 2004 album My Honky Tonk History.[10]
He was later signed by Capitol Nashville to a recording contract. In the meantime, Bryan co-wrote Billy Currington's single "Good Directions", which went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in mid-2007.[11] Bryan co-wrote his debut single, "All My Friends Say", with producer Jeff Stevens. This song reached a peak of number 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. In August 2007, Capitol Nashville released Bryan's debut album, I'll Stay Me.[12] Bryan wrote or co-wrote all but one of its 11 songs. The album's second single, "We Rode in Trucks", peaked at number 33 while "Country Man" reached number 10.
On March 10, 2009, he released an EP titled Spring Break with All My Friends that featured two new songs, "Sorority Girls" and "Take My Drunk Ass Home," plus an acoustic version of "All My Friends Say".[13] After this EP, he released his fourth single, "Do I" in May 2009. Bryan wrote the song with Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady A, whose lead singer Hillary Scott also sings backing vocals on it.[14] The song reached number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart.[15]
"Do I" was included on Bryan's second album, Doin' My Thing, which was released in October 2009. Also included on the album was a cover of OneRepublic's "Apologize".[16] Bryan wrote the album's next two singles, "Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Someone Else Calling You Baby", with Dallas Davidson and Jeff Stevens, respectively. Both of these songs went to number one on the country music charts. AllMusic gave this album a positive review as well, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine considering Bryan more "relaxed" in comparison to his debut. On February 26, 2010, Bryan released a second EP, titled Spring Break 2...Hangover Edition, which featured three new songs: "Wild Weekend", "Cold Beer Drinker", and "I'm Hungover". While Bryan is mainly known as a country music singer, he has explored other genres like alternative rock with his cover of "Apologize".
Bryan appeared on the April 18, 2010, episode of Celebrity Apprentice alongside fellow country star Emily West. The task for each team was to make over an up-and-coming country star, with Bryan being selected by Team Rocksolid, led by Bill Goldberg, and West being selected by team Tenacity, led by Cyndi Lauper. Bryan's makeover failed to impress the judges, leading to Rocksolid losing the task. Bryan's single "Rain Is a Good Thing" and West's single "Blue Sky" were both sold on iTunes, with a month's worth of sales being donated to Lauper's charity, the Stonewall Community Foundation, resulting in $25,000 being raised.
Bryan released his third EP, Spring Break 3...It's a Shore Thing, on February 25, 2011, featuring four new songs - "In Love With the Girl," "If You Ain't Here to Party," "Shore Thing," and "Love In a College Town". This release was followed by Bryan's seventh single, "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)", which was released on March 14, 2011.[17] Also co-written by Bryan and Davidson,[18] it served as the lead-off single to his third studio album, Tailgates & Tanlines, which was released August 9, 2011. The album peaked at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and number two on the Billboard 200 chart. "Country Girl" peaked at number 4 on the country music charts and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album's next three singles - "I Don't Want This Night to End", "Drunk on You", and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" - all reached number one on the country music charts. Bryan, along with Eric Church, sang guest vocals on Jason Aldean's "The Only Way I Know," the second single from his 2012 album, Night Train.
On March 6, 2012, Bryan released his fourth Spring Break EP entitled Spring Break 4...Suntan City. Along with the title track, which Bryan co-wrote with Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, the EP includes "Spring Break-Up," "Little Bit Later On," and "Shake the Sand".[19] On January 30, 2013, Bryan announced his first compilation album, Spring Break...Here to Party, which includes fourteen songs - twelve from his previous Spring Break EPs and two new tracks. It was released on March 5.[20] The album debuted at number one on both the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first album of his career to top the all-genre album chart. One of the new Spring Break songs, "Buzzkill", reached the top 20 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Luke Bryan's fourth studio album, Crash My Party, was released on August 12, 2013.[21] The album's first single, "Crash My Party", was premiered in a performance at the 2013 ACM Awards and released on April 7, 2013.[22] It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in July 2013. The album's second single, "That's My Kind of Night", was released to country radio on August 5, 2013. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in August 2013 and peaked at number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in October 2013. The album's third single, "Drink a Beer", was released to country radio on October 24, 2013. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in January 2014 and number one on the Country Airplay chart in February 2014. During the kickoff show for his 2014 That's My Kind of Night Tour in Columbus, Ohio, Bryan announced to the crowd that "Play It Again" would become the album's fourth single.[23] This song reached number one on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in May 2014. At the same time, Bryan sang guest vocals on Florida Georgia Line's 2014 single "This Is How We Roll". On July 14, 2014, the song "Roller Coaster" was released as the album's fifth single. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in October 2014. The album's sixth single, "I See You", was released to country radio on November 3, 2014.[24] It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in February 2015.
On March 11, 2014, Bryan began his sixth year of spring performances at Spinnaker Beach Club in Panama City Beach, Florida.[25] On the same day, he also released his sixth Spring Break EP, Spring Break 6...Like We Ain't Ever.[26]
Bryan is the only country music artist to release an album of six number one singles on both the Billboard's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.[27]
On November 11, 2014, it was confirmed that Bryan had begun writing and recording songs for his upcoming fifth studio album. His last Spring Break album, Spring Break...Checkin' Out, was released on March 10, 2015. It includes the six songs from the previous year's EP and five original new songs.
On May 19, 2015, Bryan released his first single from his fifth studio album, Kill the Lights, "Kick the Dust Up",[28] which peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart. He co-wrote over half of the songs on this album. This album provides not only his country flare, but also has tracks that include a disco type beat along with the songs of romance. The album's second single, "Strip It Down", was released to country radio on August 4, 2015. The album was released on August 7. Kill the Lights sold 345,000 total copies its first week and beat out Dr. Dre's Compton to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.[29] "Strip It Down" went number one in October 2015, making fourteen cumulative number ones. The album's third single, "Home Alone Tonight", released to country radio on November 23, 2015. The song also became his fifteenth song to reach number one. The album's fourth single, "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day", released to country radio on March 14, 2016. All six of the singles released from Bryan's Kill the Lights album reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Bryan the first artist in the 27-year history of the chart to achieve six number one singles from one album.[30]
It was announced that Bryan would perform at halftime of the 2015 Thanksgiving match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.[31]
In 2016, Bryan was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again" and "I Will Always Love You" which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.[32]
On February 5, 2017, Bryan performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.[33] In September 2017, Bryan was announced as a judge for the revival of American Idol on ABC.[34] [35]
Bryan released "Light It Up" in mid-2017. It served as the lead-off single to his sixth album, What Makes You Country, which was released on December 8, 2017. "Most People Are Good" and "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" were released as the album's second and third singles, respectively. The album's fourth single, the album's title track, released to country radio on October 22, 2018.
When American Idol returned for another season on ABC, Bryan returned along with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges.
"Knockin' Boots" was released to country radio in March 2019.[36] In October 2019, "What She Wants Tonight" was released to country radio as the second single from his upcoming album.[37] In January 2020, Bryan announced his next album would be titled Born Here Live Here Die Here[38] and was scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020. The announcement of the album followed the announcement of his upcoming Proud to Be Right Here Tour.[39] On March 13, 2020, "One Margarita" was released as the third single from his upcoming album.[40] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan delayed the release of the album to August 7, 2020, and rescheduled the Proud to Be Right Here Tour to 2021.[41] On June 12, 2020, Bryan released the track "Build Me A Daddy"[42] along with a music video for the song.[43] On October 19, 2020, the song "Down to One" was made the fourth single from the album.[44] A Deluxe edition of Born Here Live Here Die Here, released on April 9, 2021, produced the album's fifth single, "Waves",[45] as well as its sixth single, "Up," which was released on October 11, 2021.[46] In October, it was announced that Bryan would host the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards for the first time, making him the first solo host in 18 years.[47]
Bryan hosted the 50th annual ACM awards in 2015 with fellow country singer Blake Shelton. He sang "I See You" and won entertainer of the year.[48]
His first time hosting the CMA awards was in 2021. The awards show was held in Nashville Tennessee, and Bryan also won entertainer of the year.[49]
He hosted the CMA awards again the next year with retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.[50]
Bryan is married to Caroline Boyer. They married on December 8, 2006, and have two sons together. They live in Williamson County, near Nashville. They named their house "Red Bird Farm" after Luke's older sister Kelly died. The design was inspired by the barn at Blackberry Farms in Walland, TN.[51]
In 2007, Bryan's older sister Kelly died unexpectedly at home of unknown causes.[52] [53] After Kelly's husband Ben Lee Cheshire died in 2014, Bryan and his wife began raising their nephew and taking care of their nieces.[54]
The combined losses of his brother and sister inspired the performance of Bryan's single "Drink a Beer" (written by Chris Stapleton).[55]
In 2015, Forbes estimated Bryan's annual income at $42.5 million.[56]
Bryan has supported numerous charities and causes, including the City of Hope and Red Cross. Past causes Bryan supported were AIDS and HIV, cancer, children's disaster relief, health, and human rights.[57]
Following the death of her niece, Bryan's wife Caroline established Brett's Barn in her honor.[58] Brett's Barn, located on their family farm, is a sanctuary for rescue animals that invites sick children to spend time with the over 20 animals they host on the farm. She and Bryan are also on the board of directors of the Brett Boyer Foundation, which raises awareness for Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease.[59] The organization also hosts a number of fundraisers to raise money for research, including "Bike for Brett" which occurs annually on World Down Syndrome Day.
Crash My Playa is a 4-night all-inclusive concert vacation hosted by Luke Bryan in Cancun, Mexico. Past performers include Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Luke Combs, and Thomas Rhett.[60]
Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink is located in the heart of Broadway Street in Nashville, Tennessee. The 30,000 square feet multi-level entertainment facility features 6 levels, 8 bars, 3 stages with live music and two restaurants.[61]
Luke Bryan started his own record label, 32 Bridge Entertainment, under the Universal Music Group Nashville umbrella. In 2018, Jon Langston became the first artist signed to the new label.[62]
Bryan possesses a high baritone vocal range of two octaves from A2 to A4.[63] Commenting on his vocal performance in "Tailgates and Tanlines," Slant magazine's Jonathan Keefer described Bryan's voice as "a pleasant, if slightly nasal, baritone".[64]
Bryan has cited country artists George Strait, Alan Jackson, Alabama, and Merle Haggard as influences on his career.[65] He also cited hip hop bands Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. as a source of inspiration in an interview with The Huffington Post, noting, "I think there's been somewhat of a change with our generation. You know, nobody grew up more countrier than me, but I mean, I had Beastie Boys playing on little boom boxes and Run D.M.C. and all forms of music, so through the years, I just think it's all constantly blending together."[66]
See main article: Luke Bryan discography.
Headlining
Supporting
Minor tours
Festivals
Residencies
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top New Solo Vocalist | Himself | [71] | ||
| Top New Artist | [72] | |||||
| CMT Music Awards | USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year | "Do I" | [73] | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Himself | [74] | |||
| 2011 | CMT Music Awards | Best Web Video of the Year | "It's a Shore Thing" | [75] | ||
| Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award | Himself | [76] | ||||
| Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Himself | [77] | |||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Country Song | "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" | [78] | |||
| Choice Music: Country Artist Male | Himself | [79] | ||||
| American Country Awards | Male Artist of the Year | [80] | ||||
| Single by a Male Artist | "Someone Else Calling You Baby" | |||||
| 2012 | CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year: Male | "I Don't Want This Night To End" | [81] | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Teen Choice Award for Music – Male Country Artist | Himself | [82] | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year | [83] | ||||
| Album of the Year | Tailgates & Tanlines | |||||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist | Himself | [84] | |||
| Favorite Country Album | Tailgates & Tanlines | [85] | ||||
| American Country Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | [86] | |||
| Male Artist of the Year | ||||||
| Single of the Year | "I Don't Want This Night to End" | |||||
| Single by a Male Artist | ||||||
| Music Video of the Year | ||||||
| Music Video by a Male Artist | ||||||
| Album of the Year | Tailgates & Tanlines | |||||
| Most Played Radio Track | "I Don't Want This Night to End" | |||||
| Most Played Radio Track by a Male Artist | ||||||
| 2013 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | [87] | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Album of the Year | Tailgates & Tanlines | |||||
| Vocal Event of the Year | "The Only Way I Know" (with Jason Aldean and Eric Church) | |||||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Himself | [88] | |||
| Top Country Album | Tailgates & Tanlines | |||||
| Top Country Song | "Drunk on You" | |||||
| CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year | "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" | [89] | |||
| Male Video of the Year | ||||||
| Collaboration Video of the Year | "The Only Way I Know" (with Jason Aldean and Eric Church) | |||||
| CMT Performance of the Year | "Drunk on You"/"Feel Again" (with Ryan Tedder) | |||||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Country Male Artist | Himself | [90] | |||
| Favorite Country Album | Crash My Party | |||||
| 2014 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Billboard 200 Album | Crash My Party | [91] | ||
| Top Country Album | Crash My Party | |||||
| Top Male Artist | Himself | |||||
| Top Billboard 200 Artist | ||||||
| Top Country Artist | ||||||
| Top Country Song | "Crash My Party" | |||||
| Top Country Song | "That's My Kind of Night" | |||||
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | [92] | |||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Album of the Year | Crash My Party | |||||
| American Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | [93] | |||
| Favorite Country Male Artist | ||||||
| American Country Countdown Awards | Artist of the Year | [94] | ||||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Collaboration | "This Is How We Roll" (with Florida Georgia Line) | |||||
| Album | Crash My Party | |||||
| Digital Song of the Year | "Drink a Beer" | |||||
| Digital Song of the Year | "This Is How We Roll" (with Florida Georgia Line) | |||||
| Country Music Association Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Album of the Year | Crash My Party | |||||
| 2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist | Himself | [95] | ||
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | [96] | ||||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Vocal Event of the Year | "This Is How We Roll" (with Florida Georgia Line) | |||||
| Song of the Year | "Drink a Beer" (as the Artist) | |||||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | Himself | [97] | |||
| Top Country Song | "Play It Again" | |||||
| "This Is How We Roll" (with Florida Georgia Line) | ||||||
| Top Country Album | Crash My Party | |||||
| CMT Music Awards | Male Video of the Year | "Play It Again" | [98] | |||
| Video of the Year | ||||||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Country Artist | Himself | [99] | |||
| Choice Country Song | "Kick the Dust Up" | |||||
| Canadian Country Music Association | Top Selling Album | Crash My Party | [100] | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year | Himself | [101] | |||
| Entertainer of the Year | ||||||
| American Music Awards | Artist of the Year | [102] | ||||
| Favorite Country Male Artist | ||||||
| 2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Male Artist | [103] | |||
| Favorite Male Country Artist | ||||||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Himself | [104] | |||
| Best Tour | ||||||
| Country Artist of the Year | ||||||
| Country Song of the Year | "I See You" | |||||
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | [105] | |||
| Vocal Event of the Year | "Home Alone Tonight" | |||||
| American Country Countdown Awards | Artist of the Year | Himself | [106] | |||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | ||||||
| Song of the Year | "Strip It Down" | |||||
| Album of the Year | "Kill the Lights" | |||||
| Digital Song of the Year | "Kick the Dust Up" | |||||
| Touring Artist of the Year | Himself | |||||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Artist | [107] | ||||
| Top Country Album | Kill the Lights | |||||
| Country Music Association Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| Musical Event of the Year | "Home Alone Tonight" | |||||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Country Album | Kill the Lights | [108] | |||
| Favorite Male Country Artist | Himself | |||||
| 2017 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | |||
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist | Himself | [109] | |||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | Male Artist of the Year | Himself | [110] | |||
| Country Artist of the Year | Himself | |||||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Tour | Kill the Lights Tour | [111] | |||
| Billboard Chart Achievement Award | Himself | |||||
| CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year | "Huntin', Fishin,' and Lovin' Every Day" | [112] | |||
| Male Video of the Year | ||||||
| CMT Performance of the Year | "Want to Want Me" | |||||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Country Artist | Himself | [113] | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| 2018 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | |||
| Country Music Association Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Male Artist - Country | Himself | [114] | |||
| 2019 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Album of the Decade | Crash My Party | |||
| Entertainer of the Year | Luke Bryan | |||||
| Single of the Year | "Most People Are Good" | |||||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | Country Artist of the Year | Himself | [115] | |||
| Country Song of the Year | "Most People Are Good" | |||||
| CMT Music Awards | Male Video of the Year | "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" | [116] | |||
| Collaborative Video of the Year | "Straight To Hell" | |||||
| 2020 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Country Artist of the Year | Himself | |||
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| CMT Music Awards | Male Video of the Year | One Margarita | ||||
| 2021 | Country Radio Broadcasters | Artist Humanitarian Award | Himself | Himself | [117] | |
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||||
| Album of the Year | Born Here Live Here Die Here | |||||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Male Country Artist | Himself | ||||
| 2023 | CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year | Country On |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–present | CMT Crossroads | Himself | with The Doobie Brothers and Jason Derulo | |
| 2013–2017 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Co-host | With Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley | |
| 2014 | Nashville | Himself | Episode: How Far Down Can I Go? | |
| 2014–present | Buck Commander | Himself | With Willie Robertson and Adam LaRoche | |
| 2015 | The Voice | Judge | Season 8 finale result | |
| 2017 | Advisor | Season 12: Blake Shelton's team | ||
| 2018–present | American Idol | Judge | With Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. | |
| 2019–present | The Rookie | Himself | Episode: The Overnight | |
| 2020 | Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time | Video Clue Presenter | 1 episode | |
| 2021 | Surrender on the USS Missouri | Narrator | American Public Television documentary | |
| 2021-present | CMA Awards | Host | Peyton Manning co-hosted in 2022 and 2023. |