For most singers, performing their first concert or landing a record deal was a major milestone in their career. But over the last few years, it seemed that in country music, opening a bar solidified a singer’s spot in the genre. Looking at country music, singers like Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and Kid Rock all opened a bar and restaurant. And when celebrating the full opening of his Category 10, Luke Combs decided to honor the occasion by performing two new songs.
Calling it The Big Kickoff, Category 10 not only featured a full bar but also access to the rooftop. Allowing patrons to see the landscape below, Combs believed it was the perfect time to showcase some new music. But before playing the first note, the country singer discussed his passion for music and being a father. “I’ve been recording a bunch of new stuff, you know. I did the dad record and that’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. I’m really, really proud of that and those are things that I really needed to say, and I really needed to get off my chest. I had a lot of emotions having my two boys, especially that close together. My oldest is 2 1/2 and my youngest is 1, so it’s busy at the house.”
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Growing a family with his wife Nicole Hocking, the singer insisted that he loved being a father but also enjoyed finding his way back to the studio. “I’m playing in the yard and hanging out with my wife and cooking meals and I love that so much. But getting in the studio here the last couple of days has been so much fun and I’m not gonna play you a whole song or nothing, I’m not gonna give you too much but felt like a preview.”
Luke Combs Offered Warning Before Performing New Songs
With fans pumped to hear new music from Combs, he warned those in attendance that it might not be good given how early he was in the writing process. “This might be really bad man I just I was messing with this in the green room and it’s hard to kind of sing it. But I wrote this with my buddies Dan and Reid (Isbell), and Jacob Davis. I’ll just play a little verse chorus. See what you think of it.”
Getting just a sample, Combs recently noted how he wrote about 50 songs for the new album. With more than enough material, he explained to Steve Rinella, “I’m at the point now, I’m about to go in the studio for the first session on cutting my next record. So I’m trying to cut probably, anywhere from like, in a worst case scenario four or best case six… I would say right now, songs that are in serious contention to make the record, I mean like forty to fifty? You got to whittle it down.”
While Combs understood he couldn’t release every song, the country singer found the process to be difficult. “Then you’re getting into like, it’s like heavyweight fights because all the songs you really like all of them.”
Since 2022, Combs released a new album every year with Growin Up, Gettin’ Old, and his latest, Fathers & Sons. With his recent album hitting shelves in June 2024, the singer wasn’t ready to slow down just yet.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Grand Ole Opry)