Luke Bryan Biography

Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He began his music career writing songs for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington - before signing with Capitol Nashville with his cousin, Chad Christopher Boyd, in 2007.

Bryan's first nine albums - I'll Stay Me (2007), Doin' My Thing (2009), Tailgates & Tanlines (2011), Crash My Party (2013), Spring Break...Here to Party (2014), Spring Break...Checkin' Out (2015), Kill the Lights (2015), Farm Tour... Here's to the Farmer (2016), and What Makes You Country (2017); have included fourteen number-one hits. Bryan often co-writes with Jeff Stevens.

In 2013, Bryan received the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Country Music Association Awards "Entertainer of the Year" award - and has sold over seven million albums and 27 million singles worldwide.

Early life

Luke Bryan was born in Leesburg, Georgia, to LeClaire and Tommy Bryan, a peanut farmer. Shortly before Luke was going to move to Nashville at age 19, tragedy struck his family. "My older brother, Chris, was unexpectedly killed in a ... car accident ... I'm kind of hyperventilating talking about it. ... You never truly ... move beyond it." 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."

Instead, Luke went to college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Two years later, Bryan finally made it to Nashville, after his father told 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."

Music career

2006-2009: I'll Stay Me

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.

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. 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. 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.

2009-2011: Doin' My Thing

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." 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 Antebellum, whose lead singer Hillary Scott also sings backing vocals on it. The song reached number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

"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." 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.

2011-2013: Tailgates & Tanlines

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. Also co-written by Bryan and Davidson, 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." 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. 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.

2013-2015: Crash My Party

Luke Bryan's fourth studio album, Crash My Party, was released on August 12, 2013. The album's first single, "Crash My Party", was premiered in a performance at the 2013 ACM Awards and released on April 7, 2013. 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. 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. 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. On the same day, he also released his sixth Spring Break EP, Spring Break 6...Like We Ain't Ever.

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.

2015-2018: Kill the Lights and What Makes You Country

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", 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. "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.

It was announced that Bryan would perform at halftime of the 2015 Thanksgiving match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

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.

On February 5, 2017, Bryan performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. In September 2017, Bryan was announced as a judge for the revival of American Idol on ABC.

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.

In 2019, when American Idol returned for another season on ABC, Bryan returned along with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges.

2019-present: Untitled seventh studio album

"Knockin' Boots" was released to country radio in March 2019.

Personal life

Bryan is married to Caroline Boyer, whom he rekindled with at a local bar while attending Georgia Southern University when Bryan was a senior and Boyer was a freshman. The two married on December 8, 2006, and have two sons together, Thomas Boyer Bryan, born March 18, 2008, and Tatum Christopher Bryan, born Aug 11, 2010.

In 2007, Bryan's older sister Kelly died unexpectedly at home of unknown causes, several days after organizing friends to attend his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. After Kelly's husband Ben Lee Cheshire died in 2014, Bryan and his wife began raising their nephew Brooks (Til) and taking care of their nieces Kris and Jordan.

The combined tragedies of losing his brother and sister is the inspiration behind the performance of Bryan's single Drink a Beer (written by Chris Stapleton).

In 2015, Forbes estimated Bryan's annual income at $42.5 million.

Bryan is a co-owner of Buck Commander, the sister company of Duck Commander. Buck Commander teamed up with the Outdoor channel and created a TV show for the avid hunter and enthusiast. Starring in the show are Bryan; Grant Taylor; Jordan Summit; Mike Miller; Willie Robertson, co-owner of Duck Commander; former MLB players Ryan Langerhans, Adam LaRoche and Tombo Martin; and Jason Aldean, a country singer-songwriter.

Philanthropy

Bryan has supported numerous charities and causes, including the City of Hope and Red Cross. The causes Bryan supports are AIDS and HIV, cancer, children's disaster relief, health, and human rights.

Following the death of her niece, Bryan's wife Caroline established Brett's Barn in her honor. 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's syndrome and congenital heart disease. 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.

Artistry

Vocals

Bryan possesses a high baritone vocal range of two octaves from A2 to A4. 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."

Influences

Bryan has cited country artists George Strait, Alan Jackson, Alabama, and Merle Haggard as influences on his career. He also cited hip hop bands Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. as the 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."

Discography

Albums

• 2007: I'll Stay Me
• 2009: Doin' My Thing
• 2011: Tailgates & Tanlines
• 2013: Crash My Party
• 2015: Kill the Lights
• 2017: What Makes You Country

Tours

Headlining

• Dirt Road Diaries Tour (2013)
• That's My Kind of Night Tour (2014-15)
• Kick the Dust Up Tour (2015)
• Kill The Lights Tour (2016-17)
• Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour (2017)
• What Makes You Country Tour (2018)
• Sunset Repeat Tour (2019)

Supporting

• Emotional Traffic Tour with Tim McGraw (2011)
• My Kind of Party Tour with Jason Aldean (2012)
• Own The Night Tour with Lady Antebellum (2012)
• Night Train Tour with Jason Aldean (2013), one show

Minor tours

• Farm Tour (2014-16)

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref
2010	Academy of Country Music Awards	Top New Solo Vocalist	Himself
		Top New Artist
	CMT Music Awards	USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year	"Do I"
	Country Music Association Awards	New Artist of the Year	Himself
2011	CMT Music Awards	Best Web Video of the Year	"It's a Shore Thing"
		Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award	Himself
	Country Music Association Awards	New Artist of the Year	Himself
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Music: Country Song	"Country Girl (Shake It for Me)"
		Choice Music: Country Artist Male	Himself
	American Country Awards	Male Artist of the Year
		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"
	Teen Choice Awards	Teen Choice Award for Music - Male Country Artist	Himself
	Country Music Association Awards	Male Vocalist of the Year
		Album of the Year	Tailgates & Tanlines
	American Music Awards	Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself
		Favorite Country Album	Tailgates & Tanlines
	American Country Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself
		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	Country Music Association Awards	Entertainer of the Year	Himself
		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
		Top Country Album	Tailgates & Tanlines
		Top Country Song	"Drunk on You"
	CMT Music Awards	Video of the Year	"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye"
		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
		Favorite Country Album	Crash My Party
2014	Billboard Music Awards	Top Billboard 200 Album	Crash My Party
		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"
	Country Music Association Awards	Entertainer of the Year	Himself
		Male Vocalist of the Year
		Album of the Year	Crash My Party
	American Music Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself
		Favorite Country Male Artist
	American Country Countdown Awards	Artist of the Year
		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)
2015	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself
	Academy of Country Music Awards	Entertainer of the Year
		Male Vocalist of the Year
		Vocal Event of the Year	"This Is How We Roll" with Florida Georgia Line)
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Artist	Himself
		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"
		Video of the Year
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Country Artist	Himself
		Choice Country Song	"Kick the Dust Up"
	Canadian Country Music Association	Top Selling Album	Crash My Party
	CMA Awards	Male Vocalist of the Year	Himself
		Entertainer of the Year
	American Music Awards	Artist of the Year
		Favorite Country Male Artist
2016	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Male Artist
		Favorite Male Country Artist
	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Male Artist of the Year	Himself
		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
		Vocal Event of the Year	"Home Alone Tonight"
	American Country Countdown Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself
		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
		Top Country Album	Kill the Lights
	American Music Awards	Favorite Country Album
		Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself
2017	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself
	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Male Artist of the Year	Himself
		Country Artist of the Year	Himself
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Tour	Kill the Lights Tour
		Billboard Chart Achievement Award	Himself
	CMT Music Awards	Video of the Year	"Huntin"?, Fishin,"? and Lovin"? Every Day"
		Male Video of the Year
		CMT Performance of the Year	"Want to Want Me"
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Country Artist	Himself
2018	American Music Awards	Favorite Male Artist - Country	Himself
2019	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Country Artist of the Year	Himself
		Country Song of the Year	"Most People Are Good"
	CMT Music Awards	Male Video of the Year	"Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset"
		Collaborative Video of the Year	"Straight To Hell"

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2011-present	CMT Crossroads	Himself	with The Doobie Brothers and Jason Derulo
2013-2017	Academy of Country Music Awards	Himself	Co-host Alongside with Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley
2014	Nashville	Himself	Episode: How Far Down Can I Go?
2015	The Voice	Himself	Season 8 finale result
2017		Himself/Advisor	Season 12: Blake Shelton's team
2018-present	American Idol	Himself/Judge