Bryan is a five-time "Entertainer of the Year", being awarded by both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association. In 2019, Bryan's 2013 album Crash My Party received the first Album of the Decade award from the Academy of Country Music.
Luke Bryan was born in Leesburg, Georgia, to LeClaire and Tommy Bryan, who owned a peanut farm. Shortly before Luke was going to move to Nashville at age 19, his elder brother Chris was unexpectedly killed in a car accident. 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, 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.
Two years after graduating from college, Bryan finally made it to Nashville, 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".
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 #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 #33 while "Country Man" reached #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 A, whose lead singer Hillary Scott also sings backing vocals on it. The song reached #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 #1 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 #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. "Country Girl" peaked at #4 on the country music charts and #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 #1 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 14 songs - 12 from his previous Spring Break EPs and two new tracks. It was released on March 5. The album debuted at #1 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 #1 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 #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in August 2013 and peaked at #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 #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in January 2014 and #1 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 #1 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 #1 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 #1 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 #1 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 #1 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 #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. "Strip It Down" went #1 in October 2015, making fourteen cumulative #1's. The album's third single, "Home Alone Tonight", released to country radio on November 23, 2015. The song also became his 15th song to reach #1. 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 #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Bryan the first artist in the 27-year history of the chart to achieve six #1 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.
When American Idol returned for another season on ABC, Bryan returned along with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges.
2019–2021: Born Here Live Here Die Here
"Knockin' Boots" was released to country radio in March 2019. In October 2019, "What She Wants Tonight" was released to country radio as the second single from his upcoming album. In January 2020, Bryan announced his next album would be titled Born Here Live Here Die Here 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. On March 13, 2020, "One Margarita" was released as the third single from his upcoming album. 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. On June 12, 2020, Bryan released the track "Build Me A Daddy" along with a music video for the song. On October 19, 2020, the song "Down to One" was made the fourth single from the album. A Deluxe edition of Born Here Live Here Die Here, released on April 9, 2021, produced the album's fifth single, "Waves", as well as its sixth single, "Up," which was released on October 11, 2021. 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.
Country Man
Luke Bryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To come and warm you up up in that cold hayloft
Let me hold you little darling in my big strong arms
Can't get these kind of muscles anywhere but a farm
Hey, I'm a country man
A city boy can't do the things I can
I can grow my own groceries
Hey baby, I'm a country man
I've got a jeep with camouflage seats
That way nobody sees us parked back up in these trees
Your little ipod loaded down with Hoobastank
Don't be a tape player hater girl were groovin' to Hank
Hey, I'm a country man
A city boy can't do the things I can
I can hot-wire your tractor
And plow up your land
Hey baby, I'm a country man
You like the ivy league hum-v tennis sweater type
But girl I'm here to tell you don't believe the hype
Hey, I'm a country man
I can wrestle hogs and gators with my two bare hands
Girl you better move quick
I'm in high demand
Hey baby, I'm a country man
Hey, I'm a country man
Huntin' me a good ole' country girlfriend
Why don't you come and join me
In my new deerstand
Hey baby, I'm a country man
Hey baby, I'ma country man
The lyrics of Luke Bryan's "Country Man" celebrate the physical toughness, hardworking nature, and self-sufficiency that define the country lifestyle. The song opens with the singer boasting that he has the rough, muscular hands required to keep a lover warm in a chilly hayloft. Bryan exudes a sense of pride in his rural roots, contrasting himself with the weak and pampered "city boy" who can't keep up with his rugged ways.
Bryan's lyrics suggest that country life requires a level of strength and resilience that can't be found in any other setting. He notes that he can grow his own food and cure his own ham, skills that only a farmer might possess. The song also highlights some of the more playful aspects of rural life. Bryan takes pride in owning a camouflage jeep, and he pokes fun at the idea of the "ipod loaded down with Hoobastank."
Overall, "Country Man" celebrates the physical and emotional resilience of rural life. The song's emphasis on strength, self-sufficiency, and pride in one's roots resonates with listeners who share a similar country lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
You need hands, rough not soft
You need someone who works hard and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.
To come and warm you up up in that cold hayloft
To keep you warm in a cold and uncomfortable place, like a hayloft.
Let me hold you little darling in my big strong arms
Let me protect you and make you feel safe in my strong embrace.
Can't get these kind of muscles anywhere but a farm
The strength and endurance required for farm work cannot be developed through any other means.
Hey, I'm a country man
I am proud of my rural background and lifestyle.
A city boy can't do the things I can
The skills and abilities required for country living are not possessed by those who grow up in the city.
I can grow my own groceries
I am self-sufficient and able to produce my own food.
And salt cure a ham
I am skilled in traditional methods of preserving meat.
I've got a jeep with camouflage seats
I have a vehicle that is suited for off-road driving and hunting.
That way nobody sees us parked back up in these trees
We can enjoy some privacy and seclusion by parking off the main road.
Your little ipod loaded down with Hoobastank
Your modern music tastes don't match up with my more traditional preferences.
Don't be a tape player hater girl were groovin' to Hank
Don't dislike or dismiss country music, because we can still have a good time listening to the classics.
I can hot-wire your tractor
I am skilled at starting and operating farm equipment.
And plow up your land
I can prepare the soil for planting crops or other farm-related activities.
You like the ivy league hum-v tennis sweater type
You prefer a more preppy, upscale image than my rugged country style.
But girl I'm here to tell you don't believe the hype
I want you to see past superficial stereotypes and appreciate me for who I truly am.
I can wrestle hogs and gators with my two bare hands
I have the physical strength and bravery to handle dangerous animals without any weapons or tools.
Girl you better move quick
If you want to be with me, you need to act fast and not let the opportunity slip away.
I'm in high demand
Many other people are also interested in being with me.
Huntin' me a good ole' country girlfriend
I am actively seeking a romantic partner who shares my lifestyle and values.
Why don't you come and join me
I want you to be a part of my life and share in all of its adventures and experiences.
In my new deerstand
Together, we can enjoy the sport of hunting from my newly-built perch in the woods.
Hey baby, I'm a country man
I am confident in my abilities and proud of my rural heritage.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUKE BRYAN, GALEN GRIFFIN, PATRICK MATTHEWS, PATRICK JASON MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oswaldo Puerta
You can tell Luke has lots of fun while singing and really enjoys what he does. Great song
Hannah Shilling
hey luke
Hiddles4Ever -For The Love Of Tom Hiddleston
This will always be my favorite song and video by Luke..Saw him in concert when this song was popular..He kicks ass in concert.
Chuckie Weatfall
I bet
Kimberly Bishop
I'm still mad at all of my friends who wouldn't go see him at a local bar for $20 when the album dropped right before he blew up! It was a charity concert for St Jude's Children's Hospital at it was at the local country bar 😆
Mike Guerrero
I miss the old Luke Bryan. The energy this video oozes is amazing.
Rosangela Silva
Amoooo luke Bryan , country é bom demais 🌷✌️😜🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
dustin720
Luke's deffinitly one of my top favorites, down to earth group and makes great music!
Diana Smith
One of my favorites from Luke! Smilin every time I hear or watch this!! GOOD STUFF!!
Louise Smock
I think this is my absolute favorite video. They looked like they had a blast making it. My daughter (who was 2 at the time) waited until I got home from work every day and asked, "Mommy can we watch the silly boy's video?" We would both sit down and watch it and just laugh. WTG Luke, you are definitely a hit with us.