Who Is Luke Bryan?

 Born in Georgia in 1976, Luke Bryan found professional success as a 
song writer before delivering his debut album, I'll Stay Me, in 2007. 
He followed with the acclaimed albums Doin' My Thing, 
Tailgates & Tanlines, Crash My Party and Kill the Lights, the last 
of which produced a record-breaking six No. 1 singles on the 
Billboard Country Airplay chart. In late 2017, Bryan released his 
fourth album to top the Billboard Top 200, What Makes You Country, 
before debuting as a judge for a revived American Idol early the 
following year.

           Luke Bryan's Albums and Hit Songs

    'I'll Stay Me'


 Bryan introduced himself to a wider audience with "All My Friends Say," 
the lead single from his debut album, I'll Stay Me (2007). The song 
spent more than 30 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 
peaking of No. 5, while "We Rode in Trucks" and "Country Man" also 
earned favorable receptions, propelling the album to No. 2 on the 
Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

    'Doin' My Thing'


 After kicking off Doin' My Thing (2009) with "Do I," a legitimate 
crossover hit, Bryan scored his first two No. 1 country singles with 
"Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Someone Else Calling You Baby." Doin' 
My Thing became his second straight album to reach the No. 2 spot 
on the Hot Country Songs chart.

  'Tailgates & Tanlines'


 Bryan made his fans wait another two years for Tailgates & Tanlines 
(2011), an album that cemented his standing as one of the top artists 
in the business. Several tracks, including "I Don't Want This Night to End,
" "Drunk on You" and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," became No. 1 country hits.

 He followed with Spring Break...Here to Party (2013), an album of tracks 
from previous EPs, as well as the new songs "Buzzkill" and "Just a Sip."

    'Crash My Party'


 Bryan notched a whopping five No. 1 singles on Billboard's Country 
Airplay chart with his fourth studio effort, Crash My Party (2013). 
Among its celebrated tracks are "Drink a Beer," which the artist has 
described as "the coolest sad song ever," and "Play It Again."

    'Kill the Lights'


 Bryan's fifth studio album, Kill the Lights (2015), was noted for 
showcasing the artist in a quieter, more contemplative light. The 
result was an unprecedented level of success, as a record-breaking 
six singles, including "Kick the Dust Up," "Strip It Down" and 
"Fast," went on to top the Country Airplay chart.

 'Here's To The Farmer'


 To commemorate his upcoming “Farm Tour” series of dates this Autumn, the 
singer is releasing a five-song set that is one of his most entertaining in 
quite a while. With the emphasis on agriculture settings, the 
instrumentation is a little bit more traditional Country based, and Bryan 
sounds like he is in his element. Songs like “I Do All My Dreaming There” 
reflect a Luke Bryan that is very much from the tiny metropolis of Leesburg, 
Georgia. It’s a song about roots, and how Bryan’s played a role 
in the artist that he has become.

'What Makes You Country'


 Following the release of his new single "Light It Up," Bryan debuted 
his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, What Makes You Country, 
in December 2017. He dropped the album's second single, "Most People 
Are Good," shortly before embarking on the What Makes You Country 
Tour in February 2018.

                  Wife and Children

 Bryan began dating his future wife, Caroline Boyer, while the two were 
attending Georgia Southern University in 1998. Although they soon 
split up, they rekindled the relationship a few years later. 
Married in December 2006, they went on to have two sons, Thomas 
"Bo" and Tatum "Tate" Bryan.

                   Family Tragedies

 For all his successes, Bryan has also endured enough heartbreak for 
one lifetime. When he was just 19 and ready for his big move to 
Nashville, his world was rocked when his older brother, Chris, was 
killed in a car accident. A few years later, in 2007, his sister, Kelly, 
suddenly and mysteriously died, the autopsy unable to provide a cause.

 In 2014, Kelly's husband also unexpectedly passed, leaving the three 
surviving children with no parents. Noting, "We never thought twice 
about it," Caroline and Luke Bryan soon became the guardians for their 
nieces and nephew.

              'American Idol ' Judge

 In September 2017, Luke Bryan was announced as one of the judges for a 
reboot of American Idol, rounding out a panel that also featured pop star 
Katy Perry and veteran crooner Lionel Richie.

 Prior to the show's debut in March 2018, Bryan admitted to Good Morning 
America that he was no Simon Cowell when it came to dashing the dreams 
of hopeful artists. "It's a little out of my comfort zone to just pick 
people apart, but you have to," he said. "It's what you signed up for."

                 Award-Winning Artist

 Beginning with his Academy of Country Music wins for top new vocalist and 
artist, Bryan has racked up a truckload of awards since his first album. 
He claimed a whopping nine wins at the 2012 American Country Awards, 
and has earned Entertainer of the Year honors from both the Academy of 
Country Music and Country Music Association. Byran has also taken home 
trophies from the American Country Countdown Awards, the Billboard 
Music Awards and the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

               TV Special and Noted Performances

 In November 2017, Bryan shared the stories of his triumphs and tragedies 
and provided a look at his life offstage with the ABC special 
Living Every Day: Luke Bryan.

 The artist made his debut performance at the the Grand Ole Opry in 2007, 
and 10 years later he was the first to perform at the Opry's "home away 
from home" at the Opry City Stage in New York City's Times Square. Earlier 
that year, he sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LI at 
NRG Stadium in Houston.

         Luke Bryan's Hometown and Musical Influences

 Born Thomas Luther Bryan in Leesburg, Georgia, on July 17, 1976, 
Luke Bryan grew up the youngest son of a farmer. Always interested in 
music, Bryan was raised on his parents’ record collection, which included 
such country artists as George Strait, Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard.

 When he was 14, Bryan’s parents bought him a guitar, and it wasn’t long 
before he was good enough on the instrument, and with his voice, to begin 
sitting in with local musicians. In high school, Bryan performed in 
musicals and wrote his own songs, which he sang with a band he started.

              Georgia Southern to Nashville

 Following his brother's death, Bryan put his Nashville dreams on hold 
and continued his education at Georgia Southern University to be close 
to his family. He also kept busy by working on his father’s peanut farm 
and playing with a new band at night on campus and in local bars.


 Bryan burned to pursue a musical career, and he wrote songs continually, 
releasing a self-produced album during this period. His father saw 
Bryan’s dream slipping away, and he knew there was only one way to get 
Bryan back on track: He told his son to pack up his truck and hit the 
road to Tennessee or he was fired.

 Bryan moved to Nashville in 2001, quickly landing a songwriting contract 
with a local publishing house. He earned writing credits for some of 
country music's top artists, including Travis Tritt. At night, he performed 
his own music at local clubs, and when an A&R rep from Capitol Records 
saw him perform one night, Bryan was signed to the label.

                        Charity Work

 When he’s not touring or recording new music, Bryan works with St. Jude 
Children’s Research Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also 
raised funds for his hometown YMCA in honor of his brother and sister.