Luke Combs

Mitchell Tenpenny

Riley Green

Luke Combs • World Tour • Nashville

Luke Combs proved those who doubted him wrong when he took the stage to a capacity crowd of 50,000 people with a calm, cool, and collected demeanor, opening with “Lovin’ on You” as fans roared at the sight of his presence. Since moving to Nashville in 2014, Combs has certainly accomplished a rare feat, as he’s managed to amass 15 consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio and quickly elevated from opening act to stadium headliner.

He’s a rock star at this point, as evidenced by the waves of people singing along to every word. Yet Combs maintained his down-to-earth spirit throughout the two-hour set packed with chart-topping hits including “When It Rains It Pours,” “Cold as You,” “One Number Away” and the most recent of his mounting collection of No. 1s, “Going, Going, Gone.” In between the hits, Combs showcased his sentimental side with love songs “Forever After All” and “Beautiful Crazy,” both of which he wrote for his wife Nicole, that had everyone in the crowd from teens to grown men swaying and shouting along.

But one of the most humbling moments came when Combs looked back on how he wrote one of his signature hits, “She Got the Best of Me.” He was 24 and living above the popular Nashville bar, Tin Roof, where he used to work and perform.

“I never imagined anyone would hear this—from the bar I worked at to 50,000 people—I know 24-year-old me would really love to hear you sing this,” Combs professed, the crowd obliging with one of the most spirited sing-a-longs of the night.

Combs later called on storming drums to build up momentum to the song that “changed my life.” He launched into his breakthrough hit “Hurricane,” which took him from a burgeoning artist to superstar status. The sound likely carried beyond the stadium walls with how loud the crowd was singing on the closing number, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” bringing the show to a spirited close.