Luke Combs, the chart-topping country star from North Carolina, has captured the hearts of millions with his soulful voice and relatable lyrics. But beyond his musical achievements, Combs has also embarked on a personal journey toward better health, inspiring fans with his dedication and openness. This article explores Luke Combs' weight loss journey, examining the motivations, methods, and impact of his transformation.
Early Struggles and Motivations
The country artist struggled with his weight for much of his life. Combs has been open about his challenges with weight over the years. As his music career took off, the busy lifestyle in Nashville made it easy to put his health second.
"I think my physical fitness and my appearance and my size has always been something that I struggled with, from the time I was a child," he said during his 2023 segment on Joe Rogan’s podcast. "And it’s this mountain that I’ve always been standing at the bottom of, trying to run up, but then inherently slipping down every time." He added: "And it’s this thing that I feel like if I don’t overcome it in my lifetime, it will be my biggest regret, without a doubt. […] It is a burden that weighs so heavily on me."
Combs emphasized that his concern was not “because I care what other people think about me, about the way I look, about my size or any of that.” Rather, it stemmed from “what I feel like it means about me as a man.” “Because there’s this thing that I wanna accomplish that is solely up to me, nobody else can do it for me, nobody did this to me," he concluded.
Combs also reflected on his fitness and weight fluctuation during his 2023 segment on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He went on: "And it’s this thing that I feel like if I don’t overcome it in my lifetime, it will be my biggest regret, without a doubt. […] It is a burden that weighs so heavily on me." The crooner stressed that this is not "because I care what other people think about me, about the way I look, about my size or any of that." It’s "because what I feel like it means about me as a man," he noted.
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Luke Combs has come a long way since the early days of his country music career! Over the years, the country star has discussed the struggles he’s faced with his weight. It wasn’t until several years into his career that he opened up about the insecurities he has about his appearance. “It was always something that bugged me,” Luke shared in 2022. “Especially when you’re younger. You’re like, ‘Man, I just got a horrible genetic dice roll on this thing.’ You start to realize that almost even more when you’re older. Not that I don’t big out … because I do pig out. I’m not trying to say it’s not my fault because it is in a lot of ways.
Despite his insecurities, Luke continued to show up for televised events and perform live. He later revealed that he struggled to keep things “consistent” in his diet and compared it to drug addiction. “I don’t need a cigarette to be alive, but I need food to be alive,” he pointed out. “It’s like, you would literally die without food.
However, a significant turning point came with the birth of his sons, Tex and Beau. "This having a kid thing has really messed up my head on [my health] in the best way," he said during his 2022 appearance on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 podcast. Combs added: "I want to be around, dude. Do you know what I mean?" He realized that ignoring his health could lead to serious problems. Experts often say that extra weight can raise the risk for issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. As a father who wants to be present for his children’s lives, Combs recognized that health isn’t a burden but rather an investment in his future.
Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle
Luke Combs decided to stay away from crash diets. Instead, he made steady lifestyle shifts and focused on balance. The “Fast Car” singer’s approach to health wasn’t about crash diets or quick fixes. Instead, like the authentic storytelling in his albums, his journey involved steady, sustainable changes.
In recent years, Combs has been forthcoming about his weight loss journey, noting in a 2022 appearance on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music 1 podcast that his sons - Tex, 3, and Beau, 23 months, whom he shares with wife Nicole Hocking - inspired him to get healthy.
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He started with small changes and focused on balance, rather than extreme diets or workouts.
Cutting back on unhealthy fats, processed foods, and sugar played a big role. Drinking water throughout the day and limiting sugary drinks also helped him stay on track.
The Grammy nominee’s weight loss journey took a significant turn when he discovered he had a high sensitivity to gluten, so he adopted a gluten-free diet after learning more about his own health needs. He went gluten-free after discovering a high sensitivity, which helped him drop from 226 pounds to 206 pounds. Luke began following a gluten-free diet, which he said made a big difference for his health and energy. He said cutting out gluten made him feel clearer and less anxious. Combs also paid close attention to his diet, especially by removing gluten.
Exercise became a consistent part of Luke’s plan. He kept it realistic by walking, jogging, and adding basic strength training. Even short daily walks and bodyweight exercises added up.
He did not focus solely on the scale. Instead, he used other signs, like improved energy and better sleep, to measure his progress.
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Consistency has been the biggest key for Luke Combs. He keeps up with balanced eating and regular activity, rather than looking for quick-fix solutions.
The Impact of His Transformation
Combs’ weight loss journey was not just about his body. Luke Combs saw a big shift in how he felt about himself after losing weight. Dropping from 226 pounds to 206 pounds gave him more energy and improved his mood. He focused on smaller goals that were easier to stick to, instead of aiming for perfection. He shared that the changes did not just affect his physical health, but also improved how he thought about himself. Being in the public eye came with a lot of pressure for Luke Combs.
Combs talked about his struggle with a rare form of OCD and how losing weight and making healthier choices made a big difference for his mental health. Luke focused on spending more time with his family and setting boundaries. Creating distance from negativity helped him stay grounded. Making these changes allowed him to perform with more confidence and enjoy his career without as much worry.
Luke Combs’ story goes beyond a typical weight loss journey, it’s a picture of how commitment, vulnerability, and personal growth can shape a lifetime. Luke Combs changed his daily habits to achieve better health and lasting confidence. The year Luke Combs decided to take control of his health, he wasn’t just chasing numbers on a scale; he was becoming the guy his first son, could look up to.
Photos from performances spanning from June to October show his gradual transformation. In May 2024, the Grammy nominee proudly displayed his slimmer physique in a photo with Keith Urban. On May 8, 2024, Keith Urban posted a picture featuring himself and Combs, accompanied by the caption: "LC and KU on a rando Wednesday mornin’ on Music Row!" In the snapshot, Combs, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans with a neatly trimmed beard, appeared noticeably thinner. Later, in October 2024, Combs looked radiant as he performed at the Concert For Carolina benefit show at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the Concert For Carolina Benefit at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 26th, many fans took note of Combs' slim-down as they continue to praise his journey and progress on social media. Luke looked even slimmer while performing at the Concert For Carolina Benefit Concert at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 26, 2024. Luke Combs showcased the impressive results of his 20-pound weight loss at a recent concert in North Carolina.
Even Keith Urban, a fellow country artist, has shown support for Combs’ health journey.
Combating AI Scams and Maintaining Authenticity
However, Luke Combs' journey hasn't been without its challenges. Like many celebrities, he has faced the issue of AI scammers using his likeness to promote weight loss products. Combs and Wilson are just the latest country singers, joining names like Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, and Miranda Lambert, to have their likenesses hijacked online by AI scammers. The frightening thing is that some are falling for it, because, at least in the case of Combs, the AI voice is just that good.
Chris Kappy, Combs’ manager, tells Rolling Stone. “The first version of it, you can tell it definitely wasn’t Luke. But the second and third versions, where they kept tweaking the voice, got closer and closer,” “I know Luke’s speaking voice like the back of my hand, but people I know were falling for it. Kappy posted about the fake ads on Instagram to warn fans and sound an AI alarm for the industry. “To other managers out there, AI is a scary thing and they’re using it against us,” he wrote. “Scams have been going on in the country-music fan base for a long time, and it’s because the fan base is so passionately loyal about the artists that they can prey on that,” Kappy says. “I’ve been talking to different managers and saying, ‘You need to pay extra attention to this because they’re going to come for everybody.’ We need to keep our heads on a swivel right now because it’s only going to get worse. Unfortunately, like anyone who has been impersonated online knows (including Rolling Stone journalists), shutting down imposters can be, at best, a game of Whac-A-Mole.
Both Combs’ and Wilson’s teams have explored legal action, but against whom, exactly, has been hard for them to ascertain. “There’s no real way to get in front of it because, sure, you could go after the creators - if you can find them,” says Mandelyn Monchick, Wilson’s manager. “You don’t know who to go after. Do you sue the person who created the fake ad? Or the software company? While her team worked to shut down the ads behind the scenes, Wilson, who leveled up as country’s newest star with the release of her album Bell Bottom Country, a string of CMA awards, and a prime spot opening for Combs on his stadium tour, posted a personal video online cautioning fans about the scam.
This highlights the importance of authenticity, which is a core value in country music. The authenticity and openness inherent to country music is arguably what also makes its stars - and their fan bases - so exploitable: Fans want to believe.