How Luke Bryan Uses His Fame to Help Rising Stars
By Movieguide® Contributor
Country music star Luke Bryan opened up about his climb to success, revealing how he uses his platform to elevate up-and-coming singers.
“For most of my career I went up [on stage] going, I got to prove myself. So it’s really liberating and gratifying to just go, I am what I am,” Bryan told PEOPLE. “I earned it the old-fashioned way: working my butt off.”
“When I had 100 people in the room, I had a blast, and tonight it’ll be the same thing,” he added. “The day you quit loving it, it’s time to move on. Thankfully I’ve never had those feelings. It’s pretty hard for being in front of 20,000 people to get old.”
While some stars take their fame for granted, Bryan stays grounded.
When Bryan was in his early 20s, he planned to move to Nashville to pursue his music career. However, plans changed when his brother Chris died in a car accident, prompting Bryan to stay home and graduate from Georgia Southern University instead. This delayed his music career, and he didn’t move to Nashville until he was 25. He didn’t land a hit until he was 30.
While it’s not the path he would have chosen at the time, in hindsight, Bryan sees how those extra years made a huge difference for the better.
“I think at 20 I would’ve processed it all a lot differently, with a lot less maturity,” he said. “When I moved to Nashville when I was 25, I could read people better. I could navigate the shady crowd. It helped me a lot in those aspects.”
It also helped him find his personality, differentiating him from everyone else in Nashville trying to make it as a country singer.
“When I was younger, I wouldn’t have really known who I was as an artist. Back then I was just singing other people’s songs and trying to figure out what I want to be,” he explained. “Now I know the main thing is to do your best to tell your story in the most authentic and relatable way.”
“I can’t go back and question any of the stars or fate at how it all shaped out,” he added. “I look back, and I’m proud of my climb to get here.”
Remembering his past, Bryan now uses his position to help aspiring country singers to reach their full potential.
“He’s always been a buy to act on his desire to help and uplift up-and-coming artist. It’s been such a blessing to be on the receiving end of that wisdom,” said up-and-coming singer Conner Smith, who toured with Bryan.
“He’s just such a legendary artist to get to go on tour with. Obviously, he was such a soundtrack to my growing up so I’m super excited,” Smith added about the tour.
“I’m very appreciative of him and all the support he’s given me and direction,” said Chayce Beckham, who also joined Bryan’s tour. “It’s not somebody that you would anticipate becoming your friend, you know, he’s just such a big celebrity. You don’t anticipate ever getting there.”
“It’s not an act,” Bryan said about performing. “I’m in the movement, I’m having fun, and I’m feeding off fans’ energy. I love to make people smile. That’s why I fell in love with music.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Bryan:
Once Danielle concluded the performance, Luke Bryan revealed that he had picked the song for her and that it was nothing short of “unbelievable.”
“What I love about you is … you’re never scared to tell everybody your faith,” Bryan stated to Danielle.
He added, “When I thought about that song, I … just felt in my heart that I couldn’t pick a better one than that for you.”
