Imagine a present costing only about $50 turning into a career worth over $100 million. That is the story of Luke Combs’ first guitar, a Christmas 1999 gift. The small Ibanez guitar was a time bomb of future fame. It sat “untouched” in his house for roughly 12 years before he even cared to learn it.
He was a nine-year-old kid in his pajamas with a visor on, holding the guitar in a throwback picture, he recently shared. This simple photo shows his quiet beginning. It is funny to think this casual moment led to him becoming a massive country music star. The guitar waited patiently for the right time.
I was 9 years old and my parents had just given me my first guitar.
Fans saw the old picture and fell in love with the story. One person said it was the “best investment they could’ve made.” Others focused on the nostalgia, joking that the visor “goes hard as hell.” This fun chatter proves how real and relatable Luke Combs is to his listeners.
The guitar stayed hidden until Luke was 21 and had dropped out of college. He was “sitting around sulking.” Then his mom gave him the perfect advice: big stars like Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw didn’t start playing until age 21 either.
Luke Combs & Alex Warren – Ordinary (Live at Lollapalooza)
That simple sentence was the spark he needed. It pushed him to pick up the guitar and teach himself. This led him to the massive Lollapalooza stage to perform “Ordinary” live with Alex Warren. Playing at a festival known for other music proved he made country music huge and mainstream.
Luke Combs shows us that destiny might sleep for a long time, but it needs a little push to wake up. His honest singing and down-to-earth style make everyone feel like they know him. Follow Luke Combs on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with his fantastic journey.