Early life

Bryan was born in rural Leesburg, Georgia to LeClaire (née Watkins) and Tommy Bryan, a peanut farmer. Shortly before Luke was going to move to Nashville at age 19, tragedy struck his family. "My older brother, Chris, was unexpectedly killed in a ... car accident ... I'm kind of hyperventilating talking about it. ... You never truly ... move beyond it." His mother, LeClaire, had made a statement: "We knew Luke at some point would come to Nashville," his mother said. "But ... you can't leave your family, and ... I couldn't bear the thought of him being away." Instead, Luke went to college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. One of Bryan's Chapter Brothers is Cole Swindell, Georgia Southern 2005 who won the Academy of Country Music's New Artist of the Year Award in 2015. He made it to Nashville years later after his father told him to pack his truck to pursue a career in music. He finally gained success as a songwriter, but soon after he signed as a performer; his first big hit was "All My Friends Say". When Luke was invited to perform at the famous Grand Ole Opry, his older sister, Kelly, organized 129 people to attend his Opry debut. A few days after his performance, his sister unexpectedly died at home for unknown reasons. Bryan said the cause remains undetermined. "My only older siblings ... gone from the world, in a flash in two, two different, crazy, tragic manners, that ... we'll never know, and never understand."

Music career

2006-09: I'll Stay Me

Soon after his arrival in Nashville, Bryan joined a publishing house in the city. Among his first cuts was the title track of Travis Tritt's 2004 album My Honky Tonk History. He was later signed by Capitol Nashville to a recording contract. In the meantime, Bryan co-wrote Billy Currington's single "Good Directions", which went to number 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts in mid-2007. Bryan co-wrote his debut single, "All My Friends Say", with producer Jeff Stevens. This song reached a peak of number 5 on Hot Country Songs. In August 2007, Capitol released Bryan's debut album, I'll Stay Me. Bryan wrote or co-wrote all but one of its 11 songs. The album's second single, "We Rode in Trucks", peaked at number 33 while "Country Man" reached number 10.

2009-11: Doin' My Thing

On March 10, 2009, he released an EP titled Spring Break with All My Friends that featured two new songs, "Sorority Girls" and "Take My Drunk Ass Home," plus an acoustic version of "All My Friends Say." After this EP, he released his fourth single, "Do I" in May 2009. Bryan wrote the song with Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum, whose lead singer Hillary Scott also sings backing vocals on it. The song reached number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

"Do I" was included on Bryan's second album, Doin' My Thing, which was released in October 2009. Also included on the album was a cover of OneRepublic's "Apologize". Bryan wrote the album's next two singles, "Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Someone Else Calling You Baby", with Dallas Davidson and Jeff Stevens, respectively. Both of these songs went to number 1 on the country charts. AllMusic gave this album a positive review as well, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine considering Bryan more "relaxed" in comparison to his debut. On February 26, 2010, Bryan released a second EP, titled Spring Break 2...Hangover Edition, which featured three new songs: "Wild Weekend", "Cold Beer Drinker", and "I'm Hungover". While Bryan is mainly known as a country singer, he has explored other genres like alternative music with his cover of "Apologize".

Bryan appeared on the April 18, 2010, episode of Celebrity Apprentice alongside fellow country star Emily West. The task for each team was to make-over an up-and-coming country star, with Bryan being selected by team Rocksolid, led by Bill Goldberg, and West being selected by team Tenacity, led by Cyndi Lauper. Bryan's make-over failed to impress the judges, leading to team Rocksolid losing the task. Bryan's single "Rain Is a Good Thing" and West's single "Blue Sky" were both sold on iTunes with a months worth of sales being donated to Lauper's charity, the Stonewall Community Foundation, resulting in $25,000 being raised.

2011-13: Tailgates & Tanlines

Bryan released his third EP, Spring Break 3...It's a Shore Thing, on February 25, 2011, featuring four new songs—"In Love With the Girl," "If You Ain't Here to Party," "Shore Thing," and "Love In a College Town." This release was followed by Bryan's seventh single, "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)", which was released on March 14, 2011. Also co-written by Bryan and Davidson, it served as the lead-off single to his third studio album, Tailgates & Tanlines, which was released August 9, 2011. The album peaked at number one on the Top Country Albums and number two on the Billboard 200. "Country Girl" peaked at number 4 on the country charts and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's next three singles—"I Don't Want This Night to End", "Drunk on You", and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" — all reached number one on the country charts. Bryan, along with Eric Church, sang guest vocals on Jason Aldean's "The Only Way I Know," the second single from his 2012 album, Night Train.

On March 6, 2012, Bryan released his fourth Spring Break EP entitled Spring Break 4...Suntan City. Along with the title track, which Bryan co-wrote with Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, the EP includes "Spring Break-Up", "Little Bit Later On", and "Shake the Sand". On January 30, 2013, Bryan announced his first compilation album, Spring Break...Here to Party, which includes fourteen songs — twelve from his previous Spring Break EPs and two new tracks. It was released on March 5. The album debuted at number 1 on both the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the Billboard 200, becoming the first album of his career to top the all-genre album chart. One of the new Spring Break songs, "Buzzkill", reached the top 20 on the Hot Country chart.

2013-15: Crash My Party

Bryan's fourth studio album, Crash My Party, was released on August 12, 2013. The album's first single, "Crash My Party", was premiered in a performance at the 2013 ACM Awards and released on April 7, 2013. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in July 2013. The album's second single, "That's My Kind of Night", was released to country radio on August 5, 2013. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs in August 2013 and peaked at 2 on the Country Airplay chart in October 2013. The album's third single, "Drink a Beer", was released to country radio on October 24, 2013. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in January 2014 and number one on the Country Airplay chart in February 2014. During the kickoff show for his 2014 That's My Kind of Night Tour in Columbus, Ohio, Bryan announced to the crowd that "Play It Again" would become the album's fourth single. This song reached number one on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in May 2014. At the same time, Bryan sang guest vocals on Florida Georgia Line's 2014 single "This Is How We Roll". On July 14, 2014, the song "Roller Coaster" was released as the album's fifth single. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in October 2014. The album's sixth single, "I See You", was released to country radio on November 3, 2014. It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in February 2015.

On March 11, 2014, Bryan began his sixth year of spring performances at Spinnaker Beach Club in Panama City Beach, Florida. On the same day, he also released his sixth spring break EP, Spring Break 6...Like We Ain't Ever.

Bryan is the only (current/modern) country artist to release an album of six No. 1 singles on both the Mediabase Country chart and Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

2015-present: Kill the Lights

On November 11, 2014, it was confirmed that Bryan had begun writing and recording songs for his upcoming fifth studio album. His last spring break album, Spring Break...Checkin' Out, was released on March 10, 2015. It includes the six songs from last year's EP and five original brand new songs.

On May 19, 2015, Bryan released his first single from his fifth studio album, Kill the Lights, "Kick the Dust Up". "Kick the Dust Up" peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart. The album's second single, "Strip It Down", was released to country radio on August 4, 2015. The album was released on August 7. Kill the Lights sold 345,000 total copies its first week and beat out Dr. Dre's Compton to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. "Strip It Down" went number one in October 2015, making fourteen cumulative number ones. The album's third single, "Home Alone Tonight" released to country radio on November 23, 2015. The song also became his fifteenth number one hit. The album's fourth single "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day" released to country radio on March 14, 2016.

It was announced that Bryan would perform at halftime of the 2015 Thanksgiving match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

Personal life

Luke Bryan is married to his college sweetheart, Caroline Boyer, whom he met at Georgia Southern University. Bryan and Boyer married on December 8, 2006. They met at a local bar called Dingus Magees when Bryan was a senior and Boyer was a freshman. The couple have two sons, Thomas "Bo" Boyer Bryan, born March 18, 2008 and Tatum "Tate" Christopher Bryan, born August 11, 2010.

After Bryan's sister Kelly died in 2007, followed by her husband Ben Lee Cheshire in 2014, Bryan and his wife began raising their nephew Tilden (Til).

In 2015, Forbes estimated Bryan's annual income at $42.5 million.

Philanthropy

Bryan has supported numerous charities and causes. The charities Bryan has supported are the City of Hope and Red Cross. The causes Bryan supports are AIDS and HIV, Cancer, Children Disaster Relief, Health, and Human Rights.

Artistry

Vocals

Bryan possesses a high baritone vocal range of two octaves from A2 to A4. Commenting on his vocal performance in "Tailgates and Tanlines", Slant magazine's Jonathan Kefee described Bryan's voice as "a pleasant, if slightly nasal, baritone.

Influences

Bryan has cited influences in his career as being country artists George Strait, Alan Jackson, Alabama and Merle Haggard. As regards the incorporation of elements of other music genres into his music, he cited hip hop bands Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. as the source of inspiration in an interview with Huffington Post, noting, "I think there's been somewhat of a change with our generation. You know, nobody grew up more countrier than me, but I mean, I had Beastie Boys playing on little boom boxes and Run D.M.C. and all forms of music, so through the years, I just think it's all constantly blending together."

Discography

Main article: Luke Bryan discography

Albums

• 2007: I'll Stay Me
• 2009: Doin' My Thing
• 2011: Tailgates & Tanlines
• 2013: Crash My Party
• 2015: Kill the Lights

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Dirt Road Diaries Tour (2013)
• That's My Kind of Night Tour (2014-15)
• Kick the Dust Up Tour (2015)
• Kill The Lights Tour (2016)

Co-headlining Tours

• C2C: Country to Country (2015) with Lady Antebellum

-

Supporting Tours

• Emotional Traffic Tour with Tim McGraw (2011)
• My Kind of Party Tour with Jason Aldean (2012)
• Own The Night Tour with Lady Antebellum (2012)
• Night Train Tour with Jason Aldean (2013), one show

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Recipient	Result
2010	Academy of Country Music Awards	Top New Solo Vocalist	Himself	Won
		Top New Artist		Won
	CMT Music Awards	USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year	"Do I"	Won
	Country Music Association Awards	New Artist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
2011	CMT Music Awards	Best Web Video of the Year	"It's a Shore Thing"	Nominated
		Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award	Himself	Nominated
	Country Music Association Awards	New Artist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Music: Country Song	"Country Girl (Shake It for Me)"	Nominated
		Choice Music: Country Artist Male	Himself	Nominated
	American Country Awards	Male Artist of the Year		Nominated
		Single by a Male Artist	"Someone Else Calling You Baby"	Nominated
2012	CMT Music Awards	Video of the Year: Male	"I Don't Want This Night To End"	Won
	Teen Choice Awards	Teen Choice Award for Music - Male Country Artist	Himself	Nominated
	Country Music Association Awards	Male Vocalist of the Year		Nominated
		Album of the Year	Tailgates & Tanlines	Nominated
	American Music Awards	Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself	Won
		Favorite Country Album	Tailgates & Tanlines	Nominated
	American Country Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
		Male Artist of the Year		Won
		Single of the Year	"I Don't Want This Night to End"	Won
		Single by a Male Artist		Won
		Music Video of the Year		Won
		Music Video by a Male Artist		Won
		Album of the Year	Tailgates and Tanlines	Won
		Most Played Radio Track	"I Don't Want This Night to End"	Won
		Most Played Radio Track by a Male Artist		Won
2013	Country Music Association Awards	Entertainer of the Year	Himself	Nominated
		Male Vocalist of the Year		Nominated
		Album of the Year	Tailgates and Tanlines	Nominated
		Vocal Event of the Year	"The Only Way I Know"	Nominated
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Artist	Himself	Nominated
		Top Country Album	Tailgates and Tanlines	Nominated
		Top Country Song	"Drunk on You"	Nominated
	CMT Music Awards	Video of the Year	"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye"	Nominated
		Male Video of the Year		Nominated
		Collaboration Video of the Year	"The Only Way I Know"	Won
		CMT Performance of the Year	"Drunk on You"/"Feel Again"	Nominated
	American Music Awards	Favorite Country Male Artist	Himself	Won
		Favorite Country Album	Crash My Party	Nominated
2014	Billboard Music Awards	Top Billboard 200 Album	Crash My Party	Nominated
		Top Country Album	Crash My Party	Won
		Top Male Artist	Himself	Nominated
		Top Billboard 200 Artist		Nominated
		Top Country Artist		Won
		Top Country Song	"Crash My Party"	Won
		Top Country Song	"That's My Kind of Night"	Nominated
	Country Music Association Awards	Entertainer of the Year	Himself	Won
		Male Vocalist of the Year		Nominated
		Album of the Year	Crash My Party	Nominated
	American Music Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
		Favorite Country Male Artist		Won
	American Country Countdown Awards	Artist of the Year		Nominated
		Male Vocalist of the Year		Won
		Collaboration	"This Is How We Roll"	Won
		Album	Crash My Party	Nominated
		Digital Song of the Year	"Drink a Beer"	Nominated
		Digital Song of the Year	"This Is How We Roll"	Won
2015	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Male Country Artist	Himself	Nominated
	Academy of Country Music Awards	Entertainer of the Year		Won
		Male Vocalist of the Year		Nominated
		Vocal Event of the Year	"This Is How We Roll"	Won
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Artist	Himself	Nominated
		Top Country Song	"Play It Again"	Nominated
			"This Is How We Roll"	Nominated
		Top Country Album	Crash My Party	Nominated
	CMT Music Awards	Male Video of the Year	"Play It Again"	Won
		Video of the Year		Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Country Artist	Himself	Nominated
		Choice Country Song	"Kick the Dust Up"	Nominated
	Canadian Country Music Association	Top Selling Album	Crash My Party	Won
	CMA Awards	Male Vocalist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
		Entertainer of the Year		Won
2016	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Male Artist		Nominated
		Favorite Male Country Artist		Nominated
	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Male Artist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
		Best Tour		Nominated
		Country Artist of the Year		Won
		Country Song of the Year	"I See You"	Nominated
	Academy of Country Music Awards	Entertainer of the Year	Himself	Nominated
	American Country Countdown Awards	Artist of the Year		Won
		Male Vocalist of the Year		Won
		Song of the Year	"Strip It Down"	Nominated
		Album of the Year	"Kill the Lights"	Nominated
		Digital Song of the Year	"Kick the Dust Up"	Nominated
		Touring Artist of the Year	Himself	Nominated
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Country Artist		Pending
		Top Country Album	Kill the Lights	Pending

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2011	CMT Crossroads	Himself	with The Doobie Brothers
2013-present	Academy of Country Music Awards	Himself	Co-host
2014	Nashville	Himself	Season 3, 1 episode

Charities

Luke Bryan supports the following charitable causes: AIDS, Cancer, Leukemia, Human Rights, Children, Disaster Relief, Health Care, Red Cross.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]