Luke Combs appeared on an episode of Hot Ones, where he credited the Backstreet Boys for teaching him about singing and songwriting. He explained how their songs feature hooks every 20 seconds and showcase different vocal styles. Combs also recounted spending his last $200 on mastering his debut single 'Hurricane.'
During a recent episode of Hot Ones, two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Luke Combs opened up about his musical influences beyond country artists like Eric Church, Garth Brooks, and Vince Gill. He highlighted the Backstreet Boys, noting how the five-member group's songs helped him learn singing techniques. Combs said, “I mean obviously there’s five different singers in the group, right? And they all kind of get turns to showcase their particular style. And everybody’s kind of got different ranges and different natural tendencies that they try to use.” He praised their song structure: “They’re incredibly singable verses and choruses. Those songs were engineered to be like musical drugs. Like you hear them and it’s just like I want to hear this again. I need to hear this again.” Combs observed that the songs include a hook every 20 seconds and variations in chorus delivery by members like Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson, aiding young singers in honing their skills. His own debut single, “Hurricane,” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in 2017 and has been certified RIAA 12x Platinum. Combs revealed he invested his final $200 into mastering it, as it was the only track ready for release. “It sells 10,000 units the first week,” he recalled, adding that this success for an independent artist dropping out of college led to further opportunities. “Hurricane” marked the first of Combs’ 19 No. 1s on the Country Airplay chart. His upcoming album The Way I Am releases on Friday, March 20.