Luke Bryan is one of country music's most recognizable faces, with a run of chart success, commercial sales and award wins that most people in the entertainment world can't even dream about. Beginning back in 2007 with his debut album I'll Stay Me, Luke has since achieved over 11.5 million album sales, 31 singles at #1 on country radio, 5 Entertainer of the Year wins, 6 CMT Artist of the Year wins, the first-ever recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party, 7 CMT Music Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, and 4 American Music Awards -- as well as being named Billboard's Top Country Artist of the 2010s and more... the man has been a superstar in the country music world for well over a decade.
And it seems like that run is finally over.
Now, don't get me wrong, Luke is still one of the premiere entertainers in country music selling out arenas from coast to coast, a well-known judge on American Idol, and beloved country artist to many, but we're officially on the backside of that peak of commercial success he enjoyed for most of his career.
His most recent album, Mind Of A Country Boy, which was released a little over 2 weeks ago, debuted at #51 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, the worst position since his debut album peaked at #24 on 2007. And on the country charts, it debuted at #11, the lowest of his career. In fact, every record Luke has ever released hit #1 or #2 on the country charts. And right now, at the moment of this blog, Luke is sitting at #22 on the iTunes Country Album charts, below artists like Zach Top, Ella Langley, Billy Strings and the Red Clay Strays. Pretty shocking stuff considering the juggernaut Luke has been in the previous years.
And look, I'm not trying to bash Luke for essentially flopping with this new album, I'm just pointing out that there's been a changing of the guard in country music over the past few years, and this really puts a nail on that coffin. That Bro-Country era is all but dead. Of course, that change has been evident for a handful of years now, just look at the massive success we've seen from guys like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, as well as more non-mainstream acts like Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan and Billy Strings. But some of the biggest stars in country music even just 5 years ago are no longer the big names they used to be. Florida Georgia Line isn't even a thing anymore, Sam Hunt's career fell off a cliff when he all but disappeared for half a decade, Dan + Shay, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett... just not producing what they used to.
And look, it's to be expected.... it's pretty rare to be topping the country music charts, or any music chart, for 25 years. And like I said earlier, Luke Bryan, as well as many of the names I just listed have accomplished more in music than most will ever dream of (whether or not that was good for country music is debatable). But nevertheless, it's quite the "end of an era" moment for Luke Bryan.
Do I listen to Luke Bryan anymore? No... not since Tailgates & Tanlines have I spent more than a quick run-through on a Luke Bryan record, but, I'll leave you with this... on the new record, Mind Of A Country Boy, the last song is called "Jesus 'Bout My Kids," and as a relatively new father to a little girl who is 3, and a little boy who is 9 months old, I have to say... this one got to me. And I'm still in the "talkin' to my kids about Jesus" stage of life...