Luke Combs Buys Opry Tickets For Students From California FFA Chapter
Singer Has A Record of Helping People Who He Hears Are In Need
Luke Combs, new CMA Entertainer of the Year, made a group of FFA students from Willow, California very happy when they were visiting Nashville recently. Seems the kids loved Luke and found out he was on the Grand Ole Opry while they were in town, but they couldn’t afford the price tag of a ticket to get into the show.
The group’s teacher took a chance and reached out to Luke to let him know the kids dilemma by contacting him via Twitter with this message: “I have my Willows CA FFA Chapter here in Nashville tonight, and they are DYING to see you at the Grand Ole Oprey (sic)!” the teacher said. “We tried to get tickets, but our kids can’t afford it. I so wish I could give them this gift because they idolize you.”
Luke saw the message and immediately wrote back, telling the teacher that he would get her students into the show. “Tickets are on me!” Luke said.” Y’all have fun tonight. Someone from my team will reach out and get y’all set up!”
Not only did @lukecombs get them an exclusive Opry viewing experience…he also surprised them backstage!
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) October 27, 2021
Hope y’all enjoyed the show! https://t.co/b2wDN3OcGY pic.twitter.com/Q516GuiIaD
Luke took his gift one step farther when he stopped by before his Opry performance to surprise the students, taking time to meet them and pose for a picture.
“I just wanted to come in and say thanks for being able to make it,” Luke told the students. “…I just wanted to come in and say that was actually me talking to y’all [on Twitter.]” Luke also gave the students a tour of the Opry and showed them Studio A before their night ended.
On the CMA Awards (Nov. 10), Luke sang a new song, “Doin’ This,” which he wrote after a journalist asked him what he would be doing if he wasn’t a singer. His reply via the tune — “… I’d still be the same guy they knew back in the day … who was burning CDs just to give away … paying his dues, if I wasn’t doin’ this…Five deep in a van … head full of steam … hot on the heels of my neon dream maybe comin’ true … livin’ this life just like I was born to do…if I wasn’t doin this I’d be doin this…”
Hopefully some of those FFA students were watching the show and caught the message Luke wanted to convey to his fans – don’t give up on that dream and keep believing in yourself. That is something Luke has always done, and he has a track record of helping people when he hears of someone in need.
Not too long ago he helped a North Carolina school teacher, Kelly Kirk, with school supplies after she posted on Twitter, “Hi Luke Combs! I wanted to reach out and see if you wanted to support an Appalachian Alumni with her teacher Amazon wish list! I teach kindergarten in NC and could use some help with #clearthelist. Appreciate the support!” Combs, also an alumnus of Appalachian State University, replied, “Cleared it for ya. Good luck to your students and GO APPS!” Kirk’s response was swift: “OH MY GOSH!!!! You have made my year Luke!!! THANK YOU doesn’t seem like enough! Please know that you have made such a difference in my student’s lives!!! Go App!!”
He also reached out and paid for the funeral expenses of three young men who were at a Michigan music festival where he performed. They stayed at a nearby campground and died of carbon monoxide poisoning that night before they headed home the next day.
Luke helped a soldier named Cameron Bouie who bought a ticket to Combs’ show in North Carolina before he was deployed to New Jersey to help with the Afghanistan Refugee effort. After trying to return the ticket for a refund, and trying to sell it, the soldier texted Luke, asking if he could help him get in another show. “I’m a huge fan of your music and love every song you’ve released,” Bouie posted. “I was wondering if you could help me out to attend a future show when I leave NJ. I have proof of my ticket, and I tried to refund my ticket or sell it but I’m getting no luck.” The singer assured Bouie there would be no problem getting him in another show, adding “Thank you for your service.”
The singer has also helped his mother and father, Rhonda and Chester, to retire early, which he described as a “really amazing experience.” In a video that aired prior to the ACM Awards last April, Luke called his parents “superheroes”. In the video he said, “My superheroes are my parents, they did a whole lot for me growing up and I think I turned out alright.” He also said his parents taught him to treat others the way you want to be treated, surround yourself with the right people and to just be a good person in general.
Luke doesn’t stop with his fans and family, he is also known for helping singer/songwriters who are new to the business. Luke just announced three NFL stadium shows for 2022 – Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High on May 21, Seattle’s Lumen Field on June 4 and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 30. Joining him for these shows are his friends and newcomers on the music scene Cody Johnson, Zach Bryan and Morgan Wade. These shows come in the midst of his arena tour which will have him traveling all over the U.S. to take his music to the fans. In order to make a bigger impact for the singers who are opening for him in the stadium shows, Luke made a video announcing the tour, giving these three singer/songwriters a chance to sing so folks will know what to expect when they come out to the show. Check out the video here:
