Luke Combs Opens Up About Anxiety in Dan Rather Interview
This country star is open about his personal struggles.
Fans know Luke Combs is an open book when it comes to his personal life, and that authenticity is part of what’s made him one of the hottest country stars in the format. But he opens up like never before in a new interview with longtime TV journalist Dan Rather, detailing a struggle with anxiety.
Appearing on AXS TV’s The Big Interview With Dan Rather this Wednesday (January 13), Combs talks about his overwhelming success, reflects on his path to stardom and also performs a bit of his breakout hit, “Hurricane.” But he also describes a unique form of obsessive compulsion he’s dealt with for years — a disorder called Purely Obsessional OCD. He’s got it mostly under control now, Combs says, but it’s been a part of his life since middle school, “and I still have my moments here and there,” he says.
“Essentially, my version of messing with the blinds or straightening the carpet are kind of thoughts that I play over and over in my head,” he says, comparing his struggle with the traditional form of obsessive compulsive disorder. “[For example] it’ll be something about my health … and it becomes this very obsessive thing that you literally can never have an answer to.”
Combs’ issues with crippling worry might be mostly behind him, but that’s not the case for countless other Americans, and he says it took education and hard work to address his problems. Although that may be a difficult step to take, the country star says ultimately, it’s a necessary one.
“It’s something that you learn about yourself,” Combs explains. “And arming yourself with the knowledge of exactly what’s going on is the most important thing, I’ve found.”
Watch the rest of the interview with Luke Combs on The Big Interview With Dan Rather when the full episode air Wednesday 8pE/5pP on AXS TV.
