The Ultimate Bet: How Luke Combs Traded His Diploma for a Debut Album’s Historic No. 1 Streak
Nashville, TN – Country music superstar Luke Combs embodies the high-stakes risk that defines the Nashville dream. With only 30 days left before graduating from Appalachian State University, Combs abandoned the conventional safety net of a degree to pursue music full-time—a gamble that paid off with one of the most phenomenal debut runs in country music history.
The narrative of “taking the big bet” rarely plays out as swiftly or successfully as it did for Combs. With a college diploma virtually in hand, he defied convention, proving that sometimes, trusting one’s passion is the shortest path to the top.
The App State Dropout: Trading Criminal Justice for Country Gold
Luke Combs attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, studying Criminal Justice. The decision he made just shy of graduation remains a central part of his origin story.
- The Data: Multiple reports confirm that Combs dropped out with approximately 21 credit hours left on his degree, often equating to about one semester away from receiving his diploma.
- The Decision: In 2014, Combs moved to Nashville, declaring he “had to go all-in” on his music career. Prior to the move, he gained his first stage experience performing at the same Boone bar, the Town Tavern, where he had been working as a bouncer.
The Triple-Platinum Payoff: A Chart-Shattering Debut
The risk paid off in a spectacular way just three years after his move to Music City. Combs released his debut studio album, “This One’s for You,” on June 2, 2017.
- Billboard Success: The album immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and reached a strong No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
- Historical Data: Even more notably, the album went on a historic run, spending a record 50 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. This incredible feat tied the record previously set by Shania Twain’s global phenomenon album, Come On Over, released in 1997. “This One’s for You” was later certified by the RIAA, reaching 8x Platinum status.
The success of the album was fueled by a string of consecutive chart-topping singles, cementing Combs’ status as an instant hitmaker.
| Single Name | Chart Peak (Billboard Country Airplay) | Date Released (as a Single) | Key Achievement |
| “Hurricane” | No. 1 | October 3, 2016 | First No. 1 single |
| “When It Rains It Pours” | No. 1 | June 19, 2017 | Second consecutive No. 1 |
| “One Number Away” | No. 1 | January 8, 2018 | Third consecutive No. 1 |
| “She Got the Best of Me” | No. 1 | July 9, 2018 | Fourth consecutive No. 1 |
| “Beautiful Crazy” | No. 1 | December 3, 2018 | Fifth consecutive No. 1 |
The album and its deluxe reissue, This One’s for You Too, achieved an astounding five consecutive No. 1 singles, making Combs the first country artist since Sam Hunt in 2015 to earn three back-to-back chart-toppers from a debut project, and the first country artist in history whose first six consecutive singles (including the first single from his second album) reached No. 1.
Combs’ journey from college dropout bouncer to chart-shattering country artist stands as a potent example of how taking a calculated, personal risk can lead to unparalleled professional success.
