OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
There are certain moments in life that seem too surreal to be true, and for country music star Luke Combs, one of those moments came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world was beginning to shut down, Combs found himself in the U.K., in the middle of a whirlwind trip that almost left him stranded abroad.
The story begins with Combs, his wife, and British pop icon Ed Sheeran, at Sheeran’s home just outside London. What was supposed to be a relaxed few days of songwriting and leisure quickly turned into an unforgettable experience as the world was rocked by the looming pandemic.
During a recent interview with Australia’s version of 60 Minutes, Combs candidly shared the details of that fateful time, admitting that he was in the midst of a very good time when the call that would change everything came through. “I was at his house when COVID started, in the middle of nowhere,” Combs recalled. “We were about to start a tour in the U.K. just two days later.” The excitement of the tour was palpable, as Combs had already performed in Berlin and Amsterdam, with a few days off to unwind.
It was on one of these days off that the country star and his wife decided to unwind in true rockstar fashion—by getting “absolutely hammered.” Picture this: the two of them enjoying a Sunday roast, drinks flowing, and living it up at Sheeran’s home, complete with a cozy pub vibe. It was business as usual until a late-night phone call turned everything upside down.
In the middle of the revelry, Combs received a call from his manager at 2 a.m. “I get a call from my manager back in London,” Combs said. “He tells me, ‘Hey man, I just got a call from my buddy who works in government. Tomorrow, they’re going to announce that they’re closing the borders to the United States.’”
Initially, Combs was hesitant to even pick up the phone. After all, who wants to deal with serious, life-changing news when you’re drunk at a superstar’s house? But the gravity of the message set in, and the manager revealed that plane tickets had already been booked for a very early flight. “I was like, ‘This is not good,’” Combs recalled. “I had to break the news to everybody: ‘Hey, the world’s shutting down, life’s over, boys—might as well get hammered.’”
Despite the anxiety-inducing news, Combs didn’t let it ruin his night. Instead, he powered through, continuing to drink and enjoy his time with Sheeran and friends. “It didn’t feel too great in the morning, getting in the car at 6 a.m. to get back to the States,” he laughed. “But it made for a good story.”
The next morning, Combs and his wife reluctantly left for the airport, the weight of the situation still sinking in as they scrambled to catch the earliest flights back to the United States. What was meant to be a casual stay in the U.K. with his good friend Ed Sheeran turned into a rush to escape the inevitable shutdown that the pandemic was about to bring to the world.
Now, reflecting on that chaotic time, Combs shared how surreal it all was. The memory of how the night unfolded—laughing, drinking, and partying without a care in the world—only to have to face a looming reality just hours later, remains one of those unforgettable moments that would forever be part of his COVID story.
While the pandemic upended life for everyone, Luke Combs’ tale serves as a reminder of the importance of living in the moment, no matter what curveballs life throws your way.