Luke Combs Jokes About Being Named Sexiest 34-Year-Old in PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive Issue: '1990 Must Have Been a Down Year'

Mar. 15, 2025

Luke Combshas achieved a ton in 2024, but there’s one moment in particular that he can point to where hereallyknew he made it — and he planned to “hang it over everyone’s head” at the2024 Country Music Association AwardsWednesday night.

While speaking with PEOPLE ahead of the awards show in Nashville on Wednesday, the country superstar reflected on being named in PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive issue this year. As he explained, his mom sent him the article that had him listed as the 34-year-old choice in the “Sexy at Every Age” feature.

“That’s when I was like, ‘Down year, 1990, must’ve been a down year.’ I thought it was the most-cheeseburgers-eaten list, is what I thought it was,” Combs joked. “And then to see this guy on there, I was like, ‘Man, times are tough in 1990 for me to be the hottest guy.'”

Check out all of PEOPLE’sfull CMA Awards coverage here.

Nicole Hocking and Luke Combs attend The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Music City Center on Nov. 20, 2024.Jason Kempin/Getty

Jason Kempin/Getty

Combs added that his wife of four years,Nicole Hocking, has been “loving hearing” about his latest career accomplishment.

“She’s never heard the end of it,” he said. “So, that was the moment I knew, that’s when I knew [I made it].”

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During the CMA Awards on Wednesday, Combs also celebrated a few other milestones — including his nominations for entertainer of the year, album of the year (Fathers & Sons) and male vocalist of the year. While he went home empty handed, Combs still has much to reflect on after a major 2024, as he told PEOPLE that he’s still buzzing about teaming up withTracy Chapmanfor their “Fast Car"duet at the 2024 Grammy Awardsback in February.

“‘Fast Car’ is the one that, really, people have just grabbed a hold of. And that song’s really special to me. I put theFathers & Sonsrecord out, and that was the first song that me and my dad ever listened to,” Combs said. “So it kind of ties me into that a little bit as well. It wasn’t on that record, but that theme really runs throughout… That was probably my favorite song ever growing up.”

“I’ll never stop pinching myself,” he said of performing with Chapman, 60. “It was chills the whole time and she was just so amazing. For her to be able to shine the way she did that night and for me to be a small part of that, was really special.”

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 4, 2024.John Shearer/Getty

John Shearer/Getty

In anexclusive interview with PEOPLEin December 2023, Combs previously said he started singing the song because it reminded him of childhood memories with his father, Chester. “When I was 5 years old, my dad and I would be in his truck, and he would always play music for me,” he said. “He had a Tracy Chapman cassette tape, and ‘Fast Car’ is one of the first songs I remember. I’ve always been a huge fan of it and think of my dad and our time together when I hear it.”

During his CMA Awards appearance last night, Combs shared a fiery performance of"Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma"from the 2024 hit movieTwisters.The 58th Annual CMA Awards was broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, with the show streaming on Thursday via Hulu.

source: people.com