Luke Bryan has admitted to passing on a song that would later become a major hit, and it’s a decision he regrets—sort of.
In a candid chat on the BobbyCast on March 11, the American Idol judge revealed that he turned down “Sand in My Boots,” a track written by HARDY, Ashley Gorley, and Josh Osborne.
The song, which went on to become a massive success for Morgan Wallen, initially gave Bryan pause due to its mention of Chevrolet—a brand Bryan had already sung about a lot in his career.
Reflecting on his hesitation, the 48-year-old country superstar explained, “I just went through a phase where I felt like I had sung about trucks so much, it was starting to feel like I was stuck in a lane.” With songs like
“That’s My Kind of Night” and “We Rode in Trucks” already making their mark, Bryan started to fear that he was being pigeonholed into one style, something he was eager to avoid.
Luke continued, “I was really concerned that I might be becoming a one-trick pony. I was seeing a lot of negativity on social media, and it got to my head a little bit.”
Bryan also opened up about his earlier days in his career when he focused on creating music for younger audiences. He recalls his “spring break songs” in his 30s, admitting that he had to eventually evolve his approach. “It was great, but I realized I needed to move on from singing just for college kids,” he said.
Despite passing on “Sand in My Boots,” Bryan has no regrets about his career. “If I don’t ever win Male Vocalist of the Year or a Grammy because I’m known as the guy who has fun with his music, I’m cool with that,” he shared.
It seems Bryan’s self-awareness and personal growth have become just as important to him as his music. As he continues to release new tracks, it’s clear he’s finding ways to avoid being boxed in—while still embracing his signature fun-loving, country-boy vibe.
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