It’s probably not a huge surprise to most fans that the most impactful song of Luke Bryan’s career was his radio-ready mega-hit from 2011, “Country Girl (Shake it For Me).”
But the singer himself admits that he thought another song of his might take that title.
Bryan was a recent guest on the BobbyCast podcast, where he named “Country Girl” as the song that’s done the most for his career. Because of its ability to be both a party song and tell a story, it became a song that sort of shifted the direction of country radio, and of course, it had a massive impact on his personal career as well.
However, it was a little bit of a shift from what Bryan thought would be the most important music of his career. He originally moved to Nashville to write songs, and he was one of the writers on “Country Girl.”
BobbyCast #499 Luke Bryan on Getting The Call to be on American Idol, His Most Important Song + MORE
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He also had some other, more serious songs that he thought would be the biggest part of his legacy, and maybe even win him some major awards.
“I think when I look at a “Drink A Beer” or “Most People Are Good,” those were my opportunities at songs that I thought would be up for Song of the Year, and I never got a Song of the Year,” Bryan recounts.
Read More: Country Music’s 50 Best Party Songs
“That’s when I was kind of like, ‘man, you know, I really thought those would at least get nominated for something,” the singer continues, “and they never did.'”
Luke Bryan – Country Girl (Shake It For Me) (Official Music Video)
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It was then that Bryan realized that the slow-tempo, more serious songs weren’t going to be the ones that defined his career: He was going to be known for bringing that party vibe that people crave.
The “One Margarita” singer continued, “At this point at my career, I just need to be free with what I do.” Bryan explained how his party songs seem to be more impactful than the slow stuff on his career and, at live shows, too.
He’s embraced that trend, and he plans to keep it coming. He revealed that “in the next year or two, I’d love to have a big ole fun summer anthem pop up, because that’s fun to have.”
34 Pictures of Luke Bryan YoungLuke Bryan has been a force in country music pretty much since he arrived in Nashville in 2005. “All My Friends Say” started the fire for him as a solo artist — and the rest is history. Let’s take a walk through time with 34 pictures of Luke Bryan young.
Gallery Credit: Evan Paul
Luke Bryan Performing at Halftime Carolina Panthers v Dallas Cowboys, 2015
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Luke Bryan Performing at Halftime Carolina Panthers v Dallas Cowboys, 2015Luke Bryan performs during halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game between the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2015 in Arlington, Texas.
Luke Bryan In Concert – Brooklyn, NY, 2014
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Luke Bryan In Concert – Brooklyn, NY, 2014Luke Bryan performs on stage as part of his “That’s My Kind of Night Tour” at Barclays Center on September 14, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Luke Bryan & Caroline Bryan, Billboard Music Awards, 2014
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Luke Bryan & Caroline Bryan, Billboard Music Awards, 2014Luke Bryan and Caroline Boyer attend the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan, 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2013
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Luke Bryan, 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2013Host Luke Bryan, winner of Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know,” poses in the press room during the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan & Stevie Wonder, 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2013
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Luke Bryan & Stevie Wonder, 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2013Stevie Wonder and Luke Bryan perform onstage during the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan Performs at the NASCAR GEICO 400, 2012
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Luke Bryan Performs at the NASCAR GEICO 400, 2012Country music singer Luke Bryan performs the National Anthem during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois.
Luke Bryan & Justin Bieber, The 40th American Music Awards, 2012
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Luke Bryan & Justin Bieber, The 40th American Music Awards, 2012Justin Bieber accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album from presenter Luke Bryan onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
Luke Bryan at the American Country Awards, 2012
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Luke Bryan at the American Country Awards, 2012Luke Bryan poses in the press room with multiple awards during the 2012 American Country Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on December 10, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan at the 2nd Annual Academy Of Country Music – USO Concert, 2011
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Luke Bryan at the 2nd Annual Academy Of Country Music – USO Concert, 2011Luke Bryan performs at the 2nd Annual Academy of Country Music USO Concert at Nellis Air Force Base on April 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan, CMT Music Awards, 2011
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Luke Bryan, CMT Music Awards, 2011Luke Bryan attends the 2011 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 8, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, PEOPLE Country Invites You To Celebrate Nashville In Vegas, 2011
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Luke Bryan, PEOPLE Country Invites You To Celebrate Nashville In Vegas, 2011Luke Bryan attends a celebration of Nashville in Vegas with PEOPLE Country at The Bank Nightclub at the Bellagio on April 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan and actress Jennette McCurdy, American Country Awards, 2010
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Luke Bryan and actress Jennette McCurdy, American Country Awards, 2010Luke Bryan and actress Jennette McCurdy arrive at the American Country Awards 2010 held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 6, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan & Son, 2010
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Luke Bryan & Son, 2010Luke Bryan and his son backstage at Dierk Bentley’s 5th Annual Miles & Music For Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert at Riverfront Park on October 17, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, Charles Kelley & Mike Dugan, 2010
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Luke Bryan, Charles Kelley & Mike Dugan, 2010Charles Kelley (Lady Antebellum – Winner 5 ACM’s) Mike Dugan (President/CEO Capitol Records Nashville) and Luke Bryan (ACM Winner Best new Artist) attend Capitol Records Nashville ACM After party at The MGM Grand Pool, April 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean, American Country Awards, 2010
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Luke Bryan & Jason Aldean, American Country Awards, 2010Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan perform onstage during the American Country Awards 2010 held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 6, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan & Dierks Bentley, 44th Annual CMA Awards, 2010
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Luke Bryan & Dierks Bentley, 44th Annual CMA Awards, 2010Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley attend the Capitol Records Party following the 44th Annual CMA Awards at Sambuca on November 10, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee
Luke Bryan & Caroline Bryan, Country Strong Premiere, 2010
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Luke Bryan & Caroline Bryan, Country Strong Premiere, 2010Luke Bryan and Caroline Boyer attend the “Country Strong” Premiere at Regal Green Hills on November 8, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke & Caroline Bryan, The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, 2009
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Luke & Caroline Bryan, The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, 2009Luke Bryan & Caroline Bryan attend the 43rd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 11, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan & Rodney Atkins, 5th Annual Stars For Second Harvest Concert, 2009
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Luke Bryan & Rodney Atkins, 5th Annual Stars For Second Harvest Concert, 2009Luke Bryan and Rodney Atkins backstage during the 5th annual Stars For Second Harvest concert at the Ryman Auditorium on September 29, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke & Caroline Bryan, 2009 CMT Music Awards, 2009
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Luke & Caroline Bryan, 2009 CMT Music Awards, 2009Luke Bryan and wife Caroline Bryan (L) attend the 2009 CMT Music Awards at the Sommet Center on June 16, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, ACM New Artists Party For A Cause, 2008
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Luke Bryan, ACM New Artists Party For A Cause, 2008Luke Bryan during the Academy of Country Music New Artists’ Party for a Cause show at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino on May 17, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke & Caroline Bryan, The 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2008
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Luke & Caroline Bryan, The 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2008Luke Bryan and wife Caroline Bryan arrive at the 43rd annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan, 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam, 2008
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Luke Bryan, 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam, 2008Luke Bryan performs during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan, ACM New Artists Party For A Cause, 2008
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Luke Bryan, ACM New Artists Party For A Cause, 2008Luke Bryan performs during the Academy of Country Music New Artists’ Party for a Cause show at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino May 17, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luke Bryan and bandmate, Stagecoach Californias Country Music Festival, 2008
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Luke Bryan and bandmate, Stagecoach California’s Country Music Festival, 2008Luke Bryan and his band perform onstage during day 2 of the 2008 Stagecoach Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 3, 2008 in Indio, California.
Luke Bryan, CMT Music Awards, 2007
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Luke Bryan, CMT Music Awards, 2007Luke Bryan arrives at the 2007 CMT Music Awards at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University April 16, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, 41st Annual CMA Awards, 2007
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Luke Bryan, 41st Annual CMA Awards, 2007Luke Bryan arrives at the 41st Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 7, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, The 40th Annual CMA Awards, 2006
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Luke Bryan, The 40th Annual CMA Awards, 2006Luke Bryan attends the 40th Annual CMA Awards at the Gaylord Entertainment Center November 6, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luke Bryan, High School, c. Mid 90s
Luke Bryan, High School, c. Mid 90sLuke Bryan’s high school yearbook photo
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Late 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Mid 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Mid 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Mid 1980s
Luke Bryan, c. Mid 1980sSee Luke Bryan and Wife Caroline’s Goofiest, Cutest PhotosLuke Bryan and his wife Caroline are known for their wild pranks and great senses of humor, but what makes this marriage work is a connection that runs deep.The couple have known each other since their college days at Georgia Southern University. Their love didn’t click immediately (at least, not for Caroline) and they eventually split. However, after a few years apart, the couple would eventually recognize what they had in each other after reconnecting years later.Fast forward to today and the Bryans have been married for nearly two decades and share two sons, Bo and Tate. They also serve as guardians of their nieces Kris and Jordan, as well as their nephew Tilden.The pair have shared a lot of life and laughter together over the years!Read More: Luke Bryan’s Most Impactful Song Wasn’t the One He Was Expecting | https://tasteofcountry.com/luke-bryan-reveals-most-impactful-song/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
