Luke Combs' Stomach Bug Turned Career Launchpad

On April 1st, Luke Holmes shared a wild story about his first run-in with Blake Shelton at a fancy music retreat on a beautiful farm.

He was the new guy, no record deal yet, and hit with brutal stomach issues right from the jump.

Instead of mingling with execs, he was stuck chugging emotium and slurping chicken soup in his room.

The three-day trip turned into a nightmare for Holmes, who felt like the odd man out, calling the spot mecha for a redneck, but barely seeing it.

Ducks in the pond, meanwhile, he's glued to the toilet, convinced his big break was tanking before it started.

Execs like one from a hospitality company that later teamed with Holmes worried it'd be a disaster, especially after he missed most events feverish and, low-key.

Shelton and the crew were chilling, but Holmes stayed hidden, thinking his career was done.

On the final night, though, he rallied for a campfire session, grabbed a guitar, and looked straight at Shelton.

No hits under his belt, but he played his original tune, Hurricane, silencing the whole room in awe.

That raw moment flipped the script, launching combs into the spotlight.

Hurricane ended up on his debut album, This One's For You, and topped the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in 2017, proving first impressions.

Ain't everything in country music.

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