Luke Bryan Celebrates 49th Birthday with Hit-Filled, High-Energy Show in South Carolina
“It’s my damn birthday out there tonight!”
Luke Bryan; Photo by Carrianne Elizabeth Photography
Luke Bryan rang in his 49th birthday with a bang, bringing his Country On Tour to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina on Thursday, July 17. The hour-and-45-minute set delivered hit after hit, his signature charm, and undeniable proof that at 49, he’s still got it.
Taking the stage just before 9:15, Bryan was preceded by a montage of highlights from his rise to fame playing across the giant screens: Farm Tours, stadium shows, red carpets, national anthem performances, award shows, and clips from American Idol, all set to Aerosmith’s “Love In An Elevator.” As the music faded and the lights dropped, the arena erupted as Bryan stepped into the spotlight, flashing his signature smile.
He kicked off the show with his 2012 chart-topper “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” then kept the momentum going with fan favorites like “I Don’t Want This Night To End” and “Kick the Dust Up.” True to form, he threw in a few of his signature hip-shaking dance moves, adding to the crowd’s excitement.
“It’s my damn birthday out there tonight,” he proudly shouted from the stage, but the real birthday celebration didn’t come until later in the show.
The hits kept coming with fan-favorites like “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” “One Margarita,” and “Country Song Came On,” only slowing things down for heartfelt moments like “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” and “Crash My Party.” As always, “Drink A Beer” was a standout, with fans hugging and swaying to the emotional lyrics.
In honor of his birthday, homemade “Happy Birthday” signs filled the arena, including one massive sign that caught his attention, stretching several yards across the floor.
“Where did the sign go? Sh**, I want it back,” he said.
As a group of fans rushed to get their sign back up, Bryan quipped, “I’m so happy I get to celebrate my 35th birthday with y’all.”
Amused by the sign, Bryan joked that the group must’ve done a number on Hobby Lobby while making it and asked how long it took. He then made his way to the end of the catwalk to get a better look, playfully teasing that they spelled his name wrong.
“Where’s the E? It says Luk! Have y’all recycled this sign?”
All jokes aside, the five-time Entertainer of the Year then got real with fans, opening up about his recent health struggles and revealing that he battled COVID just a few weeks ago.
“So three weeks ago, I got COVID…and I had to cancel some shows and now I’m back. I’m not a hundred percent, it’s still kicking my a**. And you know what? I don’t give a sh**. When I can sing, I’m gonna sing. And when I can’t, y’all are going to sing. All right? And you’re going to see me hack. I can’t take any more medicine, I can’t do anything else but just try to breathe. We’re gonna have fun tonight, we’re gonna make the most of it.”
Despite still recovering, Bryan kept his word, giving the South Carolina crowd all he had and making the best of the situation.
Another birthday moment unfolded when Bryan’s touring crew surprised him with silly videos on the screens, while other crew members and tour openers Drake Milligan and Avery Anna rushed the stage bearing “gifts,” including a hockey stick, a pineapple, a jar of moonshine, a giant L, and more.
After a few jokes about the pineapple, Bryan tossed it into the crowd and made his way to the piano for a solo moment. There, he delivered a heartfelt medley that included covers of Adele and Lionel Richie, followed by his own hits “Strip It Down,” “Buy Dirt,” and “Do I.”
The final portion of the show found Luke Bryan in his true element, cranking up the energy and working every inch of the stage. He saved some of his biggest hits for the end, including “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Rain Is a Good Thing,” and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me),” leading the capacity crowd in a massive sing-along.
Despite a few minor vocal hiccups, Bryan delivered a memorable performance, something fans have come to expect from him. Nearly two decades into his career, he still commands the stage with ease and proves time and again why he’s one of country music’s top entertainers.
Luke Bryan’s Country Song Came On Tour runs through mid-September.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
