Luke Combs is keeping it real when it comes to discussions about his body image and physical appearance.
The country music star, 35, made an appearance on the Popcast podcast to discuss music, his place in the industry, and a wide range of topics, ending with an open conversation about his struggles with his weight.
When he was asked near the end of the conversation: “What self-doubt did you face on the way to stardom?” he replied that it was definitely his appearance and his weight, adding: “It was like, ‘Am I really not going to get a shot because I’m just like a bigger dude or whatever?'”
© Getty ImagesWeight loss, GLP-1s and doing it the “hard” way
“One of my biggest fears is like, man, maybe I don’t get a shot just ’cause of the way I look, you know what I mean? And like, that was a hard pill to swallow, because you can’t really change the way you look.”
When asked whether there were any conversations early in his career about losing weight or shaving off his beard, he said there weren’t, but when an example was thrown out about whether he wanted to look like a contemporary like Sam Hunt, Luke admitted: “Every day. I think that every day, still.”
“I do the fasting thing, the gluten-free thing,” he explained, noting that the latter in particular began from a struggle with a rare form of OCD that creates compulsions in his diet that are “purely mental.”
“I have always struggled with my weight. It bugs me a lot that I can’t figure it out,” the “Fast Car” singer added, although he did say that he’d rather deal with his struggles the “hard” way than take a more convenient route. “I don’t want my life to be this life of ease, everything’s easy. I like when stuff’s hard.”
Specifically noting how he’s juggling being a dad of three with working out and performing, he added that the newer “medical technology” and things like weight loss drugs and GLP-1 are tricky. “That stuff scares me more than I think I would enjoy the benefits.”
© Getty ImagesLuke said that he never thought he’d done anything “hard” in his life. “Sure there were days that were tough. Sure there were times I was tired. But I’m not out digging ditches. It’s not that hard of a job. Anybody that does the music business and gives the whole ‘woe is me’ thing has lost a little bit of perspective,” he opined.
The celebrity weight loss boom
Previously, Dr. Camilla Easter, CEO at Oxford Medical Products, shared some insight with us about the effect celebrities talking about GLP-1s and other weight loss drugs has on audiences. “There’s no denying that celebrities wield enormous influence over what people buy,” she told HELLO!.
© Getty Images“From fashion to fitness, brands across industries have tapped into this power, with the lucrative social media endorsements becoming the norm in recent years. Weight loss medications are no exception.”
She explained: “When public figures share their experiences, it can help spark important conversations, reduce stigma, and even encourage people struggling with obesity to seek effective treatment. Used responsibly, this kind of visibility can be a force for good.”
© Instagram“It is important, however, that people are fully informed at each step when considering weight loss treatments and only begin medication if they’ve first consulted with a medical professional. Weight loss drugs should never be seen as a quick fix, they are part of a broader, carefully managed approach to health.”
