Luke Combs opened up about the meaning behind his song "Whoever You Turn Out to Be" on his 2024 album Fathers & Sons
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"I don't need my kids to be anything," he said
When asked if he hoped his song resonated with parents of queer kids, he said he can't "imagine" a child feeling abandoned by their parents
Luke Combshopes to make music that resonates with everyone — including fellow parents.
Speaking withGQ Hypefor a cover story interview, the "Hurricane" singer was asked about his 2024Fathers & Sonssong "Whoever You Turn Out to Be," which he wrote as a promise to his sons to love them unconditionally.
"Look, I'd love my kids to be super into deer hunting, and go with me all the time," Combs, 36, told the magazine. "But if my kid wants to live in SoHo and be an abstract painter, then hey, that sounds great too—can't wait to come up and go to the gallery."
He continued, "I don't need my kids to be anything, you know what I mean? I'm not trying to fill some hole in myself with them."
When asked if he hoped his song resonated with parents of queer kids, Combs didn't hesitate to reply.
"I am a firm believer that you don't get to choose," the "Better Together" singer said. "You don't get to choose who you want to be with, and I can't imagine feeling the pressure a child would experience coming to terms with those things on their own."
"And then having the pressure of not knowing if your parents would be okay with that, or disown them?" he said, shaking his head.
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During his set at Newport Folk Festival last July, Combs performed the song andstarted crying.
In a fan video shared on TikTok, Combs was overcome with emotion after he sang the lyrics, "But you ain't gotta change the world to make your daddy proud." He then wiped his face with a towel and composed himself before continuing the song while the crowd cheered him on.
"Sorry. That got me a little bit," he told the audience. He later added: "I remember why we don't play that one very much."
Last month, Combswelcomed his third child, son Chet Wiley, with wifeNicole Hocking Combs. They're also parents to sonTex Lawrence, born in June 2022, and sonBeau Lee, who arrived in August 2023.
After the release ofFathers & Sons, Combs told PEOPLE his kids were the inspiration behind the album.
"I wanted them to be able to reference later on in their life that even at the height of my success they were stillmy number one priority," Combs said. "If anyone's dad had the opportunity to do something like that, I think that they would take it. At least I would hope so. I did it for them."
Now, Combs is gearing up for the release of his sixth studio albumThe Way I Amon Friday, March 20.
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