Luke Bryan may be one of the most upbeat artists in country music today, but he has had his fair share of ups and downs.
Coming from a close-knit family, the singer and judge on American Idol was dealt a devastating blow when his brother Chris and sister Kelly died suddenly when they were still young.
Willie Geist, in 2021, in advance of the release of his docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, discussed his brothers and the emotional anxiety that came with talking about them at times.
When asked about his older brother’s death, he stated, “When Chris went away, it was tragic because no one was more excited about my moving to Nashville than he was.” He was referring to his recent relocation to Nashville.
Willie questioned Luke on whether there was any reluctance involved in talking through everything, and Luke responded as follows: “When you start talking about the deaths of your siblings, you almost get an anxious feeling about having to tell people about the awful parts of your life.”
“But then I remember that there are individuals out there who have gone through the same experiences that I have,” the country singer continued, becoming upset as he did so.
“And, in the end, what we’re attempting to do is convey the narrative, or, as we like to call it, my dirt road diary,” says the author.
Luke and his wife Caroline adopted their three nieces and nephews after Luke’s brother-in-law died of a heart attack seven years after Luke’s sister died.
In an interview with Billboard in 2018, the Crash My Party singer, was asked about his mental state, and he discussed his reaction to the terrible events.
“I’m generally a really happy person,” he said. “Because of the tragedy that our family has experienced, I now have a deeper understanding for the value and precarious nature of life.”
“And you can bet that I bring that frame of mind to my performances, and even to how I interact with people daily. When I meet new people, I want them to leave with the impression that ‘that person isn’t having a bad day,’ and I want them to be impressed by me.”
