Growin' Up

Lore & Background

The narrative of Growin' Up is rooted in a two-year songwriting journey where Combs explored themes of maturity. A defining moment in this era was the release of "Doin' This", which peaked at number one on Billboard Country Airplay earlier in 2022, serving as the lead single. The album also introduced another chart-topper: the second single, "The Kind of Love We Make". Released in June 2022, it also reached number one on the Country Airplay chart, extending Combs' remarkable streak of consecutive chart-toppers.

In Their Own Story

Behind the scenes of this project, Luke Combs worked closely with producers Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton to shape the album's sonic landscape. The recording process involved a robust lineup of musicians, including Jim "Moose" Brown on keyboards and Greg Morrow or Jerry Roe on drums. Specific instrumentation details stand out, such as Combs himself playing acoustic guitar on "Going, Going, Gone". The tracklist was officially confirmed by Combs on May 17, 2022, just a month before the June 24 release date. This period of preparation culminated in an album that not only topped charts across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, and the UK but also earned a nomination for Best Country Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Reader's Guide

For listeners exploring Growin' Up, the experience begins with the lead single "Doin' This" before moving into the chart-peaking "The Kind of Love We Make". Fans should pay attention to the instrumental contributions, particularly the pedal steel guitar work by Gary Morse, Scotty Sanders, and Travis Toy, which adds depth to the country sound. The album's commercial success is quantifiable: it debuted with 28,000 pure album sales out of its total units. While critics received the album generally positively, the statistical milestones remain the most striking aspect of this release. Whether tracking its performance in the US or its international reach into Scotland and New Zealand, Growin' Up stands as a documented high point in Combs' career, recognized by both the industry through Grammy nominations and fans through global chart positions.

Did You Know?

• "The Kind of Love We Make" became Luke Combs' latest single to reach number one on the Country Airplay chart, continuing his impressive streak.
• Combs confirmed the album's twelve-track listing specifically on May 17, 2022.
• The duet with Miranda Lambert appears on the song "Outrunnin' Your Memory", but that track is from Combs' later album 'Gettin' Old', not 'Growin' Up'.
• Despite its strong debut, Growin' Up did not achieve the highest debut for any country album in 2022; other releases posted higher first-week numbers.