Country newcomer Luke Combs is slowly cementing himself as one of the mainstream's best young voices. And he put that on full display with this impassioned living room cover of Blake Shelton's early hit, "Austin."
Combs shared the brief performance to his Facebook page earlier this week. The black and white clip racked up hundreds of thousands of views in just a few days. He also earned more than 14,000 likes, 1,100 comments and nearly 10,000 shares.
That's how you know people dig it. Check out the clip below.
Combs didn't put much info about why he chose to sing this one in particular, but it makes sense. The smash hit for Blake Shelton helped launch his career. Combs is currently seeing similar success with his song "Hurricane."
His rise and recent success has been equal parts steady and impressive. When we spoke with Combs last year, "Hurricane" achieved streaming success but had yet to see its current radio rise. He was also still an independent artist. Combs inked a deal with Sony Music just a few months ago.
READ MORE: Watch Luke Combs' Soulful Take on Keith Urban's "Blue Ain't Your Color"
The 26-year-old Asheville native made his way to Nashville in 2014 after he picked up music as an undergrad at Appalachian State University in 2011. He began working on his music and cut an EP, including "Hurricane" completely out of his own pocket. In fact, Luke Combs says the vocal we hear on the single was actually a scratch vocal in the studio. That take just felt right.
Combs had good instincts in sticking with the tune. In the two years its been out, "Hurricane" amassed more than 50 million streams on Spotify. The track also just went to No. 1 on country radio, unseating Sam Hunt's smash hit "Body Like A Back Road."
This One's For You is out on June 2.
"Austin" Lyrics:
Said she needed to clear her mind
He figured she'd gone back to Austin
'Cause she talked about it all the time
Three rings and an answering machine is what she got
If this is Tuesday night I'm bowlin'
If you've got somethin' to sell your wastin' your time, I'm not buyin'
If it's anybody else wait for the tone you know what to do
And P.S. if this is Austin I still love you
She heard but she couldn't believe
What kind of man would hang on that long
What kind of love that must be
She waited three days and then she tried again
She didn't know what she'd say
But she heard three rings and then
And first thing Saturday if it don't rain
I'm headed out to the lake and I'll be gone all weekend long
But I'll call you back when I get home on Sunday afternoon
And P.S. if this is Austin I still love you
But not another word
When she waited by the phone on Sunday evening
And this is what he heard
I should have listened to it a little more
Then it wouldn't have taken me so long
To know where I belong
Can't you tell this is Austin and I still love you
