When you sit back and look at the career Luke Combs is building for himself, it's hard to envision he would have many regrets. He's one of the biggest stars on the country scene right now, and is widely respected as an artist in multiple countries.
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However, appears that a simple missed text message still haunts Luke. Back in 2024, Luke missed a text message from Josh Phillips, who wrote "the song"Dirt Cheap." The text was offering Luke the opportunity to sing the track. When Luke didn't answer his text, the song was ultimately given to Cody Johnson.
When making the rounds at CMA Fest 2026, Johnson revealed that Luke had a funny reaction to missing out on that song, sharing a tidbit of a conversation they'd previously had.
"This song was sent to Luke Combs, and Luke's dumba-- didn't open the text message," Johnson said. "We were duck hunting in Mississippi, and he said, 'I could kill you for that song, 'Dirt Cheap.'"
In fairness, Luke is clearly just having some fun with a friend. However, there's no telling what singing "Dirt Cheap" would have done for his career, especially when he already boasts such a strong catalog of work. It would be surprising if Luke still kept his phone on silent during his downtime. Sometimes, it takes a mistake to learn a tough lesson.
What Did Jason Phillips Say About Luke Combs Not Answering His Text?
When speaking with Country Countdown USA in 2024, Johnson addressed the fact that Luke unfortunately missed the text message offering him first refusal to the track.
"He didn't click on it," Johnson said. "So here's to you Luke! He didn't listen to it until I after released it. He thought the title looked familiar. I talked about it afterward; he had some choice words to say about Dirt Cheap. I said, 'Everything happens for a reason.'"
It's safe to say that things worked out for everyone involved. However, Luke will have every right to look back and wonder what could have happened. On the flip side, though, Johnson will undoubtedly be pleased things shook out the way they did.
