\n<\/p>\n
Luke Combs<\/a> didn\u2019t exactly make a great first impression the first time he met Blake Shelton<\/a> \u2014 in fact, he barely made one at all.<\/p>\n The country star says he was so sick during the trip that he spent most of it stuck in his room, convinced he\u2019d blown a huge opportunity before it even started.<\/p>\n Looking back, what felt like a complete disaster at the time turned into one of the most important moments of his career.<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking at a recent event<\/a>, Combs recalled meeting Shelton and several music industry heavyweights at a private gathering in Mississippi more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Luke Combs Makes a Bold Statement About the Music Industry<\/a><\/p>\n At the time, he was the up-and-comer \u2014 and already felt out of place. \u201cI\u2019m the new guy, nobody knows who I am, and I felt like I wasn\u2019t supposed to be there,\u201d Combs said.<\/p>\n The trip took place at a farm owned by Ryman Hospitality Executive Chairman, Colin Reed<\/a>, but instead of enjoying it, Combs was dealing with a brutal stomach bug.<\/p>\n \u201cColin has this beautiful farm in Mississippi, and there\u2019s deer, and I\u2019m like, \u2018Man, this is like Mecca for a redneck,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThere are ducks in the pond, and here I am, chugging the Imodium on the toilet.\u201d<\/p>\n He spent most of the trip in his room eating chicken soup while Shelton and the others spent time together.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was less than ideal,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI remember thinking<\/a>, like, \u2018Well, this is it. My career\u2019s over. I finally got invited to a cool thing, and I\u2019m the weird guy in the room that\u2019s sick.\u201d<\/p>\n By the final night, Combs felt well enough to join the group around a campfire, where everyone \u2014 including Shelton \u2014 took turns playing songs.<\/p>\n Read More:<\/em>\u00a0<\/b>Luke Combs’ \u2018Whoever You Turn Out to Be\u2019 Is a Promise to His Son<\/a><\/p>\n Reed admitted he didn\u2019t expect much<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m thinking, he\u2019s been sick for 48 hours. This is going to be a monumental disaster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n When it was Combs\u2019 turn, he took a shot. \u201cI don\u2019t even have a record deal. I\u2019ve never had a No. 1, but if I get a record deal, this song I\u2019m going to play is a song I\u2019ve written<\/a>,\u201d he told the group.<\/p>\n He then played \u201cHurricane.\u201d<\/p>\nA Rough Start<\/h3>\n
Sick at the Worst Possible Time<\/h3>\n
One Last Chance<\/h3>\n
The Moment That Changed Everything<\/h3>\n