Luke Combs Says THIS ’90s Boy Band Taught Him How to Sing, and Suddenly, Everything Makes Sense
- All Country News
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
The country superstar revealed the wildly unexpected influence behind his powerhouse voice during a fiery appearance on Hot Ones.
Luke Combs may be one of country music’s biggest voices, but the artist who helped shape that unmistakable sound isn’t who fans might expect.
Forget George Strait. Forget Garth Brooks. Even Combs’ fellow North Carolina native Eric Church isn’t the answer.
While taking on the infamous wings of death during an appearance on Hot Ones, Combs revealed that he learned how to sing by listening to none other than the Backstreet Boys.
Yes, those Backstreet Boys.
From “I Want It That Way” to Country Radio Domination
Combs explained that having five distinct vocalists in the group gave him an unexpected masterclass in singing. Each member brought a different range, delivery and set of natural tendencies to the same songs, allowing a young
Combs to hear how multiple voices could approach one melody.
The country powerhouse also pointed to the undeniable construction of the group’s biggest hits, calling their verses and choruses “engineered to be like musical drugs.”
And honestly, where is the lie?
According to Combs, the Backstreet Boys’ music taught him that unforgettable songs need frequent hooks, memorable moments and melodies that leave listeners immediately wanting another spin.
“There needs to be a hook every 20 seconds,” he explained during the interview.
Luke Combs’ Secret Weapon Was Five Voices, Not One
For Combs, the real education came from hearing Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and the rest of the group each put their own spin on the same chorus.
Rather than studying one singer’s style, he was absorbing five different approaches at once, picking up on the subtle inflections and vocal choices that helped transform the Backstreet Boys into one of the most successful groups in pop history.
It might sound like an unlikely blueprint for a country superstar, but the connection is surprisingly clear. Combs has built his own career around massive choruses, instantly memorable hooks and songs crowds can scream back after hearing them only a handful of times.
Turns out, a little boy-band science may have been hiding underneath all that country grit.
The Story Came Full Circle at Stagecoach
Years after singing along to the Backstreet Boys and studying their harmonies, Combs found himself standing beside the group on one of country music’s biggest festival stages.
Following his headlining performance at Stagecoach 2025, Combs made a surprise appearance during the Backstreet Boys’ set on the Palomino Stage. Together, they performed the song that has launched countless car-concerts and karaoke sessions: “I Want It That Way.”
The Backstreet Boys called the collaboration “Stagecoach magic,” while Combs’ wife, Nicole, perfectly summed up the surreal moment on social media: “My husband is a Backstreet Boy.”
From learning to sing by studying five pop superstars to sharing the stage with them in front of thousands of fans—it doesn’t get much more full circle than that.
The Influence Nobody Saw Coming
The revelation is yet another reminder that musical inspiration rarely stays inside neat genre lines. One of country music’s most recognizable singers found part of his voice through the polished pop harmonies of a ’90s boy band, and used those lessons to help fill stadiums.
Luke Combs learning to sing from the Backstreet Boys was definitely not on our bingo card.
But now that we know, we’ll never hear one of his stadium-sized choruses the same way again.
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