Country Music Star Luke Bryan Credits Hard Work With His Success – ‘I Earned It The Old-Fashioned Way’

We are unfortunately living in a time in which hard work is not seen as “cool,” and handouts are all the rage. That’s why it came as a refreshing surprise when the country music star Luke Bryan spoke out recently to credit hard work for his success, saying that he “earned it the old-fashioned way.”

‘I Earned It The Old-Fashioned Way’

“For most of my career I went up there going, I got to prove myself,” Bryan, 47, told People Magazine. “So it’s really liberating and gratifying to just go, I am what I am.”

“I earned it the old-fashioned way, working my butt off,” he continued. “A lot of people have propped me up and helped me along the way, and I hope they can enjoy the ride too.”

Though Bryan eventually found great success in country music, it took him a little bit longer than he had initially hoped.

“I look back and I’m proud about the whole climb to get here,” he said. “I had plans to move to Nashville at 20 years old and my brother passed away and I think at 20, I would have processed it all a lot differently, with a lot less maturity. And so I think when I moved to Nashville when I was 25, I could read people better, I could navigate the shady crowd.”

“I’m able to take memories from college, from spring breaks to fraternity parties, football games, that I’m able to put that into my work,” he added, going on to admit that he has “a broad perspective of life from hard work to having tremendous loss.”

“I don’t think you’re ever going to enter into the music business without making some immature mistakes … Especially when you drink a lot of beers,” Bryan stated with a laugh.

Related: Luke Bryan Issues Apology To ‘Anybody That Doesn’t Understand My Humor’ Amidst ‘Drugs And STDs’ Controversy

Bryan Still Loves Performing 

In this same interview, Bryan said that he really does love performing to this day.

“It’s not an act,” Bryan explained. “I’m not up there like, ‘Oh I got to ham it up or turn it on for these people.’ It’s just – I’m in the moment, I’m having fun and I’m feeding off their energy and the more they give me, the more I try to give back. The main thing with me is when I had 100 people in the room, I had a blast, I loved it. I was trying to win a 100 people over, and tonight it’ll be the same thing,” he shared of loving his job no matter the audience size.

“The day you quit loving it, and it becomes something you just dread, then it’s time to move on,” he continued. “Thankfully I’ve never had those feelings. It’s pretty hard for being in front of 20,000 people to get old.”

Related: Luke Bryan Releases New Song That Will Make Liberal Heads Explode

Bryan’s Recipe For Success

Bryan concluded by revealing his own recipe for success to the world.

“I think the most important thing to do as an artist is connect with your fans,” Bryan said.” Be happy. Smile with your fans. And be yourself. And on your good days, your fans will have your back and when you have days you’re a little under the weather, you didn’t put your best show on, they’ll be there for you on those bad days too.”

“Try to do your best to tell your story, in the most authentic and believable way – in the most relatable way,” he concluded.

Bryan is currently a judge on “American Idol,” where he helps the next generation of singers find success. Based on his comments on his own path to victory in life, we can’t help but think he’s the perfect person for that job!