Like every musician, songwriter and performer, Luke Bryan came to Nashville with stars in his eyes and pretty much knew he wanted to be in Music City full-time making music. On one of his very first trips to Tune Town, Luke and his guitar playing-songwriting-friend Michael Carter snuck into the Grand Ole Opry, went honkytonkin’ on Broadway (where he now has his own bar) and got to meet a full-fledged country superstar in the same trip.

“One of the first nights I ever had in Nashville, me and my current guitar player and fellow songwriter friend, Michael Carter, we drove up from South Georgia and we just walked around,” recalls Luke. “We took in the Grand Ole Opry, we sat in the front row of the Opry and stared around. We actually snuck in somehow in a private tour. We just saw a line walking in and we just stood in line and somehow we snuck in to the Opry backstage. And then we went out and went to some of the famous bars and honkytonks on Broadway, went and saw the Ryman, and then on the second day, we knew that Vince Gill was going to be down in Franklin and actually got to meet Vince, and it was a great first visit to Nashville.”

One of his biggest takeaways and goals during that visit has most likely happened a thousand times. “So many memories just riding around and seeing the billboards and seeing the country stars on billboards promoting albums and promoting singles, and just I remember thinking, ‘Gosh, if I can only be on a billboard one day.’” He has certainly accomplished being on a billboard or two, as well as appearances on popular TV shows and stadium shows and 30 No. 1 songs and sold-out tours and many more unexpected surprises that comes along with being one of the best and biggest stars in country music.

Luke has cracked the Top 15 on the country charts with his latest single, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand.” You can catch Luke performing his song and many of his biggest hits when he takes his Country On Tour to Lubbock, Texas on Thursday (July 27th).