Luke Bryan Says Anxiety Kept Him From Enjoying Success

Luke Bryan has dealt with anxiety for a long time, but he says it used to be bad enough that it took away from some of the biggest moments of his career.

Luke Bryan Is Opening Up About His Anxiety

Bryan opened up about it during a recent interview with me on Taste of Country Nights, explaining that he grew up in a different generation.

"I think I grew up in a generation of men where they didn't talk about stuff like that. And they held it in, and I think now, thank God, society talks about it a little more openly."

That's one of the reasons Bryan says he's willing to talk about his own experiences with anxiety.

He told me, "When I bring it up, I think we're all human. We're all human in life. Life has a way to back us in some corners and challenges."

Luke Bryan Is In a Much Better Place With His Anxiety Now

Bryan said, "I do pretty well with anxiety now."

Bryan said most of his anxiety comes from adrenaline. He can get too excited or "overhyped" about big moments, which can send his anxiety into overdrive.

He added, "So I've learned to kind of, you know, row a steady boat, calm myself down and be in the moment."

Luke Bryan Got Anxious A Lot In His Early Career

"That was a big thing early in my career," he said. "I would get so much anxiety about stuff, I would not really even enjoy it."

That's changed quite a bit.

Bryan pointed to hosting big awards shows as one example. Those are the kinds of moments that used to get in his head, but now he says he can actually enjoy them.

"The fact that I can go and host a big awards show and enjoy it and not be freaking out, I'm comfortable in all those moments, it makes the business a lot more fun."

Get our free mobile app

And that's really what stood out to me about what Bryan said. He's not saying the anxiety completely went away. He's saying he learned how to handle it, just like you and I have to do.

Luke Bryan's New Music

Luke Bryan - Signs — An MCA Nashville Release; ℗ 2026 Row Crop Records, LLC, under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.

Luke Bryan released his ninth studio album, Signs, on Sep. 18. It features a track called "Finders Keepers," with Luke Combs.

The 50 All-Time Best Luke Bryan Songs, Ranked

Luke Bryan's massive catalog of songs perfectly walk the line between heartfelt and fun. Here are our 50 favorite hits and deep cuts.

Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

See Luke Bryan and Wife Caroline's Goofiest, Cutest Photos

Luke Bryan and his wife Caroline are known for their wild pranks and great senses of humor, but what makes this marriage work is a connection that runs deep.

The couple have known each other since their college days at Georgia Southern University. Their love didn't click immediately (at least, not for Caroline) and they eventually split. However, after a few years apart, the couple would eventually recognize what they had in each other after reconnecting years later.

Fast forward to today and the Bryans have been married for nearly two decades and share two sons, Bo and Tate. They also serve as guardians of their nieces Kris and Jordan, as well as their nephew Tilden.

The pair have shared a lot of life and laughter together over the years!

Filed Under: Luke Bryan