Luke Bryan Raises a Beer to His Late Siblings With ‘Drink a Beer’ at 2013 CMAs

Luke Bryan brought a stirring rendition of his brand new single 'Drink a Beer' to the 2013 CMA Awards, and was a song -- and performance -- won't be easily forgotten. 

The singer sat on a bar stool along with members of his band, simply clad in a t-shirt and jeans. From the very first note, it was clear that 'Drink a Beer' is much more than a song to him.

Bryan held the microphone as he sang, his eyes closed throughout much of the song as he sang the track that is dedicated to his late siblings, brother Chris and sister Kelly, whom he lost in 1996 and 2007.

What happened to Luke Bryan's brother and sister, exactly? Sadly, Chris, 26, was killed in a car accident, while Kelly, 39 at the time of her death, passed away unexpectedly at home. "They never determined what happened,” Bryan reveals. “The autopsies, the coroner, no one could figure it out."

The country singer has described 'Drink a Beer' as "the coolest sad song ever," and we'd have to agree. Musically, it's fantastic. Emotionally, it's incredibly sad. And overall? Extremely touching.

Bryan appeared choked up throughout much of the performance, and at the end, a photo of his siblings came up in the background. The country star turned around and looked at it, picking up a beer can next to his stool, and he raised his can in salute to his siblings, before tipping it back.