All About Luke Combs' Parents, Rhonda and Lee Combs

Luke Combs knows he lucked out with his parents, Rhonda Combs and Chester Lee Combs.

The “She Got the Best of Me” singer-songwriter has broken records and headlined tours many people only dream of, but at the center of his crazy universe are his parents, who help keep him grounded and humble.

Rhonda and Lee are native North Carolinians through and through. They welcomed Luke on March 2, 1990, in Huntersville, and later relocated to Asheville, where they still live. The country artist has openly discussed what it was like growing up in a working-class family on multiple occasions. During a Q&A with Rolling Stone at CMA Fest 2019, Luke said watching his parents work full-time jobs and save every penny taught him a lot about money and living modestly — both values he still holds close to his heart as he builds a family himself.

“My parents have always been really great at living within their means and not buying anything that they couldn’t afford. I didn’t understand how important that was until I started working. My parents just always told me, 'If you want something, and you can’t afford it, just don’t get it,' " Luke said while celebrating the release of his EP The Prequel, per the Boot.

Luke’s career may be reaching its peak, but the Gettin’ Old artist says the most rewarding thing is being able to repay his parents for all the sacrifices they made for him growing up.

"I’ve gotten to help them out with some bills they had and my parents and myself didn’t get to travel a lot growing up. I got to take them to a lot of places that they’ve never been and let them experience a lot of things that they’ve never gotten to experience, so that’s definitely been the coolest thing,” he said.

Here’s everything to know about Luke Combs’ parents, Rhonda and Lee Combs, and their sweet relationship with the famous country artist.

Rhonda and Lee live in Asheville

The pair raised their only son in Asheville, North Carolina, having moved from Huntersville — about two hours southeast, right outside of Charlotte — when Luke was 8 years old. Rhonda and Lee still reside in Asheville, and their home is the same family home Luke grew up in.

While appearing on The Marty Smith Podcast, Luke explained how he came from a blue-collar town with humble beginnings. “Obviously, my parents worked super hard to give us everything that we needed. I was definitely not a kid that got everything that he wanted,” he said. “I didn’t know anything else. We lived in a neighborhood where everyone else was the same way … I didn’t have a friend that I would have considered, at that time, to be ‘rich’ until tenth grade or something like that.”

Luke paid off his parents’ home with his first big paycheck

When the big paychecks started rolling in, Luke made two big investments: He bought himself a new truck and paid off his parents’ mortgage. Speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the country star said it was the least he could do after all the sacrifices his parents had made to help him live his dream.

“I remember calling my parents and being like, ‘I’m paying your house off.’ And they were like, ‘What? You can’t. No. Don’t do that.’ And I was like, ‘No. I’m doing it. That’s what I’m doing.’ So I bought myself a truck and I pay my parent’s house off first thing away,” he recalled during the interview.

“It was the first thing I did, man. I mean, had to. Had to because you realize how hard … I mean, we didn’t have a lot of money, man. We did not. My parents were really good at making it seem like we were doing fine. And we were doing fine. I had everything I needed and not a lot of what I wanted. I’ll put it that way,” he explained.

Of being able to do that for his parents, Luke added, “That was the coolest thing ever.”

Lee inspired Luke’s cover of “Fast Car”

Luke’s country-inspired rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” was a certified bop long before it hit radio, having garnered attention on social media first. While performing at Chicago’s Soldier Field in May 2023, Luke shared why the 1988 track holds such significance to him and the sweet meaning behind his reason to release a cover.

“I remember being 5 years old … my dad had a 1988 Ford F-150 that was brown with a tan camper on it,” he began. "He played me all kinds of music, and one of the first songs that I remember hearing, he popped in a cassette, I love this whole album, and there was this one song that really stuck out to me, though, and it was called 'Fast Car.’ ”

“And that song has meant a lot to me ever since then for my whole life. I always think about my dad when it comes on, and us spending time together,” he added.

Luke helped Rhonda and Lee retire early

Family has always been of the utmost importance to the “Beautiful Crazy” artist. When the opportunity came to give back to his parents and help provide them some financial freedom, Luke jumped at the chance. "I helped both of my parents retire within the last year, which has been a really amazing experience," Combs revealed during an interview with CMT. He also gifted his parents a new Ford Fusion a few years prior, too.

Being able to help his parents ease into retirement was to his benefit as well, Luke noted. "That decision was solely predicated off being able to spend more time with my parents as they get older. My mom retired literally two weeks ago. So watching that happen has been not only a joy for me, but a great way for them to have the financial freedom and the ability to come out and experience some of these awesome things that I get to do, right by my side,” he said. "Which I wouldn’t trade it for anything."

Rhonda and Lee are Luke’s biggest fans

The only person having more fun at a Luke Combs concert than the man himself is his parents. Rhonda and Lee can often be spotted hyping up the crowd or dancing and singing along in the stage wings. “Oh, Mom always loves the show, man,” Luke told country radio station KTLO 1240 AM. “I think Mom’s more famous than me, honestly, at the gigs, man. She’s out dancing up and down the aisles and stuff … she’s awesome.”

"My parents have always been super supportive,” he continued. “They try to come to as many shows as they can.”

They were there to watch their son headline Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium back-to-back nights in 2018. Since retiring, the pair have been able to join Luke on the road even more. “Obviously the Ryman was special, so they came to both nights, drove in from Asheville, and stayed with me at my apartment in the guest room. So I was thrilled to have ’em there,” Luke said.

Rhonda and Lee are Luke’s real-life superheroes

“My superheroes are my parents, they did a whole lot for me growing up and I think I turned out alright. And I think in today’s crazy world that’s a pretty incredible achievement in itself,” Luke said during a press junket for the 2021 ACM Awards, per the country radio station 102.5.

The "When It Rains It Pours” singer-songwriter went on to share the values his parents passed down to him, including the importance of having a strong group of people in your corner.

“My parents instilled a lot of great things in me, I think. You know, treating others the way you want to be treated. I think that’s a really important thing and really surrounding yourself with the right people I think is always something that’s super important. Having a lot of really great friends around. And just being a good person in general, I think that’s some skills that have served me well and I have my parents to thank,” he said.

They have two grandchildren: grandsons Tex and Beau

Rhonda and Lee are the proud grandparents of two cute little boys: Tex Lawrence Combs and Beau Lee Combs. Luke and his wife, Nicole Hocking — who tied the knot on Aug. 1, 2020 — became first-time parents in June 2022. They became a family of four in August 2023 with the addition of Beau.

Like his own dad was with him, Luke is excited to be a hands-on father. "I have been [plotting] the takeover of the Nashville little league in the next five years — finding the best kids, building this unstoppable little league team,” the artist said with a laugh on The Rob + Holly Show.