Luke Combs Praised By Ed Sheeran As An “Incredible Writer, Singer, And Performer”
At 36 years old, Luke Combs has been named one of the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026. Interestingly, he’s the only country artist on the list.
This list was unveiled on Wednesday, April 14, and it places Combs among some of the biggest names in entertainment, as well as global leadership and innovators from many fields and disciplines.
While with TIME Magazine to shoot the photo for his exclusive cover, a video of Combs going through old TIME Magazine covers was recorded.
In this video, Combs praises Johnny Cash as the defining face of country music around the world, and he also gave his best shot at singing the chorus to Cher’s “Believe,” and more.
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Ed Sheeran Writes An Appreciation Of Luke Combs For TIME
During his interview with TIME on the occasion of him being included in the TIME100, Luke Combs said the following about himself: “I think the thing that maybe people like about me is that I’m not that interesting.”
Over the course of the interview, Combs describes growing up in the lower-middle-class, saying that his dreams often had to be pared down, and simply by the realities of life.
“I also think there’s this undertone when you grow up in lower-middle-class America,” Combs said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, dream within reason. Let’s not get crazy here. You want to be an astronaut? Maybe you could be a mechanic instead—that’s basically the same thing.’”
The interview also notes that, up until 11 years ago, he had never been on an airplane. Now, he’s breaking records and doing shows around the world.
During the span of his career so far, he’s gained millions of fans.
One of them, Ed Sheeran, has even become a collaborator, as they recorded the song “Life Goes On” from Sheeran’s 2023 album, – (subtract).
Sheeran wrote an appreciation of Combs to accompany his listing in the TIME100, writing of his connection with the country singer, “I first met Luke Combs in 2018, when I was living in Nashville. I’d heard his song ‘When It Rains It Pours’ while on holiday with my school-mates, and it quickly became our soundtrack. As soon as I met Luke, I knew he was a good bloke, with talent just spilling out of him.”
Continuing, Sheeran writes, “Over the years, I’ve watched him move from album to album and tour to tour, constantly evolving—not just as an artist, but also as a human, and always for the better. He’s scaled the highest heights of music while remaining loving and kind to those around him. People might call that ‘normal,’ but there’s nothing normal about what Luke has achieved.”
Noting that Combs 2024 album, Fathers & Sons, is his favorite, Sheeran goes on to say, “He’s an incredible writer, singer, and performer. I love his commitment to his family and how that reflects in his music.”
Concluding his tribute to Combs, Sheeran simply stated, “I’m looking forward to whatever is next, because really, it can be anything.”
Revisit Ed Sheeran and Luke Combs’ performance of their duet, “Life Goes On,” at the 58th ACM Awards, here:
Other notable inclusions on the TIME100 list for 2026 include President Donald Trump, Pope Leo XIV, singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, Texas-based actor Ethan Hawke, and fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
Several stars from the 2026 Winter Olympics are also numbered among the TIME100, such as figure skater Alysa Liu, hockey player Hilary Knight, and snowboarder Chloe Kim.
Also, Taylor Swift wrote a brief appreciation of actress Dakota Johnson, which can be read, here.
See the full list of the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026 at its official website, here.
Revisit the music video for Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours,” here:
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