Country fans know that whenever you hear “Friends in Low Places,” it’s a sign that you’re about to have a good time. The fun-lovin’ song was released by Garth Brooks in 1990, and took on a legacy of epic proportions.
“Friends in Low Places” topped the Hot Country Songs chart for four consecutive weeks, and was also a number one hit on the Canadian country chart. Its popularity led to two big award wins: the ACM and CMA Awards for Single of Year.
Over 25 years after its release, “Friends in Low Places” remains one of Brooks’ most recognizable songs. Every night on his World Tour, he entertains thousands of fans with an energetic performance of his iconic hit.
As you would expect, the popularity of “Friends in Low Places” has inspired other country acts to pay homage to Brooks by performing the song themselves. One such artist is Luke Combs, who is currently one of country music’s brightest stars.
Combs hit it big with the release of his debut single “Hurricane” in 2016. The song topped the U.S. Country Airplay chart and also found a solid home at the third spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. As of May, the song has sold well over 430,000 copies in the U.S. alone.
The hype around “Hurricane” helped send Combs’ debut album This One’s for You to the top spot of the country albums chart following its release on June 2. Combs has also kept up a busy tour schedule all year, with scheduled show dates all the way through September.
During one of his shows in January, Combs decided to entertain the crowd with a cover of “Friends in Low Places.” Everyone started going wild as Combs sang the opening verse, but the party really got started once he burst into the chorus.
Making his way back and forth across the stage with a beer in hand, Combs shared a toast with several of his fans that had gathered close to watch him perform. The performance was already rambunctious enough, but it became even more so once Combs whipped out the famous third verse.
The third verse of “Friends in Low Places” doesn’t appear in the recorded version of the song. The only place you can hear it is when Brooks performs the song live, or apparently, when Combs does!
Combs perfectly captures the essence of “Friends in Low Places” through his cover, which is what makes it such a joy to watch. Check it out below, you won’t regret it!
We’d love to see Combs and Brooks perform this one together some day!