Luke Combs says he is putting his health first when it comes to his sons, 2-year-old Tex and 1-year-old Beau.
“Surprisingly, this is the least country thing I’ve ever said: [I’m] gluten-free now,” the North Carolina-born country singer told ABC News.
Combs, 34, said during a break this summer, he noticed his anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder — which at times have affected him to “a crippling extent,” he said — were “flaring up really bad” and “beginning to get in the way of everyday life enjoyment.”
This, he said, prompted him to do a “deep dive” into his health.
Combs said he found a doctor in Nashville and did a food sensitivity test, which revealed he had a “really high sensitivity” to gluten. Some studies have shown that eliminating gluten from the diet may help manage mood in people with gluten intolerance or sensitivity, however it may not be helpful for all mental health issues.
Luke Combs performs onstage at the Concert For Carolina Benefit Concert at Bank of America Stadium, Oct. 26, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C.
John Shearer/Getty Images for Concert For Carolina
“Ever since eliminating that, man, it’s changed my life mentally,” he shared, saying he experienced an unexpected physical side effect as well. “There was no intent of, like, man, I should try to lose some weight.”
Combs said his sons, both of whom he shares with wife Nicole, are “without a doubt” the main reason he’s prioritizing his health, both mental and physical.
“Longevity is the goal,” he said. “Every day you get to spend with those guys is really fun and tough, and you need to be your best self to take care of them the way that you feel like they deserve to be taken care of.”
“It’s a long process, man. It’s a long road,” the singer added. “It’s tough. It’s a challenge, man. I struggle with it every day.”
Combs is celebrating the success of his latest album, “Fathers & Sons,” which is up for album of the year at the 2024 CMA Awards.
Nicole Combs, left, and Luke Combs attend the new exhibit “Luke Combs: The Man I Am” at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, July 10, 2024, in Nashville.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Despite also being up for male vocalist of the year and the coveted entertainer of the year top prize, Combs said the nod for “Fathers & Sons” — which he dedicated to his boys — is “a little extra special.”
“To be able to have something like that for them, and just, you know, to do something that you’re really passionate about and have it be recognized is always nice,” he gushed.
Tune into the 2024 CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 20, airing live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and streaming live on Hulu the next day.
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Editor’s note: This article was updated with additional information on the potential ties between gluten-free diets and mental health.