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Luke Combs kicked off a fresh chapter in his music with his highly-anticipated new anthem — and star-studded music video — on Friday (July 25).
“Back in the Saddle” is the first single of “so much more music coming up,” Combs said on Friday morning. The award-winning country star scored a “total dream come true,” filming the music video with NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty. Combs said his “grandpa would be rolling over in his grave, in a good way, if he knew that I got to hang out with Richard Petty and Dale Jr.,” he said as he announced the single’s debut.
“‘Cause I’m back in the saddle like some old cowboy / Who dug his way out of his grave / Pulled up his boots, put his pistol on his hip / Climbed up and took hold of the reins / Don’t worry where I’ve been / I’m back in the saddle again”
Combs has been stirring anticipation for “Back in the Saddle” for months. He said in a “life update” on May 15 that he’s “getting back in the saddle here. Back in the studio. I’m very excited about that. …And got a big tour coming next year. I just kind of finalized a lot of the details on that here in the last week or so. So, new record coming up soon, new tour coming up, (I’m) just excited, man. I’m excited.” Combs said at that time that “there also may or may not be an Easter egg regarding new music in this video that will one day make sense.” Soon after that, Combs tagged his fellow songwriters Jonathan Singleton and The Brothers Hunt — writers and God’s Country podcast hosts Dan and Reid Isbell — in a sneak peek before the song’s release.
“Back in the Saddle” is the latest song to release from Combs since Fathers & Sons, a 12-track studio record that arrived in June 2024, and serves as a tribute to the country star’s life as a dad. Combs and his wife, Nicole Combs, share sons Tex Lawrence Combs, 3, and Beau Lee Combs, who turns 2 next month. Before Fathers & Sons, Combs released “Ain't No Love in Oklahoma,” the adrenaline-rushing lead single from the star-studded Twisters movie soundtrack. Watch the “Back in the Saddle” music video here: