Country superstar Luke Combs' positive COVID-19 status confirmed

Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
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In news confirmed from CMT Music Awards officials exclusively to the Tennessean, country superstar Luke Combs has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in quarantine.

Combs was scheduled to record a performance alongside leading 2022 CMT Music Awards nominee Kane Brown at an undisclosed location on March 24. However, Old Dominion will now replace the artist nominated for "Video of the Year" for "Forever After All" in a performance.

To the Tennessean, a CMT spokesperson noted, "Unfortunately, Luke Combs won’t be with us tomorrow. He is quarantined with COVID. He’s bummed to miss seeing everyone!”

Combs has not released a statement regarding his COVID status or current condition. The artist was last seen live in the United Kingdom during the C2C Festival. His time there was highlighted by a March 14 performance of Ed Sheeran's 2017 single "Dive" alongside a special guest-appearing Sheeran at London's O2 Arena.

Combs posted a video of the performance to social media and stated, "Covered 'Dive' countless times, but this was by far the coolest! Thanks to my buddy @edsheeran for joining me on stage in London."

Combs' wife Nicole Hocking is currently pregnant with the couple's first child. There is also no word as to whether she also traveled to the C2C Festival or where she is in proximity to her currently quarantining husband.

Luke Combs and Nicole Hocking on the red carpet at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards at Music City Center Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.
Luke Combs and Nicole Hocking on the red carpet at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards at Music City Center Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.

Notably, Hocking tested positive with COVID in late December 2020. She endured a difficult recovery, stating via Instagram, “I wish I was like those who just lost their smell or taste or didn’t even know they had it. But no, I’ve had all the symptoms, except for a fever. It’s beat me up."

As for the 2022 CMT Music Awards, no other announced alterations have been made to the show airing live on April 11 from Music City's Municipal Auditorium. The event is being aired on CBS for the first time and will include the musical stylings of Maren Morris, Little Big Town, Keith Urban and more.

This story will be updated as more information is made available.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Luke Combs positive for COVID-19, will miss CMT Awards performance