The year 2017 was a life-changing one for country singer Luke Combs: That's when his debut single, “Hurricane,” reached No. 1 on the country radio airplay chart. That song set off a chain of hits for the artist, who has connected with fans thanks to his retro-but-modern country-rock sound.

Below, Combs recalls to The Boot the first time he heard "Hurricane" on the radio -- as well as a few of the strange places he's heard his music.

It was insane. I remember exactly where I was, exactly who I was with.

I was in Phoenix, [Ariz.] I had just signed to Columbia, and two of my reps came down. It was the first time my reps had come out, and we were just driving down the road and “Hurricane” came on.

It was just like, “Whoa! That’s me there on the radio.” It was pretty wild. That was my first time not expecting to hear it.

[The strangest place I’ve heard my song] is [in] gas station bathrooms. [Also, in the fall of 2017], I was at the [Dallas] Cowboys game ... and I came out, and it was playing at this big Miller Lite tailgate thing, and I was like, “Hey, I know that guy.” I was just in there and no one knew I was in there.

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