Luke Bryan Reflects on Having an Anxiety Attack Before Hosting Red Carpet
ABC/Gavin Bond Reading Time: 3 minutes
With the finale of American Idol around the corner, Luke Bryan has other projects on the rise. The country singer was featured as a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Within the show he announced the extension of his Las Vegas residency.
Bryan reminisced on his first experience with Degeneres. He recalled having a panic attack while driving to the Country Music Awards (CMA’s) to perform “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” While appearing at the CMA’s as a performer, he also was leading Degeneres’s red carpet.
“I didn’t realize so much pressure was on me until I realized I couldn’t breathe in the limo. Then I’m claiming we need to put the windows down, my wife’s like ‘Luke this is called a panic attack’ and I’m like it’s not called a panic attack, give me some oxygen,” Bryan said. “I run around the back of the red carpet at the CMA’s and all of her [Ellen’s] producers are on the phone because I’m late to host the red carpet. I get all of my ducks in a row with makers mark whiskey and then I did the red carpet.”
Following his story, he explained that working with Degeneres meant more than any other series at the time. He expressed that making it onto her series was a high at the time. Bryan stated that not many platforms provide a place for country artists in the way that Degeneres’s does.
While on the series, he joked that each time he has been on, the talk show host has given him beer. Since the alcohol wasn’t provided in this interview, Bryan brought his own, Two Lane beer.
Luke Bryan Explains American Idol‘s Transformation Since the Judging Panel Change
Before talking about everything going on with his life at the moment, Bryan talked about his journey on American Idol. It’s been nearly five years since Bryan joined the cast of American Idol as a judge alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
“We really had to change the dynamic and what the show was about and how we critique these kids,” Bryan said. “It’s been a really neat process… We’re celebrating our 20 years too, it’s been an amazing 20 years.”
This season of American Idol is coming to a close on Sunday, May 22. The landmark season has a stellar star studded celebrity guest line up including James Arthur, Sara Bareilles, Michael Bublé, Deana Carter, Carrie Underwood, and more. Bryan is set to perform in the finale with Top 3 singer, HunterGirl.
Following the American Idol finale, Bryan will appear again in Las Vegas, as well as in Raised Right Up Tour. The country star will appear in the tour beginning on June 9. He then will return to Las Vegas on June 15. Bryan will go between his summer tour and Las Vegas residency until the end of September.
