Luke Combs Reportedly Puts Family First Over Pre-Super Bowl Headliner
By Afouda Bamidele on February 6, 2026 at 4:15 PM EST
Luke Combs has his priorities set, and at the top of that list is family!
The soon-to-be father of three pulled out of his performance at the pre-Super Bowl concert at the last minute to be there for his baby's birth. Giving up what would have been the first of its kind performance for the artist, he is being replaced as the headliner for the event by country artist Zach Bryan.
Luke Combs has been very vocal about his love for his wife, Nicole Hocking, through the lyrics of his songs. The pair got married in August 2020 after dating for a few years. They are currently parents to two sons born in 2022 and 2023.
Luke Combs Presses Pause On Dream Performance For Family
Combs has previously disclosed his dreams of performing at the Super Bowl. Even though his now-cancelled performance was for the Madden Bowl concert, it would have marked a steppingstone for the artist.
He has now pulled out of his performance at the Chase Center in San Francisco, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, ahead of Super Bowl LX. EA Sports announced via their official Instagram account on Thursday, writing, "Update: Luke has to hold it down at home with a new one on the way."
The caption also announced that Bryan would be replacing Combs after sending love to the musician and his family. The soon-to-be dad of three also affirmed the news on his Instagram story, emphasizing the reason for the last-minute cancellation. He wrote:
"So sorry to miss y'all at Madden Bowl, but family always comes first. Have a great time."
The comments were filled with half of the fans hyped about the drama between Combs replacement and Gavin Adcock, and the other half requesting for how to get tickets.
The Couple Made Their Baby Announcement In September
In September 2025, the couple revealed that they were expecting their third child with a joint Instagram Video post captioned "Third time's a charm! Baby #3 coming this winter [white heart emoji]."
The footage showed them sitting on the grass holding the sonogram excitedly, while their two sons, Tex and Beau, sat with their backs turned towards the camera.
Moments after, Hocking shared a screenshot of a text message thread between her and their manager, Sophia Sanson, where she reveals that her husband was performing his song "Days Like These" at the same time she posted the pregnancy announcement video.
"When @lukecombs is in London playing Days Like These at the exact time I posted the announcement [teary eye emoji, white heart emoji]" she penned under the screenshot on her Instagram Stories.
Page Six also shares that Hocking was into her pregnancy era. She posted a series of photos flaunting her baby bump while sitting on the sandy beach amid smiles.
The Musician Was Nervous To Become A First-Time Father
The loving couple became a family of three in June 2022 when their eldest son, Tex Lawrence, was born. Combs admitted that although he was excited to become a parent, there was a nuance of nervousness that engulfed him at the thought of becoming a father for the first time.
A year later, in August 2023, their second son, Beau Lee, was born. In 2024, the artist told PEOPLE that his sons were his source of inspiration for his album "Fathers & Sons."
He said that he wants them to be able to look back later in life and see that even through a successful career, they were still his priority. He added, "If anyone's dad had the opportunity to do something like that, I think that they would take it. At least I would hope so. I did it for them."
Comb showed that amid his busy schedule, he spends quality time with his children via a series of rare photos he shared on social media. One showed the boys lying on the floor playing with their toys, another featured Combs playing the guitar while Beau bounced in an exersaucer.
Inside Nicole Hocking And Luke Combs' Relationship
Combs and Hocking became friends through their mutual friends shortly after she moved to Nashville in 2014. Two years later, they crossed paths at a songwriters' festival in Florida and began dating shortly after.
They went Instagram official after Hocking shared a picture of them in March 2017, and after this, more cute moments were captured. The singer proposed to the love of his life in November 2018 and tied the knot two years later in an intimate ceremony in Florida.
He gave fans a rare glimpse of their wedding in the music video for "Forever After All." The 35-year-old announced that their family was expanding in January 2022, writing, "Here we go y'all! Lil dude Combs is coming this Spring, couldn't be more excited to start a family with this babe."
US Magazine notes that the couple mark milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations with heartfelt posts on their different social media accounts.
The Country Singer Was Caught In A Legal Fiasco With A Fan
A $250,000 lawsuit was filed on behalf of the country singer against a fan, Nicole Harness, for selling merchandise with Combs' face on it. Harness, at the time of the lawsuit, had sold about 18 Luke Combs-themed Tumblers on her Amazon store.
The judge ruled that Harness was to pay Combs the court-ordered amount and all future sales from her store would go to the singer till the $250K was paid in full.
Combs was initially unaware of the lawsuit, as he revealed he employs a company that goes after large corporations operating internationally that make millions from counterfeit t-shirts and run illegal businesses.
The Blast shared that the 35-year-old was saddened that Harness had gotten wrapped up in the situation, and he sent a heartfelt apology to her. He described it as a misunderstanding and also went a step further, inviting her and her family to a show so he could apologize in real time and hug her.
Congratulations to Luke Combs!
