Luke Bryan Opens up About Diagnosis at Recent Show

When “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan performed in Arkansas on June 19, 2025, fans knew something was wrong. His voice didn’t sound the same, and he clearly struggled to perform at his best. As Page Six reported, the singer offered refunds to those who attended the concert, and show postponements also followed. Now, Bryan has opened up about the diagnosis behind these surprising issues.

“Three weeks ago, I got COVID,” the singer revealed at a July 17, 2025 concert in South Carolina. “And I had to cancel some shows, but now I’m back!” he said in a fan video on TikTok. The audience erupted with applause, showing their support for Bryan and his refreshingly honest approach to addressing the situation.

Bryan is Still on a Healing Journey

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Although Bryan is back to touring and seems to be recovering, he told the South Carolina crowd that he’s not fully out of the woods yet. “I’m not 100%,” he admitted. He asked for the crowd’s help in making the show a success. “So when I can sing, I’m gonna sing. And when I can’t, y’all are gonna sing, alright?” This elicited cheers from fans, who were clearly enthusiastic about this request.

The “American Idol” judge also got real about his limitations at this point in his recovery. “Y’all are gonna see me hack,” he admitted to fans. “I can’t take anymore medicine. I can’t do anything else but just try to breathe.” Nevertheless, Bryan ended his speech on a positive note, saying that the concert was going to be fun even with his current issues.

The ‘American Idol’ Judge Has a Packed Performance Schedule

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Recovering from an illness is never easy, especially with a schedule like Bryan’s. The “American Idol” judge has Country Song Came On tour stops scheduled throughout the rest of the summer, and his live performances don’t stop there. In September, Bryan is set to embark on another leg of his annual Farm Tour, with three shows scheduled in the Midwest.

Although his official website currently shows him taking a break from live performances after a show in early October, the singer will be gearing up for his Crash My Playa event in Mexico just a few short months later. The event has already been announced via its Instagram page and is scheduled for January 15-18, 2026.