Luke Bryan Admits He Turned Down Song That Became a Smash Hit for Morgan Wallen

Country superstar Luke Bryan’s opening up about the one that got away! On March 11, 2025, the “American Idol” judge revealed to former “Idol” advisor Bobby Bones that he still can’t believe he passed up recording the song “Sand in My Boots,” which became a smash hit for Morgan Wallen.

Talking on Bones’ “Bobbycast” podcast about how he chooses the songs he records and releases, Bryan admitted that when he was offered the tune — written byHARDY, Ashley Gorley and Josh Osborne — he “stupidly” turned it down, worried about being pigeonholed as a “one trick pony.”

Luke Bryan Says He Was Worried About ‘Negativity’ on Social Media Over Song

Bryan’s decision not to record “Sand in My Boots” came as he was trying to diversify his library of songs.

He explained to Bones, “There was one point in my career I had sang about trucks enough to where, I mean, I passed — stupidly — on the Morgan (song) ‘Sand in My Boots,’ because it had Chevrolet in it.”

Sounding a bit exasperated about his decision, Bryan said he was worried at the time of getting blasted on social media for doing yet another song about pick up trucks and partying.

He explained, “I just went through two years of my life where I was like … ‘I sing about trucks a lot, I sing about tailgates.’ And, you know, I think I got in my head a little bit. I think if I had a lot of negativity socially, on socials, that I was getting pegged as maybe a one-trick pony in that lane.”

“Sand in My Boots” became Wallen’s fifth number one country single in early 2022, according to Illinois country station B104. It’s become so synonymous with Wallen that he announced in October 2024 that his first-ever music festival would be named after the song, per CEO Today.

Luke Bryan Turned Down ‘Sand in My Boots’ While Trying to Expand His Repertoire

Though Bryan knows he missed a winner with “Sand in My Boots,” he also acknowledged it was probably the right decision because he was for his music to reflect more than just partying and driving trucks.

“I was 34, 35, 36, 37, making spring break albums appealing to 20 year olds,” he told Bones. “It didn’t get weird, it just felt like, you know, it’s time to move on from maybe the spring break, me trying to sing college songs. But it was fun for me, and it was awesome, and it totally told the world that that’s my personality.”

In 2018, Bryan told Billboard that he knew he’d become known for party anthems about country living, and that singing about more meaningful topics was a tough transition.

“I know that there are more layers to describing the country way of life than a pickup truck and fishing,” he said.

At the same time, Bryan said he’s fine with having lots of songs in his repertoire — including 31 number one country hits — that are simply about having a good time.

“I think no matter how people want to categorize me,” Bryan told Bones, “I think people generally think my personality is, ‘Let’s have some fun.’ And if I’m known for that, if I don’t get Male Vocalist of the Year and Grammys or whatever because I may be known as the guy that’s had fun through his career and put out some fun songs, I’m cool with that.”