Luke Combs hits a new high with his latest full-length The Way I Am, which launches at No. 2 on the U.K.’s Official Vinyl Albums chart. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 11: Luke Combs performs during day 3 of CMA Fest 2022 at Nissan Stadium on June 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/WireImage)
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Country music isn’t nearly as popular in the United Kingdom as it is in the United States, so one might be surprised to see just how well The Way I Am, the latest album by Luke Combs, performs across the Atlantic this week. The singer-songwriter’s latest starts on more than half a dozen tallies, and it’s an immediate top 10 win on each and every one of them. That kind of performance is rare for country musicians in the U.K., even the biggest in the field. Combs adds to his expanding list of bestsellers and top streamers, and he even cracks the top 10 on one ranking where he’s never accomplished that before.
The Way I Am Brings Luke Combs to a Vinyl Chart High
Combs enters the top 10 on the Official Vinyl Albums chart for the first time in his career, and he nearly snags an initial No. 1. The Way I Am opens in the runner-up space, and while it might be frustrating for the superstar to fail to conquer the roster, he should celebrate his debut trip to the loftiest tier. Previously, Gettin’ Old missed climbing into the top 10 by two spots, as it stalled at No. 12. Its predecessor, Growin’ Up, only spent one week at No. 37 before slipping away.
Luke Combs Blocked from No. 1 by BTS’s Arirang
Combs is beaten to the summit on the Official Vinyl Albums chart by BTS. The South Korean septet returns with Arirang, its first brand new full-length of original material since the septet went on hiatus several years ago. Arirang opens at No. 1 on five rosters in the U.K., only missing out on the penthouse on the Official Albums Streaming list, where it instead kicks off its time at No. 2.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 03: BTS perform onstage during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
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Luke Combs Rules the Country Albums Chart Again
The Way I Am only hits No. 1 on a single list in the U.K., and it is one that Combs has ruled before. He is once again in charge of the Official Country Artists Albums roster, where The Way I Am becomes his fifth career champion. All five of his most recent efforts have spent at least one turn at No. 1 and, in most cases, double-digit frames running the show. Only Combs’ earliest pair of efforts, This One’s for You and This One’s for You Too, had to settle for a top five peak.
Luke Combs Matches His Own Streaming Peak
As Combs earns his initial top 10 on the vinyl tally, he doubles his placements between Nos. 1 and 10 on another list. The Way I Am matches his previously-set career high on the Official Albums Streaming chart. Gettin’ Old rocked its way to the same spot several years back, while four other collections have not come particularly close to the most competitive space.
Luke Combs Scores Several More Top 10s
The Grammy nominee lands his third top 10 with The Way I Am on the Official Albums, Official Albums Sales and Official Physical Albums charts. He’s now up to five top 10 wins on the Official Album Downloads ranking, where The Way I Am makes noise at No. 2.
Luke Combs Fills Five Spots on the Country Albums List
Combs fills five spaces on the Official Country Artists Albums chart – an incredible number considering how short the tally runs. As The Way I Am dominates, Fathers & Sons rises back into the uppermost register, pushing from No. 11 to No. 8. Gettin’ Old, Growin’ Up, and This One’s for You fall ever so slightly from where they sat last time around.
Luke Combs Claims Three Songs on Main Singles Chart
Three tunes featured on The Way I Am take up space on the Official Singles chart, which ranks the most consumed tunes throughout the U.K. As “Be by You” dances to No. 56 and “Sleepless in a Hotel Room” surges from No. 91 to No. 66, “Rethink Some Things” arrives at No. 71. Combs collects his twelfth smash on the most competitive songs ranking in the nation as that cut opens.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/04/01/luke-combs-hits-a-new-career-high—even-as-bts-blocks-him-from-no-1/
