Introduction
“He Was Trembling Like a Child” — Ronnie Dunn’s Unexpected Glimpse of Luke Combs’ Vulnerability
Luke Combs is known as a modern country powerhouse — a hitmaker with a voice built for arenas and anthems. But when he stepped into the studio to record a cover of Brooks & Dunn’s iconic “Brand New Man,” the confidence fans see onstage was nowhere to be found. At least, not at first. According to Ronnie Dunn, what he witnessed that day completely defied expectations.
Dunn admits he had braced himself for swagger. Combs was already a chart-dominating force, after all. Instead, he saw a man visibly shaken by the weight of country music history. “He was trembling like a child,” Dunn recalled, describing the moment Luke stood in the legendary studio, aware he was about to put his voice on a song that helped define an era. The nerves weren’t about ability — they were about respect. Respect for the song, for Brooks & Dunn, and for the legacy he was stepping into.
That raw vulnerability became the quiet magic behind the collaboration. In that moment, Luke Combs wasn’t a superstar — he was a fan, a student, and a country singer humbled by the giants who came before him. And that’s what makes the performance resonate so deeply. Sometimes, the most powerful voices are the ones that tremble first.