Luke Combs feared he would not "get a shot" as a country singer because of his appearance

Asked what "self-doubt" he faced on his journey to becoming of the biggest names in country music, the Back in the Saddle hitmaker admitted on the latest episode of The New York Times' Popcast podcast: "Definitely my appearance.

"It was definitely the thing that was like, 'Man, am I really not gonna get a shot because I'm a bigger dude or whatever?' And there was a lot of self-doubt in that department.

"I knew I could perform as good as anybody, I felt like, and put on a good show and write songs that I felt like people would enjoy.

"And that was one of my biggest fears, like, 'Man, maybe I don't get a shot just because of the way I look.' You know what I mean?

"And like, that was a hard pill to swallow, because you can't really change the way you look."

Luke - who has shed "a little bit of weight" since doing fasting and going on a gluten-free diet - insisted music industry ex ecutives did not ask him to improve his look, such as by getting a trainer or changing his beard.

However, the 35-year-old star joked that "every day", he dreams about looking like fellow country singer Sam Hunt.

Later in the episode, Luke - who has sons Tex, three, Beau, two, and newborn Chet, with his 33-year-old wife, Nicole Hocking - admitted he "can't figure out" his appearance.

He said: "I have always struggled with my weight. It bugs me a lot that I can't figure it out ...

"I try to work out as much as I can, I'd say most weeks, I would get three days in, I'd like it to be five or six.

"Trying to wear all the hats is really difficult, like trying to be the best version of myself, physically and mentally, is a job.

"The job I have is a job. My kids are a job. Doing all that stuff and trying to do the sauna and the cold plunge and working out five days a week, I'm trying to do it, and it's really hard.

"I don't want my life to be this life of like, ease and like, everything's easy. I like when stuff's hard."

The One Number Away singer then shared he has a fear of new "medical technology", such as weight-loss drugs.

Luke said: "That stuff scares me more than I would enjoy the benefits ...

"No matter how hard I try, it's just been like this impossible nut to crack for me. And I will [lose the weight], but I'm not going to do it the short way."

The star feels that his body image struggle is "this thing I can't conquer".

Luke added: "No matter how hard I try, it's just been like this impossible nut to crack for me.

"And I will do it, but I'm not going to do it the short way. And not that there's anything wrong with that. That's personal for you. I need to win, like, I need to beat myself."