On December 2, 2014, Luke Bryan was supposed to be in Nashville, celebrating one of the biggest years of his country music career. Instead, Luke Bryan was in Georgia, helping his family say goodbye to someone they loved.
That evening, at the CMT Artists of the Year ceremony, Lady Antebellum and Chris Stapleton stepped onto the stage to perform “Drink a Beer” in Luke Bryan’s place. It was a song already closely connected to Luke Bryan’s family. But on that particular night, it took on another meaning.
Why Luke Bryan Was Missing From His Own Celebration
Just days before the December 2 ceremony, Luke Bryan’s brother-in-law, Ben Lee Cheshire, had died unexpectedly at the age of 46.
Ben Lee Cheshire had been married to Luke Bryan’s older sister, Kelly, who died suddenly in 2007. The couple had three children. With Ben Lee Cheshire’s death, the family faced another heartbreaking loss.
Luke Bryan canceled the scheduled Nashville appearance and remained in Georgia. On the day of the awards ceremony, Luke Bryan helped officiate Ben Lee Cheshire’s funeral.
Meanwhile, CMT still intended to honor Luke Bryan. Rather than remove the tribute, the organizers and fellow musicians found a way to recognize Luke Bryan without asking the grieving singer to appear.
Why “Drink a Beer” Meant So Much to Luke Bryan
The story behind “Drink a Beer” began before that December evening.
The song was written by Jim Beavers and Chris Stapleton, not Luke Bryan. According to Chris Stapleton, Jim Beavers arrived at their songwriting session with most of the chorus already written. The two writers developed the verses around the idea of remembering someone who had died.
Interestingly, the song wasn’t based on a particular death in either songwriter’s life. Chris Stapleton later explained that it came from an imagined situation. Luke Bryan’s personal history gave the finished recording an especially meaningful connection.
Luke Bryan had lost an older brother, Chris, in a car accident in 1996. His sister, Kelly, died unexpectedly in 2007. When Luke Bryan first heard the demo of “Drink a Beer,” the song affected him deeply. Luke Bryan later recalled playing it for his tour bus driver and band.
At the CMA Awards on November 6, 2013, Luke Bryan performed “Drink a Beer” with Chris Stapleton providing backing vocals. Luke Bryan dedicated the performance to Chris and Kelly.
The song subsequently became a No. 1 country hit in February 2014. For many listeners, it was no longer simply another successful Luke Bryan single. It had become a song associated with remembering people who were no longer there.
The Friends Who Stepped In When Luke Bryan Couldn’t
When Luke Bryan’s family suffered another loss in December 2014, that connection became especially important.
Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum later explained that Luke Bryan’s manager had reached out to ask whether the group would perform the song. Lady Antebellum agreed, joining Chris Stapleton for the tribute.
Before the performance, Charles Kelley addressed the audience and explained Luke Bryan’s absence. The message was simple: family came first, and the musicians wanted Luke Bryan to know they were thinking of him.
There was even a last-minute change behind the scenes. The creative team responsible for the ceremony’s large video screens later confirmed that the visuals had to be adjusted just hours before the performance to accommodate the new arrangement.
Then Lady Antebellum and Chris Stapleton performed “Drink a Beer.” The tribute received the evening’s first standing ovation.
The significance was difficult to overlook. In 2013, Chris Stapleton had stood beside Luke Bryan while Luke Bryan honored his brother and sister. In 2014, Chris Stapleton returned to the song, this time helping other musicians honor Luke Bryan himself.
What Luke Bryan Said After Watching From Home
The most revealing part of the story came after the ceremony.
In a December 16 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Luke Bryan confirmed that his family had watched the tribute together. Luke Bryan described the performance as a deeply meaningful experience for the family.
“It was a very healing experience for our family.”
Luke Bryan also publicly thanked Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Chris Stapleton, and the fans who had offered their support.
“Drink a Beer” had not originally been written about Luke Bryan’s family. Yet, through two unforgettable awards-show performances, the song became connected to some of the most personal moments of Luke Bryan’s career.
On December 2, 2014, Luke Bryan couldn’t be in Nashville to accept an honor. But the song Luke Bryan had once sung for his loved ones was there waiting for him, carried by friends who understood why he needed to be somewhere else.