Luke Bryan Claims He Misspoke About ‘Outlaw’ Country Stars Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard And Waylon Jennings

Luke Bryan says he misspoke when he distanced himself from “outlaw” country musicians like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings by saying he doesn’t do drugs.

Luke Bryan Takes Back Outlaw Country Comments

Bryan, the reigning Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year, apologized for the comments he made in an interview given to the online magazine, HITS Daily Double.

“I’m not an outlaw country singer,” he said in the July 9 article. “I don’t do cocaine and run around. So I’m not going to sing outlaw country. I like to hunt, fish, ride around on my farm, build a big bonfire and drink some beers— and that’s what I sing about. It’s what I know. I don’t know about laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs. I don’t really want to do that.”

Bryan posted on his Twitter on July 10 that the article was spun in a negative light. “It’s so frustrating that something negative has spun out of the story. I would never speak against my artists,” he wrote.

It’s not my style. I consider Willie, Waylon and Merle musical heroes. I was trying to state what I was about and

— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) July 10, 2015

where I come from with my music. It’s simple as that.

— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) July 10, 2015

Bryan’s new album Kill The Lights is set to be released on Aug. 7.