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\n\tLuke Combs<\/a> is getting vulnerable, and his fans are happy to see it.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Tuesday (Feb. 24), the country singer joined music critic Jon Caramanica and reporter Joe Coscarelli on the latest installment of Popcast<\/a><\/em>, the New York Times <\/em>podcast on all things music. In the episode, the trio discuss a range of topics, including Combs\u2019 Billboard Hot 100<\/a> No. 2 cover of Tracy Chapman\u2019s \u201cFast Car<\/a>,\u201d his earliest musical influences, and politics in country music.<\/p>\n \n\tToward the end of the interview, the hosts have Combs pick a card from a standard deck. Whichever card he chose determined a pre-written question he must answer. When the singer pulled out the 4 of spades, Caramanica asked him, \u201cWhat self-doubt did you face on the way to stardom?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn a moment of extreme vulnerability, Combs responded by speaking openly about his struggles with body image. \u201cDefinitely my appearance,\u201d he replied. \u201cIt was like, am I really not going to get a shot because I\u2019m just like a bigger dude or whatever?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHe continued on to say that while he had full confidence in his ability to perform and write songs, he feared that he would not get a shot at stardom because of the way he looks. \u201cThat was, like, a hard pill to swallow, \u2019cause you can\u2019t really change the way you look,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\tIn response, Coscarelli asked if anyone from Combs\u2019 team had ever tried to change his image or if the singer felt pressure to wake up one day looking like fellow country star Sam Hunt<\/a>. <\/p>\n \n\tCombs explained that he has changed aspects of his diet, including fasting and going gluten-free, which has helped him alleviate some symptoms of his OCD as well as fight insulin resistance. \u201cThe gluten-free thing started for mental health stuff,\u201d he said. \u201cI have a really rare form of OCD that I have struggled with quite a bit for basically my whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThough these changes have helped Combs with some of his struggles, he continues to battle with his weight. \u201cI have always struggled with my weight. It bugs me a lot that I can\u2019t figure it out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\tHe then went on to explain that he\u2019s trying to do it all: take care of himself physically and mentally, be a good dad to his three kids, and do his job as a performer. He admits that it\u2019s hard, but he\u2019d prefer that over taking what he views as the easy way out.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI don\u2019t want my life to be this life of ease,\u201d he said. \u201cI like when stuff\u2019s hard.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s part of the reason why he personally chooses to avoid taking weight-loss drugs. He says that though his path to success was difficult, because he enjoyed it, he doesn\u2019t feel as if he\u2019s done anything truly hard in his life. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSure there were days that were tough. Sure there were times I was tired,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not out digging ditches. It\u2019s not that<\/em> hard of a job.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tTo him, the struggle with body image has been the one thing he can\u2019t conquer.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAnd I will do it; but I\u2019m not gonna do it the short way,\u201d he said before acknowledging that there\u2019s nothing wrong with that \u2014 this is just how he wants to do it. Watch a clip of the moment below:<\/p>\n \n\tFollowing the release of the episode, Popcast <\/em>shared a truncated version of the body image discussion to their <\/em>Instagram page<\/a>, and many fans took to the comments to share support for Combs and applaud his openness, including several folks in the industry.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI really love him,\u201d Brandi Carlile commented.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAs a fellow huge dude in showbiz instead of digging ditches, I feel so seen by this and really appreciate it,\u201d commented folk singer Willi Carlisle.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI really appreciate the honesty,\u201d replied model and singer Gabriella Lascano.<\/p>\n \n\tThat level of honesty may make its way on to Combs\u2019 forthcoming album, The Way I Am<\/a><\/em>, releasing on March 20. Watch the full episode below:<\/p>\n