Luke Bryan Pushes Back on AI Claims About New Song

Country singer and American Idol judge Luke Bryan has rejected claims that artificial intelligence was used to create his new song, “Fish Hunt Golf Drink,” and said the criticism has become increasingly personal.

Bryan discussed the controversy on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, explaining that social media users began spreading the claim that the song was AI-generated. He said the song was written by him and his collaborators without the use of AI.

The track, released earlier this year as an early preview of Bryan’s upcoming album Signs, features deliberately simple lyrics about everyday country activities, including fishing, hunting, golf and drinking. The simplicity of the song led some listeners to question how it was made.

Bryan said the criticism became particularly frustrating after the song was promoted as an early release from the album. He also recalled earlier criticism of his fashion choices, saying he had previously been labeled the “tight-jeans guy” and was now being associated with the AI controversy.

The singer also described receiving increasingly hostile comments online, including people telling him to die. Referring to users who directly insult him in videos, Bryan said he would confront them if he encountered them in person.

Despite the controversy surrounding “Fish Hunt Golf Drink,” Bryan’s official single, “Country and She Knows It,” has performed better on the charts. The song has climbed to No. 12 on the country airplay chart and reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Signs is scheduled for release on Sept. 18. It will be Bryan’s first studio album since 2024’s Mind of a Country Boy and his ninth full-length album since his 2007 debut, I’ll Stay Me.