In recent years, Luke Bryan has become a household name, widely known for his fun country style and moves that inspire a rowdy crowd. His energetic music and all-around personality have earned Bryan superstar status, entertainer of the year awards from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music and, now, another year as a CMT Artists of the Year honoree.

He counts his many blessings daily because life could have taken a turn down a much different dirt road.

“I would either be working at my dad’s fertilizer/peanut company, or I would probably be in some kind of real estate stuff with my brother-in-law,” the Georgia native says. “Probably, I would have been driving a tractor hauling peanuts, breathing a lot of peanut dust, so I’m glad I’m singing.”

Ultimately, it was his farming background -- coupled with meeting the love of his life, Caroline -- that pushed Bryan in the direction of his future in music.

“My wife has been there from the time that I had just gotten my record deal,” he says. “I mean, we’ve sat together and cried about whether any of this would ever happen, and she’s ridden the ride through having kids and figuring out becoming parents and then getting here now.”

While a life in the entertainment industry can take a toll on a marriage, Bryan says it’s been the opposite on this journey with his college sweetheart.

“It’s been an amazing ride, and certainly she’s always been somebody that really supports my crazy ideas and lets me go out onstage, and she just comes out and has fun. It’s nice.”

CMT honors Bryan, along with Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban during the CMT Artists of the Year special airing live from Nashville on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET.