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A Dozen Years of Luke Bryan: He Stayed Him

PHOTOS: A Long Look Back at Everything He's Done

When someone tells me that they love Luke Bryan, that they've seen all his shows, and that they have downloaded all his songs, my first question is always, "But have you heard 'Tackle Box'? Did you know he actually can salt-cure a ham? And did you cry during 'The Car in Front of Me'?" To this day, I still know every song on his debut album I'll Stay Me by heart. And I want every one of his fans to feel that way, too.

Maybe I get a little carried away, but in the summer of 2007, my gut told me that this new guy was exactly what was missing in country music at the time.

So when he tweeted on Wednesday (Aug. 14) that it was the 12th anniversary of the release of his debut album, asking his followers to retweet him if they remember that day as vividly as he does, I did just that. As did hundreds of his other nine million followers.

When I look back on the 12 years since that release, it makes my heart happy to say that the album's title was true then and is still true today. He stayed him. I don't know any celebrity who is as genuine, good-hearted and egoless as Bryan. His crowds have multiplied. His stages have grown. His music has transcended the genre. And his trophy shelf has gotten a lot more crowded. But Bryan himself? Same as he ever was.

To celebrate, we put together a virtual photo album full of some of our favorites -- in mostly chronological order -- from the last 12 years.

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 07: Country singer Luke Bryan arrives at the 41st Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 7, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
INDIO, CA - MAY 03: Musician Luke Bryan performs during day 2 of Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 3, 2008 in Indio, California. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***
LAS VEGAS - MAY 18: ***EXCLUSIVE ACCESS*** Musician Luke Bryan performs during the 43rd annual Academy Of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam held at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino on May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ACMA)
LAS VEGAS - APRIL 19: Musician Luke Bryan poses backstage during Brooks & Dunn's The Last Rodeo Show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 19, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/ACMA2010/Getty Images for ACMA)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 03: Musician Luke Bryan arrives at the 46th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards RAM Red Carpet held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rick Diamond/ACMA2011/Getty Images for ACM)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 01: Singer Luke Bryan performs onstage during the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/ACMA2012/Getty Images for ACM)
INDIO, CA - APRIL 28: Singer Luke Bryan performs onstage during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on April 28, 2012 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 07: Luke Bryan attends the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Charley Gallay/ACMA2013/Getty Images for ACM)

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