Shortly after arriving home from the CMA Awards (Nov. 14), Luke Combs headed to his Instagram to thank the woman who helped him get there: girlfriend Nicole Hocking.

Combs pocketed the 2018 New Artist of the Year trophy at the show, but says he was a winner long before he took the stage.

"I won a CMA award last night but I showed up a winner because of this amazing woman," the "She Got the Best of Me" hitmaker writes next to a photo of him and his love, taken that night. "Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and eating cookout with me at 1:30AM after the awards. I love you so much Nicole Hocking, you’re incredible inside and out."

There is no doubt that Hocking has had quite an effect on Combs' life and career, even encouraging him to make some necessary changes.

"I'm trying to quit dipping — well actually, I have quit," Combs told Taste of Country backstage in the days leading up to the event. "It was 'cause of my girlfriend. She hated that I dipped, and you know, it was just time. Time to just kick it. I'm just kind of rocking these lozenges. A little plug there. They work. But they don't taste really great."

The couple look to have a bright future ahead of them, as Combs will head off on his largest North American headlining tour in 2019. Many of the shows are already sold out. The Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour will make stops in South Carolina, Ohio, New York and Colorado, among others.

Combs also performed his four-week No. 1 single, "She Got the Best of Me," on 2018 CMA Awards.

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