Luke Bryan “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” AI Song Controversy Explained

Country singer Luke Bryan faced widespread online criticism in 2026 after releasing “Fish Hunt Golf Drink,” a deliberately simple country song built around his interests in fishing, hunting, golf and drinking. Some listeners mocked the song’s repetitive lyrics and accused Bryan of using artificial intelligence to write it. Bryan and co-writers Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem have repeatedly denied that AI was used, and published accounts of the songwriting process describe the song being written through a conventional in-person songwriting session. The controversy continued for months and resurfaced in September when Bryan discussed the backlash with comedian Theo Von.

“Fish Hunt Golf Drink”

Bryan released “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” in May 2026. The song was released ahead of his ninth studio album, Signs, which is scheduled for release on September 18. Bryan’s official website credits Bryan, Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem as the songwriters and Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens as producers. [Luke Bryan]

The song deliberately uses extremely simple, list-style lyrics. Its chorus moves through a series of short descriptions of Bryan’s ideal day involving coffee, hunting, fishing, golf and drinking. One portion that attracted particular ridicule online included the phrases “Wake up, coffee” and “Camo, climb tree.” [OutKick]

Bryan said the song was intended to be fun rather than profound. When announcing Signs, Bryan said he wanted the album to contain music that made listeners feel good and have fun. “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” was among the songs he co-wrote for the project. [Luke Bryan]

AI Song Accusations

Social-media users began accusing Bryan of using artificial intelligence shortly after he teased the song. Critics argued that the song’s unusually simple structure and stereotypical country themes sounded like something produced by an AI writing tool. Comments on Bryan’s social-media posts compared the lyrics to ChatGPT-generated material. [People] [Parade]

The criticism was based primarily on how the song sounded rather than evidence that AI had actually been used. No credible evidence has emerged showing that “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” was generated by artificial intelligence. Instead, the controversy grew because listeners interpreted the short phrases, familiar country imagery and repetitive hook as resembling stereotypical AI-generated writing. [People]

OutKick mocked the song as sounding like something generated by ChatGPT. Writer Amber Harding criticized the track in June, pointing to its simple chorus and noting that three credited songwriters had worked on it. The criticism reflected a broader social-media joke surrounding the track rather than a factual finding that AI was involved. [OutKick]

Luke Bryan Denies Using AI

Bryan explicitly denied that artificial intelligence was used to write the song. During an appearance at the Memorial Pro-Am golf tournament in June, Bryan said accusations that he had “AI’ed” the song were completely false. He said the track was designed simply to describe activities he enjoys doing. [People]

Bryan characterized people making the AI accusations as online trolls. He said the song was intended as lighthearted entertainment and questioned why listeners were becoming so angry over something designed to be fun. [Taste of Country]

Bryan also personally responded to criticism on social media. After one AI-related joke received tens of thousands of likes, Bryan replied that he was learning that people apparently did not want to simply have fun and said he intended to continue enjoying himself regardless of the criticism. [Musician Voice]

How “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” Was Written

The songwriters have given a detailed account of the song’s creation. McGill and Dragstrem said the idea originated while Bryan was texting a friend about getting together. Bryan reportedly responded using emojis representing a fish, deer, golf club and beer and then showed the exchange to the other writers as the basis for a possible song. [People]

McGill and Dragstrem began writing the song while touring with Bryan. They said the three were conducting songwriting sessions while on the road and that McGill and Dragstrem developed the hook while eating at a sports bar before Bryan’s concert at Hersheypark Stadium. [Musician Voice]

Bryan then contributed substantially to the completed song. According to McGill and Dragstrem, Bryan wrote most of the verses and contributed heavily to the bridge after hearing the chorus they had created. [Musician Voice]

Both professional songwriters denied using AI to create the track. McGill said his songwriting process depends on sitting in a room with other writers and creating material together. Dragstrem said he had experimented with AI technology but did not use it in the actual songwriting process. [Musician Voice]

Riley Green Connection

Country singer Riley Green indirectly inspired the song. Bryan has explained that the original text exchange that inspired the title involved Green. Bryan sent Green a message about getting together that referenced fishing, hunting, golf and drinking. [Holler]

Green jokingly distanced himself from the song after it became controversial. During his own appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend, Green stressed that he had not participated in the songwriting session and had not suggested that Bryan turn the phrase into a song. He joked that Bryan had either credited or blamed him for inspiring it. [This Past Weekend Transcript]

Bryan later joked that Green backed away once the negative reaction began. Speaking to Theo Von in September, Bryan said Green had been amused to discover that he was connected to the song and was quick to emphasize that he had not actually written it once criticism intensified. [Holler]

Luke Bryan Responds To The Backlash On Theo Von

Bryan discussed the controversy at length on Theo Von’s podcast on September 1, 2026. During episode 679 of This Past Weekend, Bryan described how a few influential social-media accounts accusing him of using AI helped turn the claim into a much broader online narrative. [This Past Weekend]

Bryan again denied that the song had been created with AI. He said younger social-media users began labeling the track AI-generated almost immediately and argued that other users repeated the claim despite having no evidence. [Holler]

Bryan said he was surprised by how personal some of the criticism became. He told Von that some social-media users went beyond mocking the song and posted videos saying they hated him or directing hostile comments at him personally. [Holler]

Bryan jokingly threatened to fight some of his online critics. While describing people filming themselves directing personal insults toward him, Bryan joked that because he could see their faces, he might encounter them someday and “knock the s— out of” them. His comments were made during a humorous discussion of the intensity of online criticism rather than as a specific threat against an identified person. [Whiskey Riff]

Bryan said he was particularly irritated by teenagers personally attacking his ability as a songwriter. He contrasted his decades-long career and commercial success with young social-media users telling him that he was incapable of writing songs. At the same time, he acknowledged that the controversy generated additional attention for the track. [Whiskey Riff]

“Climb Tree” Becomes A Meme

The phrase “climb tree” became one of the song’s most mocked lyrics. Critics circulated the phrase as evidence that the song sounded unnaturally simplistic and used it in jokes comparing Bryan’s writing to AI-generated text. [OutKick]

Bryan later explained that the phrase referred to climbing into a hunting tree stand. He said listeners joking about him simply climbing a tree after drinking coffee were taking the phrase literally rather than interpreting it in the context of deer hunting. [Whiskey Riff]

The Song Fits Luke Bryan’s Existing Style

“Fish Hunt Golf Drink” follows themes Bryan has used throughout his career. His catalog has long included songs centered on hunting, fishing, alcohol, outdoor recreation and rural life, including “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “One Margarita” and other intentionally uncomplicated party songs. [Taste of Country]

The songwriters said the subject matter accurately reflects Bryan’s real interests. McGill described Bryan as an enthusiastic fisherman, hunter and golfer and said the song was deliberately built around activities that Bryan genuinely enjoys. [Musician Voice]

The controversy therefore centered more on the perceived quality and simplicity of the songwriting than on evidence of AI use. Bryan, McGill and Dragstrem have all denied using AI, the song has conventional human songwriting credits, and the writers have publicly described how the track developed from Bryan’s text message through an in-person songwriting session. [Luke Bryan] [People]

Signs Album

“Fish Hunt Golf Drink” will appear on Bryan’s album Signs. The 11-track album is scheduled for release on September 18, 2026, and also includes “Word On The Street,” “Country And She Knows It,” “Made It A Memory” and the title track. [Luke Bryan] [MusicRow]

Bryan has said the album combines songs he co-wrote with songs supplied by other Nashville writers. He described the project as another collection built around the feel-good music his audience has traditionally allowed him to record. [Luke Bryan]