Luke Bryan, Billboard Interview: Singer Talks Latest Success

March was certainly a month to remember for Luke Bryan.

His March 5 release, Spring Break...Here to Party, debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 (his first time at the top of the all-genre chart), and he's about to co-host the ACM Awards with Blake Shelton, where he's nominated for four awards.

For Luke, who is featured on this week's Billboard magazine cover, his recent success is nothing to take for granted.

"It's all a dream," he tells the mag. "All I ever wanted to be is a big ol' country star and I cannot believe it's happened. It's the time of my life and I'm loving every day."

In the online excerpt of the cover piece, Luke talks about the journey to get where he is today and how his music has evolved since his first three albums.

"[The singles] took me to another place: 'Country Girl Shake It for Me' did one thing, but when we came out with 'I Don't Want This Night to End,' it sent it to a whole other level," he shares. "It was my third studio album and I had learned a lot from the previous two. I had been getting better as a singer in the studio and it just came together with the right songs, the right overall vibe, and then the name of the album says so much. That title embodies everything that we're about."

According to Billboard, Luke's label isn't at all surprised by his success.

"Luke simply has that elusive 'it' factor," Mike Dungan, chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, tells the mag. "He is a ramped-up Elvis. His stage performance and persona are extraordinary. His genuineness and sincerity are evident in everything he does. And most important, his songs are right in the pocket. This one is going to be a force for a long time."