Luke Bryan has spoken publicly for the first time since his infant niece, Sadie Brett Boyer, passed away on Tuesday (2/21). On Thursday (2/23), Bryan appeared at a Universal Music Group luncheon during Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, where he thanked everyone for praying for him and his family during this difficult week. Luke told the crowd gathered at the Ryman Auditorium, “I’ll tell you what, when I’m checking my socials and see so many of you guys that are kind of lifting my family up, I really appreciate it. It means the world to me.”

·       The baby, affectionately known as Brett, was the daughter of Bo Boyer and his wife Ellen Wells Boyer. Bo is the brother of Luke’s wife, Caroline.

·       According to a post Ellen’s Facebook page, Brett suffered from a congenital heart defect and her condition had declined overnight on Sunday (2/19).