Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan
Bryan performing at Crypto.com Arena in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Zachary Lane Bryan
Born	(1996-04-02) April 2, 1996 (age 28) Okinawa, Japan
Origin	Oologah, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres	Alt-country honky-tonk red dirt Americana country rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar harmonica
Years active	2017–present
Labels	Warner Belting Broncos
Spouse(s)	Rose Madden ​ ​ (m. 2020; div. 2021)​
Website	www.zachbryan.com
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	2013–2021
Rank	Petty Officer Second Class

After his two self-produced studio albums DeAnn (2019) and Elisabeth (2020), he signed with Warner Music Group publishing his top-five U.S. Billboard 200 album American Heartbreak, promoted by his first top-ten U.S. Billboard Hot 100 lead single "Something in the Orange". In 2023, his self-titled fourth album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, with the track "I Remember Everything" featuring Kacey Musgraves debuting at number one on the U.S. Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts simultaneously, and earning him a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Through his career he has been recognized with the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year and four Billboard Music Awards. Bryan has had over 30 million copies - between albums and singles - certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Bryan was born in Okinawa, Japan, while his family was stationed overseas with the Navy, but grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma. He is the son of Dewayne Bryan and Annette DeAnn (née Mullen) Bryan, and has a sister, Mackenzie. Continuing a family tradition, Bryan was an active-duty member of the United States Navy for eight years, enlisting at the age of 17. Bryan attained the rate/rating of Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class (AO2). He started writing songs at the age of 14 and used his spare time while in the Navy to write music for his enjoyment. He finished up his service in the Navy In 2021 at the age of 25.[1]

2017–2019: Beginnings on YouTube

Bryan started uploading his music to YouTube in 2017, with his friends recording him performing using his iPhone. Bryan's first song he uploaded to YouTube was the single "God Speed" which ended up being a track on his debut album. Many of the songs Bryan would upload to his YouTube were written and recorded by him while serving in the Navy.

Bryan uploaded 16 songs of varying popularity onto his YouTube before "Heading South" went viral. The song was recorded outside his Navy barracks. This was the perfect calling card, a tale of an underdog singer “out to make a name and fool of ’em all” that neatly predicted his own future.[2]

2019–2020: DeAnn and Elisabeth

His debut album, DeAnn, was dedicated to his late mother and released on August 24, 2019. It was written in two months and recorded with his friends in a Florida Airbnb. The album consisted of 12 tracks, many of which had been previously uploaded to his YouTube.

Bryan's first public concert was in Medford, Oregon in October 2019. He has since made his Ryman debut, among other noteworthy appearances.

A second album, Elisabeth, was released on May 8, 2020. He recorded the album in a repurposed barn behind his home in Washington. The album is named after Bryan's ex-wife Rose 'Elisabeth' Madden. The album contains 19 tracks including the tracks "Heading South" and "Revival".

Zach Bryan released his first EP Quiet, Heavy Dreams on November 27, 2020.

2021–2022: American Heartbreak and "Something In The Orange"

On April 10, 2021, Bryan made his Grand Ole Opry debut. He later signed a deal with Warner Records to release his music.

 

On October 14, 2021, Bryan announced that the U.S. Navy honorably discharged him after eight years of service to pursue his career in music just ahead of his nationwide Fall 2021 "Ain't For Tamin' Tour". He said, "If it was my decision, I would never get out of the world's greatest Navy, but here I am and they kindly honorably discharged me to go play some music."

On April 22, 2022, Bryan released the hit single "Something In The Orange," which became a mainstream hit and is regarded as one of Bryan's most recognizable and identifiable songs. The song was Bryan's breakthrough onto the Billboard Hot 100 debuting at position 55 on May 7, 2022 and peaking at 10.

On January 25, 2022, Bryan announced that he would release his major-label debut, a triple album, American Heartbreak, on May 20, 2022. It debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 with over 70,000 album-equivalent units, marking the biggest first week for a country album in 2022. The album consisted of 34 tracks including "Something In The Orange - Z&E's Version" a more raw and acoustic version of the hit song.

On July 15, 2022, Bryan released his second EP, Summertime Blues, which featured collaborator Charles Wesley Goodwin. The EP contained nine tracks including the charting song of "Oklahoma Smokeshow" which peaked at number 75.

On September 8, 2022, Bryan released the single "Burn, Burn, Burn" followed by the single "Starved" on October 10. These were followed by the two singles "Fifth of May" and "The Greatest Day of My Life" on November 11, 2022.

On December 25, 2022, he released a live album called All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live from Red Rocks), recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Bryan's single "Something In The Orange" was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards marking Bryan's first career Grammy Awards nomination.

2023–present: Zach Bryan and The Great American Bar Scene

 

On January 27, 2023, Bryan collaborated with Maggie Rogers and released “Dawns,” his first single of the year. The single reached a peak of 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In May 2023, Bryan received the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year.

On August 25, 2023, Bryan released his self-titled fourth album. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album also contained Bryan's first number one single, "I Remember Everything," featuring Kacey Musgraves, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at the top spot. All sixteen tracks of the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I Remember Everything", "Hey Driver" (featuring The War and Treaty), "Spotless" (featuring The Lumineers), "East Side Of Sorrow", and "Tourniquet" all appearing in the top 20.

On September 22, 2023, he released his third EP, Boys of Faith, which included songs featuring fellow artists Noah Kahan and Bon Iver. All five tracks on the EP charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Sarah's Place" featuring Kahan peaking at 14.

Bryan was named Billboard's top new artist of 2023 for his increased popularity through the year, such as his first appearance at the top of both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100.

At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards Bryan was nominated for three categories. His self-titled fourth album was nominated for Best Country Album. "I Remember Everything" featuring Musgraves was nominated for the Best Country Song. The song was also nominated and won the Best Country Duo/Group Performance marking Bryan's first Grammy award win of his career.

In December 2023 Bryan began teasing his fifth studio album on social media platform X (Twitter) stating "I am so excited for everyone to hear the next album" and that he was "about half done". Bryan began uploading snippets of upcoming songs likely connected to the album including one titled "The Great American Bar Scene". In April 2024 Bryan began releasing new songs onto his Youtube and Instagram, including one titled "28" which also revealed the title of his new upcoming album, The Great American Bar Scene. A release timeframe or length for this album has not been revealed so far.

In July 2020, Bryan married Rose Madden; the pair dissolved their marriage in 2021. In July 2023, Bryan started dating Brianna LaPaglia, a podcaster with Barstool Sports.

On September 7, 2023, he was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for obstruction in Vinita, Oklahoma, and released on bail.

• DeAnn (2019)
• Elisabeth (2020)
• American Heartbreak (2022)
• Zach Bryan (2023)
• The Great American Bar Scene (TBA)

Grammy Awards

Billboard Music Awards

Academy of Country Music Awards

Country Music Association Awards

People's Choice Awards

People's Choice Country Awards