Zach Bryan is a country music singer and songwriter best known for his smash singles “Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything,” a duet with Kacey Musgraves. Bryan originally rose to notoriety while serving in the United States Navy, when he began recording songs in his spare time and uploading them online.
When his music began to acquire significant attention, he was granted an honorable discharge to pursue music full-time. His first big studio album, American Heartbreak, released in 2022, and his self-titled album, released in 2023, both debuted in the top five on the Billboard 200. The Academy of Country Music has named him the New Male Artist of the Year for 2022.
Early Life
Zachary Lane Bryan was born April 2, 1996, in Okinawa, Japan. His parents, Dewayne and Annette DeAnn Bryan, were stationed there during a deployment with the United States Navy. Bryan also has a sister named MacKenzie Taylor.
Dewayne and Annette divorced when Zach was about twelve years old. Zach then resided with his father, who had full custody following the divorce and later remarried. Zach remained close to his mother, who battled alcoholism and died in 2016.
When Zach was in seventh school, his family relocated to Oologah, Oklahoma, near Tulsa. According to his sister, he started playing guitar in middle school. Bryan wasn’t only interested in music at Oologah High School, where he was on the wrestling team and president of the student council, but he was intrigued by the idea of conveying stories via song. “When I was 14, we started making these dumb songs up, me and my buddies sitting around, and I just never really expected to be a musician, ever,” he explained to The Oklahoman. “But I’ve always wanted to write songs.” That’s what I wanted to do: become a songwriter.
Bryan was also determined to carry on a family tradition by joining the United States Navy—his parents, grandfather, uncles, and great-grandfather having all served. He enlisted when he was seventeen.
U.S. Navy Service
After high school, Bryan joined the Navy as an aviation ordnanceman. He was in charge of building, repairing, and loading firearms. Bryan was stationed in Washington and Florida, with tours of duty in Bahrain and Djibouti. “It’s all I lived, slept, and ate for eight years, and it’s all I knew since I was basically a snot-nosed child,” he said about his service in 2021. “It made a man out of me, truly.”
Bryan spent his free time recording music. In 2015, he started posting music clips online. In 2019, he recorded his first album, DeAnn (his mother’s middle name), with Navy buddies at an Airbnb in Florida. In 2020, he released his second album, Elisabeth, featuring the hit tune “Heading South.” The film, shot at Bryan’s Navy barracks, has earned millions of views.
Bryan, who is still active in the military, made his debut at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2021. Bryan stated shortly after in October that he had been granted an honorable discharge from the Navy in order to pursue a career in music.
The singer thanked his gunner in the Navy for assisting him in getting released and recognizing that his skill would appeal to audiences. “He looked at me one day and said, ‘Dude, you need to do this. Bryan told Today’s Country Radio, “If you don’t do this, millions of people who strive every day will be disappointed in the fact that you wasted this opportunity.” So Bryan signed a deal with Warner Records and will embark on his Ain’t for Tamin’ Tour full-time in October 2021.
Music Career
Bryan released a series of songs in early 2022, leading up to his first major studio album, American Heartbreak. This includes “Something in the Orange,” his most successful single to date. It finally topped both the Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts. “Orange” also spent 66 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.
An alternate version of the song appeared on American Heartbreak. The 34-track triple album, which was released in May 2022, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and established a year-high for single-day streaming on both Spotify and Apple Music, cementing Bryan’s status as a rising star.
Despite the huge popularity of his album, Bryan was not nominated for a CMA Award in November 2022. Fans were disappointed at the snub, but the singer refused to be considered for any Country Music Association awards. “My pride is OK, and I appreciate all the love and support, and I say this with the utmost respect for all country singers. He tweeted, “Establishments will always be weird.”
In contrast, the Academy of Country Music quickly recognized the singer, naming him 2022’s New Male Artist of the Year at its annual presentation in May 2023. With this momentum, Bryan released a self-titled and self-produced country-rock album in August 2023, which promptly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. Similarly, its lead track “I Remember Everything,” a duet with Kacey Musgraves, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Bryan was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2023 Country Music Association Awards, with Jelly Roll (who won), Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum, and Hailey Whitters. Bryan was soon honored with three nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards—including Best Country Album, Best Country Song, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Remember Everything.”
Despite his growing success among country fans, Bryan has stated that he does not want to be stereotyped in the genre. “I think people understand that I’m not that,” he stated in a 2022 interview with The New York Times. “I want to be in that Springsteen, Kings of Leon, Ed Sheeran at-the-very-beginning space.”
In March 2024, Bryan will embark on a 10-month Quittin’ Time Tour with Jason Isbell and Sheryl Crow.
Appearance on Yellowstone
Bryan’s music is heavily utilized in the Paramount Network drama series Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner. The TV show has increased his and other musicians’ prominence, notably Whiskey Myers and Flatland Cavalry.
Bryan’s song “Condemned” was first featured in Season 3 of Yellowstone in 2020. Other songs on the soundtrack include “Whiskey Fever,” “Flying or Crying,” and “The Good I’ll Do.” In December 2022, Bryan sang three songs from his Summertime Blues EP—”Motorcycle Drive By,” “Quittin’ Time,” and “Summertime Blues”—at a local fair on Yellowstone’s fifth season episode. “I’m humbled and honored, and I’m not sure what I did to deserve it,” Bryan remarked about the experience.
Controversies
Bryan rarely conducts interviews and likes to remain out of the spotlight. Despite identifying as a “total libertarian,” the musician has openly discussed current political issues.
In April 2023, Bryan criticized country singer Travis Tritt on social media for advocating for a boycott of Anheuser-Busch beer, which featured transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in an advertisement. “I just think it’s unfair to offend transgender individuals since we live in a country where we can all be who we want. “It’s a great day to be alive, I thought,” he tweeted, seemingly mocking Tritt’s 2000 song of the same name.Bryan stated that he had a transitioning family with “blood to defend.” A few days later, Bryan and Tritt met in person to address the situation and agreed to proceed on friendly terms.
Bryan has also criticized large ticket vendors, particularly Ticketmaster, for charging fans exorbitant fees to attend concerts and events. In a December 2022 tweet, he stated, “I have met kids at my shows who have paid upwards of $400 to be there, and I’m done with it.” He also indicated that he would only play a few headline events the next year and promised to do everything he could to keep ticket prices reasonable. However, by September 2023, the artist had indicated that he will once again use all ticketing platforms, including Ticketmaster.
Bryan made headlines again in September 2023, when he was detained in Oklahoma for impeding a police officer. According to the police report, his private security was driving an SUV when it was pulled down for allegedly speeding. Bryan left his pickup truck to speak with the police involved and refused to return to his vehicle when asked.
Bryan was quickly released on bond and addressed the issue as his mug image circulated on social media, apologizing for his role in the conflict. “[My behavior] was ridiculous, it was immature, and I just pray everyone knows that I don’t think I’m above the law,” he went on to say. According to the Associated Press, no formal charges were filed for this occurrence.
Relationship
Bryan, who is divorced, is now seeing Brianna LaPaglia. He met Brianna Chickenfry, a Barstool Sports personality, at the ACM Awards in May 2023. LaPaglia joined Bryan onstage at a New York City concert in July 2023, confirming the couple’s connection. “We’re just hanging out, having fun,” she stated on her PlanBri Uncut podcast. “We’ll see where it goes, and I’m happy.”
Bryan previously married Rose Madden, whom he met while serving in the military, according to Page Six. The couple married in July 2020, but divorced one year later in July 2021. However, little else is known about Madden, such as her rank while serving. The singer’s record, titled “Elisabeth,” is believed to be named after her, though he has never confirmed it officially. Her full name is Elizabeth Rose Madden.
Bryan began dating Deb Peifer, a Philadelphia-based education program coordinator, in January 2022. Most notably, the two were involved in a motorbike accident in the summer of 2022; Bryan had a gash to his right arm and other minor injuries, while Peifer was mostly unscathed. The couple ended their relationship in May 2023, after more than a year together. “Things are amicable between us; we are departing with many memories and nice moments. Bryan expressed his desire for everyone to respect her and his privacy during this difficult time on Twitter.