Zachary Lane Bryan (born April 2, 1996) is an American country music singer-songwriter from Oologah, Oklahoma.
Zach Bryan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bryan performing at Crypto.com Arena in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Zachary Lane Bryan[1] |
| Born | April 2, 1996 Yokosuka, Japan |
| Origin | Oologah, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels |
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| Spouse(s) | Rose Madden (m. 2020; div. 2021) |
| Website | www |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | 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 of his albums and singles certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Early life
Bryan was born in Yokosuka, Japan,[6] but grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma.[7] He is the son of Dewayne Bryan and Annette DeAnn (née Mullen) Bryan, and has a sister, Mackenzie.[8] Continuing a family tradition, Bryan was an active-duty member of the United States Navy for eight years, enlisting at the age of 17.[9] Bryan attained the rate/rating of Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class (AO2).[10] He started writing songs at the age of 14[9] and used his spare time while in the Navy to write music for his enjoyment.[11] He finished his service in the Navy in 2021 at the age of 25.[12]
Career
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.[13] Many of the songs Bryan would upload to his YouTube were written and recorded by him while serving in the Navy.[14]
Bryan uploaded 16 songs of varying popularity onto his YouTube before "Heading South" went viral.[11] The song was recorded outside his Navy barracks.[15]
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.[16][11] 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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[2]
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.[19]
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".[20] 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."[9]
On January 25, 2022, Bryan announced that he would release his major-label debut, a triple album, American Heartbreak, on May 20, 2022.[21] 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.[22] The song was Bryan's breakthrough onto the Billboard Hot 100 debuting at position 55 on May 7, 2022, and peaking at 10.[23]
American Heartbreak 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.[24] 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.[25] 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.[26][27][28]
On December 25, 2022, he released a live album called All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live from Red Rocks), recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.[29][30]
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.[31]
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.[32] The single reached a peak of 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[33]
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.[34] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[35] 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.[36] 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.[37]
On September 22, 2023, he released his third EP, Boys of Faith, which included songs featuring fellow artists Noah Kahan and Bon Iver.[38] All five tracks on the EP charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Sarah's Place" featuring Kahan peaking at 14.[39]
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.[40]
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.[41][42]
In early 2024 Bryan began teasing and announcing his fifth studio album titled The Great American Bar Scene.[43] On May 24, 2024, Bryan released the lead single from the album, "Pink Skies".[44] The single would debut at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the second highest charting single of his career up until this point.[45] Bryan released the second single from the album titled "Purple Gas" which featured Noeline Hofmann, on June 7. [46]
On July 4, 2024, Bryan released his fifth studio album The Great American Bar Scene, which includes 19 tracks. The record included songs featuring artists Noeline Hofmann, John Moreland, John Mayer, and Bruce Springsteen.[47]
Personal life
In July 2020, Bryan married Rose Madden; the pair dissolved their marriage in 2021.[48] In July 2023, Bryan started dating Brianna LaPaglia, a podcaster with Barstool Sports.[49]
On September 7, 2023, he was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for obstruction in Vinita, Oklahoma, and released on bail.[50][51]
Discography
- DeAnn (2019)
- Elisabeth (2020)
- American Heartbreak (2022)
- Zach Bryan (2023)
- The Great American Bar Scene (2024)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Yellowstone | Himself | 1 episode |
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | "Something in the Orange" | Best Country Solo Performance | Nominated |
| 2024 | Zach Bryan | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| "I Remember Everything" | Best Country Song | Nominated | |
| Best Country Duo/Group Performance | Won |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Himself | Top New Artist | Won |
| Top Male Artist | Nominated | ||
| Top Hot 100 Songwriter | Nominated | ||
| Top Hot 100 Producer | Nominated | ||
| Top Streaming Songs Artist | Nominated | ||
| Top Country Artist | Nominated | ||
| Top Male Country Artist | Nominated | ||
| Top Rock Artist | Won | ||
| American Heartbreak | Top Country Album | Nominated | |
| Top Rock Album | Won | ||
| "Something in the Orange" | Top Streaming Song | Nominated | |
| Top Country Song | Nominated | ||
| Top Rock Song | Won | ||
| "I Remember Everything" | Nominated |
Academy of Country Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Himself | New Male Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | Artist-Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | |
| "I Remember Everything" | Music Event of the Year | Nominated |
Country Music Association Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Himself | New Artist of the Year | Nominated |
People's Choice Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Himself | The Male Country Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| "I Remember Everything" | The Collaboration Song of the Year | Nominated |
People's Choice Country Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Himself | The People’s Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| The Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| The New Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Dawns" | The Crossover Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour | The Concert Tour of the Year | Nominated |