Life comes to you fast when you’re Zach Bryan. In 2021, the internet sensation made its debut on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry before signing with Warner Records. His first major-label deal paid near-instant dividends to all parties involved when an ambitious triple album, 2022 American griefreached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums and Top Rock Albums charts. It also peaked at No. 5 on all-genre Billboard 200, making Bryan a hot new star whose status already transcended country music. He followed that up less than two months later with summer bluesa nine-song EP that landed it in the Top 10 on several charts.
Bryan consistently reaches new heights by appealing to a wide range of fans, from country radio listeners looking for the next Luc Combes to followers of Americana jonesing for another Tyler Childer. Along with the critical acclaim denied to many Nashville hit-makers comes that public approval, as evidenced by the single “Something in the Orange” and its Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance.
In short, the singer-songwriter behind “The Greatest Day of My Life” may have had the best year of any newcomer to any genre.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bryan, from details about his humble beginnings to more context on his rapid rise to mainstream notoriety.
He was born in Japan
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Although he grew up in small town Oklahoma, Bryan was born in Okinawa, Japan. This is because both of her parents were in the US Navy. According to OklahomaBryan’s uncles, grandfather and great-grandfather also served their country – a trail the future country star followed at age 17.
“It was really cool to be able to grow up like that. They say ‘Navy brat’…but I learned a lot,” he told the Oklahoma.
He fell in love with songwriting at a young age
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Bryan developed a passion for songwriting long before he thought of pursuing anything other than becoming a lifelong soldier.
“When I was 14, we started making these stupid songs, me and my buddies sitting around, and I didn’t really expect to be a musician, ever,” he told the Oklahoma. “But I always wanted to write songs. That’s what I wanted to do: I wanted to be a songwriter.”
He first found an audience on YouTube
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Songs written as a teenager and throughout his eight-year stint in the Navy flexed Bryan’s creative muscles, preparing him for his surprise next step. Performances shot on an iPhone have been shared on YouTube in previous days ICT Tac started changing the trajectory of country artists. A video for “Heading Southwas recorded behind his barracks on a sweltering summer night. It went viral — as did his fortune — by changing the footage to “DeAnn” and “God Speed.”
He had two previous albums
Warner Brothers
A pair of full independent releases preceded Bryan’s major label debut. His first album, 2019 DeAnnwas named after his late mother, who died in 2016. It was written in two months and recorded with friends in Florida at an Airbnb. Elizabeth followed in 2020 and reached a respectable No. 41 on the country album chart. Elisabeth is named after another Navy veteran: Bryan’s wife, Elizabeth Rose Madden.
The Navy fired him so he could pursue country stardom
Warner Records
On October 14, 2021, Bryan shared some personal news on social media. He had been honorably discharged from the Navy so he could embrace his inevitable future as a music megastar.
“If it was my decision, I would never leave the greatest navy in the world, but here I am and they kindly fired me to go play some music,” he wrote in instagram. “I can’t say if I’m a coward or if I’m chasing a dream, but regardless, the best eight years of my life have been spent serving the best country in the whole world. Thanks guys and see you on tour. “
Touring hasn’t stopped since for the new country music headliner.
His triple album was an instant hit
American grief amazed a wide audience when it was released on May 20. It racked up more streams and sales in its first week than any other country album in a year, with full albums from Combs, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett and other heavyweights. It also established the number one streaming day among country albums released in 2022 on Spotify and Apple Music. Although its length – 34 songs totaling over two hours – has inflate the numbers somethese are still jaw-dropping numbers for a debut album from a major label that sounds far from the mainstream.
Of course, it takes memorable songs to reach such numbers. American grief doesn’t sacrifice quality for quantity, with “Heavy Eyes”, “Highway Boys”, “Sun to Me” and “Late July” among the well-crafted stories that continue to win over regular listeners.
He’s also a solid song performer.
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Bryan’s songwriting talent is undeniable, as heard on the Yellowstone soundtrack “From Austin” selection and the other 32 originals on American favourite. He has another layer as a complete artist, however, with his minimalist arrangement of the folk standard “You Are My Sunshine” showcasing the songwriting skill that is crucial in the country space.
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