Zach Bryan is an American singer and songwriter who first gained popularity in 2019. While serving in the Navy for eight years, Bryan began to record videos of himself and uploaded them to Youtube while stationed in different parts of the country. After his raw take of “Heading South,” an original song he wrote about music being a lifeline and an escape, went viral, he caught the attention of the world. His true breakout moment came with DeAnn (2019), an album which he dedicated to his late mother. Following that success over hardship, he wrote five more albums, the latest being With Heaven On Top which was released at the beginning of 2026.
The album explores themes of finding hope through adversity and finding meaning in simplicity. He even wrote a song called “DeAnn’s Denim” about his late mother DeAnn Bryan, reflecting on memories of her, the traits he’s inherited, and the emotional weight of her absence. The album debuted at number one on the U.S Billboard 200 and has accumulated almost 200 million streams on Spotify along with the acoustic version of the album accumulating roughly 225 million streams.
The album has 25 tracks with fan favorites “Plastic Cigarette,” “Say Why,” “Bad News,” “Appetite,” and “Runny Eggs.” With Heaven On Top makes it clear that Bryan's songwriting is molded from the losses he has experienced throughout his life. The loss of his mother along with years of severe anxiety and reliance on alcohol that he has been open about bleeds into his sound with vulnerability. Like much of the great music in history, this album reinforces the truth that hard times are the building blocks of writing music that resonates with people the most, a fact proven within the hundreds of millions of streams it has.
I really appreciate the variety of tone within this release. Bryan balances somber songs with upbeat songs focusing on acceptance. My favorite track is “Appetite.” It has a beautiful melody with a terrific horn section that should be appreciated. The song addresses Bryan's relentless pursuit for fulfillment while using “Appetite” as a metaphor for temptation. Overall, the album is very well-produced while keeping his natural, raw style that his fans appreciate. The addition of the acoustic version is a great touch as well, adding a more personal and emotional display of his music. In a genre often shaped by common, commercial formulas, Zach Bryan makes himself stand out with his storytelling and his singing about his life experiences, rather than regular country persona.