Zach Top is practically making it unbearable not to beg for a full-blown cover album at this point.
Mirroring the classic sounds of ’90s country with his own trendy modern-day flair, Top built his career on posting cover videos to Facebook and has kept the tradition alive as his career continues to grow. From “Two Dozen Roses” to “Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” the Washington-native can do no wrong and put a glorious spin on just about any song.
While Top has a wide discography of his own certified fan favorite tracks, I think he’s finally starting to pick up on the fact that people go crazy for his covers. Hence why, this time around on tour, he’s hoping to not only add a few more to the setlist but also get a little bit of input from the crowd beforehand, asking people to comment on his social media, which surprise rendition he should sing throughout each stop on his 2026 Cold Beer & Country Music Tour.
Ahead of his Friday, June 12, show at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama, Top tested out a couple of throwback songs for his VIP pre-show acoustic set. Wetting everyone’s eyes before the headlining concert, he decided to pull out a classic Tim McGraw tear-jerker, “Don’t Take the Girl.”
Talk about the perfect fit. Now this isn’t the first time Top has paid homage to McGraw, with his other most recent performance being “Just To See You Smile” on The Brothers Hunt podcast— which is another MUST listen— along with a very young baby-faced Top from before the stardom singing “Red Ragtop.”
However, this version of McGraw’s 1994 single from his album Not A Moment Too Soon takes the cake, even if he may have fumbled the first line on the chorus a little bit. Top jokingly ended the performance, admitting, “I almost knew [the lyrics].”
Safe to say I’m immediately jealous of everyone who got to witness this performance. The rest of the crowd at the Wharf was also in for a surprise treat when Top kept the cover game rolling with a little bit of help from The Red Clay Stray’s Brandon Coleman for an equally epic duet of George Jones’ “Bartender Blues.”
Lord only knows what other show-stopping tricks Top has up his sleeve for the remainder of his tour alongside Marcus King Band, Lukas Nelson, Marty Stuart, Cole Goodwin, and more. Luckily, time will tell as he returns to the stage this Saturday, June 20, in Columbia, Maryland.