If I had a dime for every time Zach Top has been compared to artists like Alan Jackson…
The Washington native has quickly solidified himself as the face of the neo-traditional country revival. A majority of people have fallen in love with him thanks to the fact that his music sounds like something you would flip your radio to on a ’90s Bob Kingsley countdown. Not to mention the never-ending goofy lore that fans joke he’s the “Chattahoochie” singer’s long-lost son.
While that rumor has certainly been shut down by both Jackson and Top, fans continue to draw likenesses, pretty much only crowning Top’s success thanks to his ability to somehow miraculously transport you back in time with such modern tunes. Unfortunately, while this branding has done Top justice and there’s no doubt he continues to lean into it (hence the pearl snap outfits at every show), he recently admitted that the never-ending analogies get on his nerves sometimes.
Top recently appeared on Bert Kreischer’s podcast for a hefty two-hour-long episode filled with some of his stories climbing to fame, his stances on drinking, and a few musical performances to wrap things up. During the episode, the comedian also delved into his opinions on how he’s “territorial about his music,” noting that he’s more apt to fall in love with an artist’s sound not because they resemble someone else or fit neatly into a box, but rather because they sound authentic to themselves.
Kreischer applied the concept to Top’s music, saying, “No offense to Alan Jackson, but I like what you’re doing.” Top followed up the statement, agreeing with, “I appreciate you saying that cause I always get kind of a little chip on my shoulder with that. I think I get put in that box a good bit of the time cause my music is sonically reminiscent, obviously, of ’90s type stuff and earlier.”
He goes on to emphasize that while there may be influences from the stuff he listened to while growing up, which is certainly emulated in his music, “you can’t just redo something. You can’t regurgitate something that’s already been done. It wouldn’t work if you were doing that.” Top separates himself from the generalization, noting, “I’m doing my own thing, too.”
Considering Top won the 2026 Grammy award for the inaugural “Traditional Country Album” category with his honky tonk-heavy 2025 project, Ain’t In It For My Health, it’s hard not to deny that he’s without a doubt THE classic country figurehead. Yet it’s understandably got to be a little frustrating to feel leashed down by these comparisons. Heck, he even started out his career with a full bluegrass project that certainly intertwines itself in his new material.
His uniquely “Top” show that continues to swoon fans no matter how you box it will hit the road on his 2026 headlining Cold Beer & Country Music tour this summer, starting June 5 in Durant, Oklahoma. He’ll be joined by fellow supporting acts who also know a thing or two about bringing back this traditional sound with their own twists, including Jake Worthington, Cole Goodwin, Lukas Nelson, and Marcus King Band. Top will wrap up his show on August 28 in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Full Episode:
Tour Dates:
- June 5: Durant, Oklahoma
- June 12: Orange Beach, Alabama
- June 20: Columbia, Maryland
- July 9: Salt Lake City, Utah
- July 10: Boise, Idaho
- July 15: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- July 16: Edmonton, Alberta
- August 7: Ottawa, Ontario
- August 8: Canadaigua, New York
- August 13: Wantagh, New York
- August 20: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- August 21: Allentown, Pennsylvania
- August 22: Bangor, Maine
- August 28: Gilford, New Hampshire