Zach Bryan's Meteoric Rise, Messy Breakup, and Mysterious Album Delay

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If you’ve kept an eye on Zach Bryan lately you know headlines have been split between his music and a messy public breakup. Just this weekend, Bryan made a major splash at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, performing three consecutive sold-out shows with Kings of Leon and other high-profile supporting acts. But the talk backstage and online was about more than just his live prowess—Friday night saw the live debut of his haunting new single Madeline, featuring rising star Gabriella Rose. Fans’ excitement for the song was quickly tempered by Bryan’s announcement on social media that his next album, titled With Heaven On Top, will not be out until January 9, 2026. According to Whiskey Riff and Country Central, Bryan’s Instagram post revealed the album cover and sent his followers into a frenzy since he had hinted the release would be this year. Nevertheless, Madeline’s official drop was greeted as the project’s lead single, signaling a fresh but familiar heartache-laced sound.

On the business side, Zach Bryan is not slowing down. Despite rumors last fall that he might quit touring to study abroad, he’s now moving at full throttle. 2025 has brought fewer live dates than the barnstorming years prior, but the shows he is playing are attracting increasingly massive crowds—enough that some industry insiders suggest he’s poised to threaten George Strait’s all-time attendance record when he headlines Michigan Stadium this September. Recent business moves include the renewal of his Warner Records contract, locking in at least two more albums, and a headline-making $350 million catalog sale to the Merrit Group.

But if Bryan hoped his love life would take a backseat to his music, no such luck. The breakup drama with Barstool’s Brianna Chickenfry (Brianna LaPaglia) exploded on social media this past week, as both shared “receipts” in the form of deleted texts and screenshots. According to SFGate and Whiskey Riff, Brianna claims Zach’s management offered her millions and a house to sign a nondisclosure agreement about their breakup—offers she publicly refused. Bryan, usually mum, surprised fans by briefly sharing a heartfelt text from Brianna before deleting it, stoking speculation and endless commentary. Brianna, now New York-based and feeling “like herself again,” took to Instagram to accuse Bryan of being “blackout at 7am again” and of letting her live rent-free in his head. Meanwhile, Zach’s team insists she had no say over the direction of negative Barstool Sports coverage, and pointedly asked her to stay out of the online back-and-forth.

With huge arena shows still to come this summer—including historic nights at Red Rocks and Golden Gate Park in August—plus an already headline-worthy sixth album reveal, Zach Bryan remains one of the most-watched figures in American music, both onstage and off. Expect the conversation—and the music—to keep coming.

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