Before January 2024, Zach Top was a relative unknown. Then he released “Sounds Like the Radio,” the lead single off his studio debut, Cold Beer & Country Music. “All of a sudden, just everything was selling out and we couldn’t play anywhere without it being packed out,” Top said recently.
Now it’s 2025, and the “I Never Lie” singer has embarked on his first-ever headlining tour. It’s a far cry from the trajectory Top envisioned for himself a decade ago.
Videos by American Songwriter
Zach Top Got His Start Performing With His Siblings
As Zach Top told Dale Brisby of the Rodeo Time podcast, “There’s a lot more to the art of being a performer than just playing and singing good.” Fortunately, the “Cold Beer And Country Music” singer had a head start. He began performing during his late teens as part of the bluegrass band Top String with his siblings. Top says his mom played a crucial role in his future success. She would write out setlists and script jokes for her children ahead of gigs.
The 27-year-old singer-songwriter’s musical talent was plain to his parents. However, with no industry knowledge or connections, they urged Top to pursue a different career path before chasing his performance dreams.
“My dad’s advice was just like, ‘Nah, you need to go get a good job that’ll pay you good, where you can afford to take weekends off and go play for fun at these same bluegrass festivals,” Top said.
“I Was Not Into It”
So in 2015, Zach Top moved from his Washington hometown to Boulder, Colorado, where he planned to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado. However, he wound up dropping out after the first year.
“I was not in into it,” Top said. Rather than accrue additional student loan debt, he decided to work and save money for a move to Nashville. He made that move in 2021, releasing a self-titled bluegrass EP the next year.
In September 2023, the CMA nominee signed as the flagship artist for Leo33, a new independent record label. His debut single, “Sounds Like the Radio” hit the airwaves in January 2024.
Featured image by Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock)
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
CULVER CITY, CA – OCTOBER 28: A general view of the set is shown at a press junket for NBC's "The Voice" at Sony Studios on October 28, 2011 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) -
Photo by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images -
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 04: Riley Green performs on NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza on September 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/WireImage) -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: (L-R) Ozzy Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Kenny Chesney performs onstage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 17, 2025. Broadcasted live on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio) -
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 17: Detail of an electric guitar as Luke Bryan performs during the "Country On Tour" at Budweiser Stage on June 17, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Getty Images) -
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET and features a diverse lineup of guests that include celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians and human interest subjects, along with comedy bits and a house band. The guests for Wednesday, August 26 included guest host Jelly Roll, Nathan Fillion ("Lanterns" and "The Rookie"), and Juicy J and Project Pat ("Dem Goats"). Musical guest Juicy J and Project Pat featuring Lecrae and Sara Niemietz sits in with The Cletones. (Disney/Randy Holmes)JELLY ROLL (Photo by Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images)