Zach Bryan, the 29-year-old songwriting troubadour and country music crossover star, has recently created a stir. One verse from his as-yet-unreleased song addresses immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Bryan released a small clip on social media that in turn raised ire from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This backlash highlights both the artist’s growing prominence and the incendiary nature of his lyrics.
Born to parents in the U.S. Navy, Bryan was himself an eight-year veteran of that branch of the military. His military training greatly influenced his artistic identity. While serving his enlistment, he began writing and recording music. Beyond music, this set the stage for an exceptional career devoted to public service and social equity. His self-released debut album, “DeAnn,” came out in 2019. This song kicked off his meteoric ascent to prominence in the country music world.
Bryan’s big break out hit was the album “American Heartbreak” in 2022 which broke into the U.S. top five. Following that success, his self-titled follow-up album debuted at No. 1 in 2023, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in contemporary country music. His most recent album, The Great American Bar Scene, recently surged to No. 2 on the Americana charts. It has! It recently attained platinum certification!
Bryan’s tuneful trio of opening-week album records in 2023. As a sweet coda to his unprecedented success, he recently hit number one on the U.S. singles chart with “I Remember Everything,” his duet with Kacey Musgraves. He broke records for merch sales, selling an astounding $5 million worth. On top of that, he broke his own U.S. attendance record for a ticketed concert, drawing a crowd of 112,408.
The snippet that stirred controversy includes stark imagery regarding law enforcement and immigration:
“I heard the cops came, cocky motherfuckers ain’t they? / And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / Well I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone.” – Zach Bryan
After receiving harsh criticism from DHS, Bryan defended his performance. He unashamedly wore the mantle as a man who lived in a country that embraced free speech. He stated:
“I am so proud to have served in a country where we can all speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxed or accosted on the internet or worse; the violence and heartbreak we’ve faced in the last few months!” – Zach Bryan
He further elaborated on the intent behind his lyrics, asserting that they reflect love for the country and a desire for unity amidst division:
“This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back … Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides.” – Zach Bryan