Zach Top Artistfacts

September 26, 1997
Born and raised in Sunnyside, Washington, Zach Top spent his childhood on a ranch, a world away from the bright lights of Nashville.
Music was ingrained in him from a young age. When his parents bought him his first guitar at just 3, it took a humorous turn: being left-handed, Zach unknowingly played it backward for a while! Thankfully, guitar lessons at age 5 set him on the right track.
While country music defines him now, Zach's musical journey began with bluegrass. He formed a family band called Top String at the tender age of 7 and later joined other bluegrass groups like North Country and Modern Tradition.
His group Modern Tradition had some success, winning the prestigious International Band Contest at the SPBGMA in 2017. "We had just been jamming, just having fun, and then we won the band contest and were like, 'Well, we should probably put out some music," Top recalled to Billboard.
Looking to make it in country music, Zach Top made the move to Nashville in 2021, where he landed a publishing deal with Major Bob Music, a crucial step in his journey.
Heavily influenced by country legends like George Strait, Keith Whitley, and Randy Travis, Zach Top's music champions the classic country sound. His debut single, "Sounds Like the Radio," captured this essence and became a hit, reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Country radio chart.
Authentic country music is what Zach Top is all about. "I think that people are starving for stuff that's real, that isn't filtered and prettied up," he told Taste of Country Nights. "The only thing I've ever done on TikTok is sit there with my acoustic guitar and play and sing for 'em, and there's no lip-synching and no hanky-panky with it all."
Zach Top married his college sweetheart Kinzi in 2020. Their marriage, however, ended in divorce in early 2024. The split was relatively private, with few details shared publicly.
It's been suggested that Zach Top's country accent isn't the real deal. He grew up in Sunnyside, Washington - hardly the Deep South - and in early performance clips his voice doesn't carry the same drawl fans hear today. Top addressed the chatter by saying, "All I know is I've been practicing it ever since I was a baby. I liked how all them old country guys sang, so I figured I'd talk like them too. And yeah, since I've been in Nashville, it's just been accentuated, I guess."
Zach Top won New Artist Of The Year at the 2025 CMA Awards. Instead of bringing notes for his speech to the podium, he brought a beer. With the trophy in one and a can of Coors in the other, he delivered an elegant and heartfelt acceptance.

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