By Luke Macchione ’28, staff writer
Zach Bryan’s recent album releases, “Young Manhood (and Other Donatable Organs)” and “With Heaven on Top,” have certainly struck a chord with some, but LVC students discuss whether his controversial lyrics and personality land just as harmoniously as his acoustic guitar.
His breakthrough hit, “Heading South,” wasn’t filmed in a studio or with high-quality recording equipment and a band. It was recorded outside his Navy barracks with an iPhone and an acoustic guitar while on active duty. On September 6, 2019, he posted “Heading South” to YouTube, which exploded alongside his songs “Condemned” and “Letting Someone Go.”
Fast forward to today, and Bryan has become a country music sensation, writing and producing several hits, including “Something in the Orange,” “I Remember Everything,” and “Heading South,” all of which have over a billion plays on Spotify. Bryan’s January 2026 album, “With Heaven on Top,”debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
However, his shocking rise to fame wasn’t without its setbacks. On September 7, 2023, he and his security guard were traveling in separate vehicles when his security guard got pulled over for speeding. Eventually, Bryan got frustrated with the delay and confronted the police officer about it. He was then arrested after refusing to get back in his vehicle for “obstruction of an investigation.”
Additionally, some of his songs feature polarizing lyrics, including his song “Bad News,” which states, “and ICE is gonna come bust down your door,” while also, in the same song, calling the right “red” and the left “woke.” Ironically, given his previous confrontations with the law, Bryan uses profanity to call police officers cocky.
Third-year early childhood education major and special education minor, Nina Milosevic, describes herself as a country music fan but not a consistent Zach Bryan listener.
She enjoyed listening to “Plastic Cigarette” and “Skin,” two songs from Bryan’s album, “With Heaven on Top”. However, when describing the album, she shared a critique of Bryan: several songs had a similar rhythm, which can sometimes be hard to distinguish.
Bryan is no stranger to controversy, and to at least one LVC student, that controversy is hardly audible over his acoustic guitar and unpolished delivery.
“I have heard a lot about him, but at the end of the day I like a few of his songs, and I enjoy singing along to them,” Milosevic said. “I don’t think about him or his actions when I am listening to his music.”
Milosevic, like many, doesn’t see an artist’s beliefs as particularly relevant criteria in determining whether to hit the skip or replay button.
She also noted that while artists are free to express their views, most people do have a line on political issues that they will remember when listening.
“You can like their music and don’t need to include who they are as a person when interpreting their lyrics,” Milosevic said. “At the same time, if they are very vocal on their political views or partake in behaviors that are controversial, people are going to keep that in mind when listening to the lyrics of their songs.”
In other words, Milosevic trusts people won’t simply vote with their feet but their ears as well.
First-year nursing major Patrick Rose is quick to understand when artists make what he deems mistakes, including in the case of artists like Bryan, whom he occasionally listens to.
“I listen to music that relates to my life,” Rose said.
He believes lyrics are more prominent in reflective and sad music, a genre Bryan certainly has no shortage of songs in.
While some students like Milosevic and Rose occasionally find themselves listening to Bryan’s songs, for other students his music is the signature sound of their playlists. For a third-year clinical mental health counseling student, Kaylee Senglar, his music isn’t an occasional catchy chorus or singalong, but a variety of songs with deep and personally meaningful lyrics.
Senglar, a self-described “huge fan” of Bryan, characterized his 2026 albums as refreshing and full of new energy. She cited “Say Why,” “Poems and Closing Time,” “All the Time,” and “Like Ida” as her favorites by Bryan.
Bryan also begins his albums with spoken-word poetry that Senglar has found particularly impactful.
Senglar mentioned how Bryan, like all of us, has had his share of bad moments, but doesn’t see mistakes as a reason to ruin her enjoyment of his music.
“I’m also good at separating people from the art or what they do,” Senglar said. “There are a lot of friends, artists, and even family who I don’t agree or see eye to eye with, but I still don’t let that ruin the things I like them for. I genuinely just love his music, and his views or how he feels about certain things don’t really affect the love of his art for me.”
Additionally, after the release of his album “Young Manhood (and Other Donatable Organs)” on Oct. 16, 2026, Matthew McConaughey interviewed him about the album, his new book, his recent marriage, and the life struggles he’s faced surrounding alcohol use and his mom’s passing.
“I think he really has grown and gained new insights and perspectives on things, and that makes me really excited for him,” Senglar said.
Second-year student and member of the physical therapy program, Harrison Kramer, sees Bryan as somewhat unique among country artists. “He really slows it down and puts you in how he is feeling in the song,” Kramer said. “You can really connect with the lyrics more than others. Other country artists have more generic, upbeat songs, and he is more connected to the audience.”
Kramer enjoyed Bryan’s “Young Manhood (and Other Donatable Organs),” in particular the songs “Backwards” and “Lies,” which featured Lana Del Rey. When describing what the perfect environment for Zach Bryan is, Kramer confidently asserted that it is being “around a campfire with some friends.”
While Bryan has had some trouble with the law, some college students are willing to drop the charge of controversy. While his actions may sound off-key to some, LVC students aren’t prepared to let a few sour notes ruin the entire song.