Zach Bryan’s Arrest Explained: Singer Shares Apology and Explains Incident In Video Message

Zach Bryan shared a video update following his Oklahoma arrest “for the sake of transparency.”

The “Something In The Orange” singer took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to explain the events that took place leading up to his detainment in the Craig County Jail.

With his dog Jack by his side, Bryan took a break from a cross-country road trip to address the situation via a video message to fans.

Video Update

for the sake of transparency on yesterday pic.twitter.com/IJRjEDOrCH

— Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) September 8, 2023

“I just wanted to be completely transparent with everyone who listens to my music about what happened yesterday with me getting arrested and everything, because I don’t want the internet to do what the internet does, and I don’t know, make stuff up,” Bryan begins in the nearly five-minute clip. 

Why Was Zach Bryan Arrested?

After explaining that he did in fact “go to jail” and will soon have to deal with the legalities of his arrest, Bryan admitted, “I was an idiot today, and my decisions did not reflect who I was as a person and I just want to make that clear, and I should have been smarter about it.”

He revealed that he had two separate run-ins with the law. Three days prior to his arrest, he was driving through a small town in Oklahoma when he was pulled over by a police officer for speeding. After failing to comply with the officer’s request to reveal his address, Bryan was asked to step out of his vehicle and placed in handcuffs. He then had a conversation with the officer, supplied his address and was released on a warning. 

As the clip continued, Bryan explained how Thursday (Sept. 7) afternoon’s arrest unfolded. According to the singer/songwriter his security guard was following him in a separate vehicle on the road enroute to Boston when his bodyguard was pulled over in Venita. After seeing him pull over, Bryan turned around and waited for the officier to finish with his security guard. 

“10 to 15 minutes goes by and I get out of the car. I’m like, ‘man, what is taking so long?’ And I was going to smoke a cigarette. The cop comes up to me and he’s like, ‘sir, get back in your vehicle.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not the one getting pulled over.’ He’s like, ‘get back in your vehicle. I’m going to have to take you to jail.’”

Admits He Got Too “Lippy”

Bryan confessed he acted like a “dumb ass” in the moments that transpired next.  

“So I get too lippy with him. He brings me over to his car and I just didn’t help my situation at all. I felt like a child. It was ridiculous. It was immature. And I just pray. Everyone knows that I don’t think I’m above the law. I was just being disrespectful and I shouldn’t have been. And it was my mistake,” he added. “So 15 minutes goes by, they finally let me out of the vehicle and I’m just mouthing off like an idiot, like an actual child. I’m like, ‘man, someone’s got to get ahold of you guys. Why are you using your authority like this? This is so wrong.’ When in reality they were just doing their jobs, I was upset. And so he looks at me, he says, ‘Hey man, I’m going to tell you this and don’t interrupt me.’ And I was like, ‘well, after you’re done, I’m going to say my piece.’ He started talking. I interrupted him naturally. I was just angry. So he said, I’m going to take you to jail. And he took me to jail and I was in jail for a few hours.”

After arriving at the prison, Bryan “lightened up” and eventually made up with the officer and the pair shook hands. 

Promised “It Won’t Happen Again”

“I ended up apologizing online because I realized that my actions didn’t reflect who I was as a person, and that was how the night ended… I have to deal with the legalities of it when I go back home… I just wanted to tell the story and get it out there before someone blew it out of proportion. I was just an idiot and I’ll take the fall for it. I’m a grown man and I shouldn’t have behaved like that and it won’t happen again. I love you guys… I just shouldn’t have did what I did and the world moves on tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to come anyway.”

The apology he references is the written statement that he shared on social media hours after he was taken to the Craig County Jail.

“Today I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said,” he began.

Today I had an incident with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Emotions got the best of me and I was out of line in the things I said.
I support law enforcement as much as anyone can, I was just frustrated in the moment, it was unlike me and I apologize. They brought me to jail, and…

— Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) September 8, 2023

He went on to showcase his gratitude for law enforcement and share an apology. 

“I support law enforcement as much as anyone can, I was just frustrated in the moment, it was unlike me and I apologize. They brought me to jail, and there is a mug shot of me floating around. Prayers we can all move on from this and prayers people know I’m just trying the best I can, I love you guys and I am truly sorry to the officers.” 

“Obstruction of Investigation”

TMZ reported that Bryan was arrested on charges of “obstruction of investigation” on Thursday (Sept. 7) in his home state of Oklahoma.

The “Something In The Orange” singer was reportedly arrested in Vinita, Oklahoma and booked on a charge of “obstruction of investigation.” 

According to Cornell Law School, obstruction of investigation in Oklahoma is defined as “Destruction of evidence, tampering with or intimidating witnesses, or refusal to allow access to relevant files or facilities in any investigation.” 

Bryan, 27, was transported to the Craig County Jail where a mugshot was captured. 

On Thursday, in what appears to be the hours before he was arrested, Zach Bryan took to Instagram to share a photo of sprawling farmland with the text “On the road again, gonna go see the birds win.”

He was likely referring to the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL team is set to play on Sunday (Sept. 10) against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. 

2024 Tour

Zach Bryan’s arrest comes just days after pre-sale tickets for his massive 54-date headlining tour, dubbed The Quittin Time Tour ’24, went on sale. 

Bryan’s Quittin Time Tour kicks off with back-to-back performances at United Center in Chicago, Illinois on March 6 and 7 before embarking on a cross-country journey. The Quittin’ Time Tour ’24 will find Zach Bryan visiting stadiums and major arenas throughout North America.

The trek includes stops at football stadiums in Denver, Foxborough, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tampa, Arlington, and Minneapolis. The tour will wrap up in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with back-to-back shows at the BOK Center on December 13 and 14.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan)

The Quittin Time Tour also features an impressive lineup of supporting acts, including The Middle East, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Turnpike Troubadours, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Ferrell, Matt Maeson, and Levi Turner.

New Album Out Now

The tour comes in support of his fourth full-length studio album, Zach Bryan, which arrived on August 25 via Warner Records.

Released on August 25, Zach Bryan includes 16 tracks and was produced entirely by Bryan himself. The album debuted at No.1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, marking Bryan’s first ever album to claim the top spot on the chart. 

“I love you guys and I appreciate you,” the singer/songwriter wrote on X after hearing the news. “This has been an unbelievable year.”

The project also features collaborations with The War And Treaty, Kacey Musgraves, The Lumineers and Sierra Ferrell. 

“Really proud to call the writing and production on somethin’ all mine,” Bryan captioned his reveal on social media. “thank y’all for your patience, I didn’t make this album to appease people who will never be happy anyways, I made it for my people, hope everyone has a good weekend.”

Billboard Hot 100 Chart-Topper

Bryan recently earned his first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 with “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves. 

The song debuted atop the all-genre chart, which incorporates various factors, including cross-genre U.S. streaming data encompassing both official audio and video streams, radio broadcasting reach, and sales data.

According to Billboard and Luminate, “I Remember Everything” raked in 33.7 million streams and sold 10,000 downloads for the week ending on August 31. While it’s not being promoted at country radio, the track also drew in 263,000 impressions at radio.

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves’ “I Remember Everything” follows Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s “Islands in the Stream” as the second shared Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs chart-topper by a male artist and female artist.

“I Remember Everything” debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and Hot Rock Songs charts.

CMA Awards Nomination

Additionally, on Thursday morning (Sept. 7), Bryan earned a nod for the 57th Annual CMA Awards in the New Artist of the Year category. This marks Bryan’s first CMA Awards nomination.