Zach Top Delivers Memorable Performance of ‘Guitar’ at CMA Awards, Snags New Artist of the Year Win
“It’s been a hell of last couple of years. So thankful and ready to celebrate on that.”
Zach Top; Photo by Josh Brasted/CMA
Zach Top served up a healthy dose of classic country music with a performance of his song “Guitar” during the 59th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday.
The breakout star fittingly appeared on a guitar-shaped stage dressed in a sleek suit to deliver a rousing performance, marking his debut on the award show. He showcased his true star power while letting his warm vocals tackle the traditional country storytelling tune with modern production. It features twangy riffs and a steady driving beat, capturing the power of music.
The day before the CMA Awards, Zach Top spoke with Country Now, teasing what fans could expect from his first-ever performance at the show, and it comes as no surprise that he planned to bring authentic country music to the stage.
When asked what viewers could expect, he kept it simple: “Country music, baby!”
Top’s song “Guitar” is featured on his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health. Co-written with Tim Nichols and Carson Chamberlain, the track is a personal story that Top hopes will introduce him to fans who may not be familiar with his music yet.
“I’m excited. [It’s] uptempo, fun. I feel like it’ll be a nice introduction to any folks who haven’t heard me before either,” Top shared. “The song is kind of biographical to me, almost. And yeah, it is country music. If you love it, great. And if you don’t, I’m sorry, it’s probably not going to get any different.”
Top earned five nominations, including Album of the year (Cold Beer & Country Music), Male Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“I Never Lie”) and Song of the Year (“I Never Lie”).
“It’s wild,” Top admitted of his five nominations. “I think I still have sort of the mindset of the underground, under the radar, up and comer, so…it’s strange to be up for all the awards, but I’m very thankful, obviously. It is cool whenever other folks in your business feel like you’ve been doing a good job and want to pat you on the back and say, ‘good job.’ So I’m really, really proud to just be nominated for all them things.”
Following his performance, the country act returned to the stage to collect his win for New Artist of the Year. With his beer in hand, Top offered a heartfelt speech in which he reflected on the milestone moment and made sure to thank his family, members of the industry that have been with him since day one, his road crew and more.
“I’m so thankful to be included in a category with a bunch of other great artists that have had phenomenal years. Thankful to be here. This is my first CMA win ever, so it’s a big deal to me, and I got a long list of people to thank. My father in heaven, for giving me the gift of being able to sing and play, first of all, my mother and father for realizing that I was never going to be a professional cowboy or a baseball player, so maybe the closest I could get was to sing about cowboys….It’s been a hell of last couple of years, so, so thankful and ready to celebrate on that. Thank you all very much.”
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the 59th Annual CMA Awards took place live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 (8:00–11:00 PM ET) on ABC.
The night also featured performances from Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Tucker Wetmore, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton.
Collaborative performances included Luke Combs & BigXthaPlug, Shaboozey & Stephen Wilson Jr., and Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert.
Presenters and special guests appearing throughout the evening included Lady A, Alison Brown, Jessica Capshaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Jordan Davis, Elizabeth Hurley, Cody Johnson, Bert Kreischer, Brandon Lake, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, Leanne Morgan, NE-YO, Chris O’Donnell, Kimberly Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Ritchson, Lara Spencer, Billy Bob Thornton, Grace Van Patten, Gretchen Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman.
The full broadcast is available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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