Zach Top Talks "I Never Lie," Covers, Grammys, and Album ‘Ain’t In It for My Health’
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Zach Top, the first-ever Grammy winner in the Best Traditional Country Album category, reveals how he built a career rooted in authenticity, not virality. Despite early success on Facebook with tribute covers, he heeded his mentor Carson Chamberlain’s advice to pause, master his craft, and avoid oversaturating Nashville’s scene—leading to a deliberate, song-first approach that prioritized emotional truth over trends. His album *Ain’t In It for My Health* isn’t just a title—it’s a manifesto: a raw, genre-blending collection of songs drawn from real life, from fishing trips with married friends to the quiet ache of long-distance touring. He credits his family band roots, bluegrass upbringing, and a construction job that taught him resilience for shaping his sound. What sets him apart isn’t just his voice or his mustache, but his refusal to chase fame or fit a mold—instead, he’s focused on writing 100 songs before the first album, building a legacy one honest lyric at a time.
Write 100+ songs before releasing your first album to find your authentic voice, not just polish a hit.
Use social media to attract mentors, not to chase virality—Zach Top waited for Carson Chamberlain before going public.
Record with Nashville session players live in the room, once, to capture raw emotion—no overdubs needed.
If a song doesn’t move you with just voice and guitar, it’s not worth finishing—strip it down to the core.
Avoid oversaturating your local scene; keep Nashville at arm’s length to preserve mystique and impact.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The First Grammy in a New Category
“I happened to be the first one along. It's crazy. Yeah, it was cool. That was, yeah, obviously very exciting. Really honored to have won that.”
Defining 'Traditional Country' and the Myth of the Formula
Zach challenges the idea of a rigid definition for traditional country, citing Merle Haggard’s saxophones and the genre’s evolution, emphasizing emotional truth over genre boxes.
The Power of the Stripped-Down Songwriting Process
“If it can't do something for you in like that strip down, if it doesn't work, you're just polishing a turd basically.”
From Facebook Covers to a Nashville Mentor
“I was so slow to get on Instagram or TikTok. The ones that, you know, it's like Facebook is dang near obsolete now. Um, I was just rocking with my 60 year old grandma fans on Facebook for a long time.”
The 100-Song Rule and the Long Game
“We're playing the long game here. We're not cutting a record this month or this year or maybe not even next year. Like we got some... you know, basically 100 songs to write and throw away.”
“Any health benefits I may have received from a cold plunge, I made sure I pissed down my leg with a cigarette and a beer.”
“We're playing the long game here. We're not cutting a record this month or this year or maybe not even next year. Like we got some... you know, basically 100 songs to write and throw away.”
“the song can't do something for you in like that strip down, if it doesn't work, you're just polishing a turd basically.”
Host
Guest
Zach Top
person
Carson Chamberlain
person
Merle Haggard
person
brand
Ross Stores
brand
George Strait
person
Grammy Awards
other
Paul Overstreet
person
Jimmy Buffett
person
TikTok
brand
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