Article Contributed by Sacks and Company
Published on February 3, 2026
This past Sunday, acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Zach Top won his first Grammy Award, taking home Best Traditional Country Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards for his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health, and becoming the inaugural recipient of the newly introduced category.
Ain’t In It For My Health debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Current Country Albums chart and #11 on the Billboard 200, earning more than 30 million global streams in its first week. Released to widespread critical attention, Top recently spoke with Jon Caramanica for a profile at The New York Times, who praises “Top’s commitment to form remains immaculate: a high-wire routine so aesthetically faithful and brimming with theatrical mirth that he’s almost winking, merging a sense of history and a sense of play.” Listen to the record HERE.
Critical acclaim for Top and Ain’t In It For My Health…
“Zach Top holds his own with the country greats…Top’s vocals soar with the confidence of a seasoned storyteller”—Rolling Stone
“The fastest-rising star in country music”—Variety
“Ain’t In It for My Health, is good, clean country fun, full of clear-eyed comedic writing and tight arrangements.”—Pitchfork
“Top’s immaculate new Album, Ain’t In It For My Health, offers traditionalism without regression – an effortless gesture that feels mysterious and tricky to figure out.”—The Washington Post
“as crisp as country music gets”—Los Angeles Times
“adds to his already top-shelf catalog of songs”—Billboard
“Album No. 2 for Top expands upon the undeniable success of his debut”—The Tennessean
“Another energetic pure-country presentation built around the rich twang of the ‘80s and ‘90s, this young star remains driven by the love of the game.”—Nashville Lifestyles
“Top has been on nothing short of an absolute roll lately…the brightest future we’ve seen in recent memory”—Whiskey Riff
“there’s a handmade, built-to-last quality in Top’s songs that has struck a chord with country fans…The ‘future of country music’ has already arrived”—The Seattle Times
“He possesses a swagger like nobody else in the industry”—Country Central
“It’s the sound of an artist poised to step into the big leagues—not by abandoning tradition, but by proving it still has something urgent and vital to say.”—Entertainment Focus
“Top leans on the strength of the writing and the emotion behind every note, a move that feels both bold and timeless”—All Country News
The accolade adds to an already landmark year for Top, who was named New Artist of the Year at the 59th Annual CMA Awards, earned his first #1 at country radio with “I Never Lie,” launched a jean line in collaboration with Kimes Ranch and is in the midst of an extensive tour including upcoming stops across Europe, dates headlining the C2C Festival and select stadium shows with George Strait and Chris Stapleton. See below for complete tour itinerary.
Top was also featured on Variety’s 2025 Young Hollywood Impact Report, named 2025 ACM New Male Artist of the Year, performed “I Never Lie” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, was named “the future of country music” by Billboard, nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 58th Annual CMA Awards and released Me & Billy—a three-song EP featuring 3x Grammy Award-winning artist Billy Strings (listen here).
Album artwork
Ain’t In It For My Health follows Top’s breakthrough debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, which has garnered over one billion streams to date, was nominated for ACM Album of the Year and certified RIAA Gold. Multiple tracks have also received RIAA certifications, including “I Never Lie” (2x Platinum), “Sounds Like the Radio” (Gold), “Use Me” (Gold) and “Bad Luck” (Gold). Produced by Carson Chamberlain (Billy Currington, Easton Corbin), the record received widespread acclaim with The Tennessean saying it’s full of “star-making tunes,” while Country Central praised, “Cold Beer & Country Music is a masterclass in traditional country music…With a record this strong, Zach Top has proven himself as a standout rising star in this format and a premier vocalist in country music.”
Raised in Sunnyside, WA, Top grew up on classic country music around the family farm. At the age of seven, he formed a band with his siblings which set the stage for his musical ambitions. Throughout his teenage years and early twenties, Top honed his craft by playing in various bluegrass bands before moving to Nashville in 2021, where he has been building a reputation as one of country music’s most promising new voices.
AIN’T IN IT FOR MY HEALTH TRACKLIST
1. Guitar
2. Good Times & Tan Lines
3. When You See Me
4. Splitsville
5. Between The Ditches
6. Flip–Flop
7. Livin’ A Lie
8. Tightrope
9. I Know A Place
10. She Makes
11. South Of Sanity
12. Like I Want You
13. Country Boy Blues
14. Lovin’ The Wrong Things
15. Honky Tonk Till It Hurts
ZACH TOP CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
February 5—Scottsdale, AZ—TPC Scottsdale§
February 21—Zurich, CH—The Hall||
February 25—Copenhagen, DK—K.B. Hallen||
February 28—Stockholm, SE—Annexet||
March 3—Oslo, NO—Sentrum Scene||
March 4—Oslo, NO—Sentrum Scene||
March 6—Rotterdam, NL—C2C Festival
March 7—Rotterdam, NL—C2C Festival – Rotterdam Ahoy
March 8—Berlin, DE—C2C Festival – Uber Eats Music Hall
March 13—London, U.K.—C2C Festival – The O2
March 14—Belfast, N.I.—C2C Festival – SSE Arena
March 15—Glasgow, U.K.—C2C Festival – OVO Hydro
April 9—Florence, AZ—Country Thunder Arizona 2026
April 24—Arlington, TX—George Strait: Live in Lubbock#
April 25—Athens, GA—Sanford Stadium‡‡
May 8—St. Pete Beach, FL—Country Thunder Florida 2026
May 22—Norfolk, VA—Patriotic Festival
June 7—Lexington, KY—Railbird Festival
June 11—Decatur, AL—Rock the South
June 18—Bloomington, IL—Tailgate N’ Tallboys
June 19—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest
June 26—Bonner Springs, KS—Country Stampede
June 27—North Platte, NE—NEBRASKAland DAYS
July 18—Whitefish, MT—Under the Big Sky Festival
July 25—Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Frontier Days 2026*
August 6—Toronto, ON—Roders Stadium‡
August 14—Boston, MA—Fenway Park‡
August 15—Boston, MA—Fenway Park‡
August 27—New Brunswick, Canada—YQM Countryfest 2026
September 1—Toronto, ON—Roders Stadium‡
