Audacy 'LAUNCH' Artist Zach Top with Katie Neal

Zach Top’s name says it all as he continues to rise to the top of the Country charts with his single, “I Never Lie,” off his debut album, 'Cold Beer & Country Music.' With that, Top has also been tapped as the next Audacy LAUNCH artist, presented by Macy’s. As a LAUNCH artist, Top and his music will be featured on Audacy Country stations across the nation that are committed to shining a light on his talents. The Sunnyside, Washington native has captured fans with his distinct, traditional Country sound that’s offered a breath of fresh air in a genre currently overwhelmed by crossover artists and blurred genre lines. While other emerging artists search endlessly for new ways to stand out, Top has done it by standing firm in tradition. The 27-year-old is the first to admit he’s been surprised by the warm welcome of his conventional sound, especially with current single, “I Never Lie.” With a lyrically sarcastic approach modeled after songs like George Strait’s “She Told Me So,” Top says it was immediately one of his favorites on the album, but he never expected it to take on a life of its own. “It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written and definitely one of my favorites on the record,” he said before admitting he never saw it being a single or even a fan favorite. “It doesn’t sound like anything that’s working right now. It’s just so hardcore Country compared to even other things on my album and so, I would not have picked that one out to be the big 'hit' off the record, but I was tickled to death when it was.” Top had the opportunity to see just how much of an impact the song had on Country music fans as he took it on the road — along with the rest of his 'Cold Beer & Country Music' album — opening for Lainey Wilson on her 'Country's Cool Again Tour' in 2024. “It’s such a blast to play every night,” he said of the single. “People lose their mind at the first little *mimics guitar lick* It’s so fun!” Fans who didn’t get the chance to catch Zach live on Wilson’s trek will have the opportunity to catch him this spring as he opens four of the five shows on Alan Jackson’s Last Call: One More for the Road tour in 2025. Kicking off February 15 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, the tour will begin just weeks after social media exploded following a satire-style video that claimed Alan Jackson is Top’s father. Clearly a joke, Top still showcased his great sense of humor playing along with it and even putting his parents on the spot. “It’s funny as crap, the timing is quite suspicious,” Zach laughed when asked about the claims tracing Jackson back to a show in Top’s hometown nine months before Top was born. “I texted it to my mom and my dad in the group chat and I can’t remember what I said. Something like, ‘Can I get an explanation here?’ My mom’s like ‘That’s ridiculous!’ And I texted her back, ‘Is it so ridiculous?’” While Mama Top was quick to call fake news, Zach’s dad joked he has questions for Jackson, which he plans on getting answered while visiting Top on tour. “My dad texted… ‘If you didn’t already have it planned, I’m going to need a backstage pass for that show because I’m going to need some things explained.'” The Top family clearly has a great sense of humor about it all and Zach is hoping Alan does as well. “I hope he’s getting a kick out of it too,” he said of Jackson. “It’s fun that we’ll be on tour together, hopefully we can make a little joke out of that and have some fun with it.” All jokes aside, Zach is honored to share the stage with one of his musical heroes and takes great pride that he could be inspiring the next generation of traditional Country stars. “It’s pretty weird and crazy and cool to think that I’m that for some other little kid out there,” he said, recalling stars like George Strait, Keith Whitley and Alan Jackson who were role models for him. “Hopefully I can set a good example like a George Strait type ...