Country star Zach Bryan, known for his chart-topping hit Something in the Orange, has decided to step away from the Grammy race. According to insiders, Bryan has opted out of submitting his work for the 2025 Grammy Awards, marking a bold statement against the competitive nature of awards shows.
This decision follows his recent Grammy win earlier this year for I Remember Everything, a duet with Kacey Musgraves that snagged the Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Despite the accolades, Bryan’s absence on the current Grammy ballot makes it clear that he’s not chasing trophies.
Sources say that Bryan feels "uncomfortable" with how awards shows create competition out of music, which resonates with the sentiments of other major artists like Drake and The Weeknd. Both have famously boycotted the Grammys, with The Weeknd calling the institution “corrupt” after his smash-hit Blinding Lights was overlooked in 2021.
While Bryan has been nominated for four Grammy Awards in country categories, he’s previously stated that he doesn’t identify solely with the country genre. This might explain his move to break away from the traditional music awards circuit and focus on staying true to his artistic vision.
However, the singer recently found himself at the center of controversy for a tweet about Taylor Swift that led to backlash. In the now-deleted post, Bryan wrote: “Anyone willing to put politics above music don’t get the point of listening to music.” He later returned to Twitter with another provocative statement, seemingly aimed at Swift’s relationship with NFL player Travis Kelce. Bryan posted “Eagles > Chiefs” and “Kanye > Taylor,” referencing both football rivalries and the infamous Kanye West-Taylor Swift saga.
Bryan’s decision to distance himself from the Grammys might not be surprising, given his outspoken stance on awards and social media drama. For now, fans will have to watch his next move—whether it's another chart-topping album or simply choosing to let the music speak for itself.
