Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter Zach Bryan has achieved a significant milestone in his career as his eponymous album takes the top spot on the charts. Released under Warner Records, this sophomore album showcases Bryan’s musical prowess across genres like country, rock, Americana, and folk. Notably, “Zach Bryan” ends Travis Scott‘s four-week reign with “Utopia” and marks the first rock album to dominate the charts in over a year.
Bryan’s album boasts a lineup of talented guest stars, including the Lumineers, Sierra Ferrell, the War and Treaty, and Kacey Musgraves. The collaboration with Musgraves on “I Remember Everything” propels both artists to their first No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
“I Remember Everything” garnered nearly 34 million streams and sold 10,000 downloads in the tracking week ending August 31, as reported by Luminate. This achievement represents a significant breakthrough for both Bryan and Musgraves, with neither having cracked the top 20 of the all-encompassing Hot 100 list until now. Impressively, all 16 songs from “Zach Bryan” are scattered across the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, catapulting the album to the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200. The equivalent of 200,000 sales in the United States and 233 million streams solidify Bryan’s chart-topping success.
Billboard’s categorization of “Zach Bryan” on both its country and rock charts reflects the album’s unique blend of genres. In this context, “Zach Bryan” becomes the first rock album to secure the No. 1 position since the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ “Unlimited Love” led the list at the beginning of 2022.
In light of this accomplishment, Bryan expressed his pride in having full creative control over his work, stating, “Really proud to call the writing and production on somethin’ all mine.” He conveyed his gratitude to his loyal supporters, emphasizing that he didn’t create this album to please those who would never be satisfied, but rather, for his fans.
Travis Scott’s “Utopia” now claims the No. 2 spot after a month-long reign, followed by Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” at No. 3 and Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” at No. 4. Additionally, Swift’s “Lover” and “Speak Now” hold positions at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. SZA’s “SOS” reenters the top five at No. 5 following the release of the star-studded music video for “Snooze” and its new remixes.
Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus‘ “Used to Be Young” debuts at No. 8 on the singles chart, making it the sole newcomer to the top 10 during the latest tracking week. Luke Combs secures the No. 2 position with his cover of Tracy Chapman‘s “Fast Car,” and Doja Cat‘s “Paint the Town Red” featuring Dionne Warwick climbs to No. 3. Wallen’s “Last Night” sits at No. 4, while Swift’s “Cruel Summer” occupies the No. 5 spot. Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” slides to No. 6 after two consecutive weeks at the chart’s summit.
SZA‘s “Snooze” continues to ascend, reaching No. 7 with 17 million streams, and Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” moves to No. 9 after previously peaking at No. 7. The top 10 concludes with Gunna’s “Fukumean” at No. 10.
Zach Bryan’s remarkable journey from an Oklahoma singer-songwriter to the top of the charts showcases the enduring power of talent and authenticity in the music industry.