NASHVILLE — Rising traditional-country powerhouse Zach Top claimed one of the night’s biggest honors at the 2025 CMA Awards, taking home New Artist of the Year and delivering a speech that blended humility, heart — and a perfectly timed joke fans are already replaying online.
Top, whose breakout year has revived mainstream interest in classic ‘90s-style country, walked onto the Bridgestone Arena stage visibly stunned. The audience erupted as he accepted his first CMA trophy, pausing for a moment to take in the crowd before offering a genuine, grounded message of gratitude.
A Thank-You Rooted in Faith, Family & Fans
In his remarks, Top thanked the three things he’s repeatedly said shaped his career: his family, his faith, and the fans who believed in him long before Nashville did.
“I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for the people who raised me, the people who guided me, and the people who kept buying the tickets even when they didn’t know my name yet,” he said, his voice steady but emotional.
Top also acknowledged the traditional-country lovers who propelled him to national attention: “Every time someone tells me these songs feel like the old days in the best way — that means the world.”
A Classic Zach Top Moment Goes Viral
But it was the moment that followed that instantly became a social-media favorite.
Standing onstage with a beer in hand — something he said he forgot he was holding — Top playfully asked the audience, “Am I supposed to put this down?” The crowd roared with laughter, and cameras caught even the artists in the front row cracking up.
It was unscripted, authentic, and exactly the kind of everyday charm that has made Top one of the most likable new faces in country music.
A Breakout Year Cemented
The win caps a massive year for the Washington-born singer, who surged onto the charts in 2025 thanks to his throwback sound, relatable songwriting, and growing reputation as one of the genre’s most compelling new live performers.
His hit single “Guitar” and album Ain’t in It for My Health positioned him as a torchbearer for fans craving a return to traditional country. He also secured his first ACM Award earlier in the year, earning New Male Artist of the Year.
A Career Rising Fast — Without Losing His Roots
Even with national visibility and award-show spotlight, Top has repeatedly emphasized staying grounded. In interviews, he’s spoken openly about missing the slower pace of his farm upbringing and wanting to bring that same authenticity into his music.
His acceptance speech — earnest, funny, grateful, and unpolished in the best way — showed that stardom hasn’t changed him.
As one fan posted moments after the clip went viral:
“Zach Top just proved you can succeed in Nashville without losing who you are.”
With a CMA trophy now in hand and a skyrocketing fanbase, Zach Top’s rise looks far from over.
