Zac Brown's saga of going poppy and his reaction to people's response of it reminded me of Linkin Park doing the same thing with thier last album. We weren't mad that you went pop, we were mad that it sucked.

Zac Brown has made many questionable career decisions, but the weirdest will always be when the Zac Brown Band didn't play "Chicken Fried" at the 2010 CMA Festival in Nashville. All the fans had to sing it loud together as we left the stadium and walked back over the bridge. I guess it made a sweet memory.

Thanks for revisiting this! I am around the same age as these guys. They got really popular when they were in their 20s/early 30s, and now they're all middle aged. It's interesting to see their musical journey. I never would have thought Zac Brown would go from thoughtful, beautiful poetry to weird nonsense. I never would have thought golden-voiced Josh Turner would be lack hit songs. I never would have thought witty Brad Paisley would be mostly irrelevant by his mid-40s. I liked Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean, but I don't like anything else he's done and am always surprised that he is popular. I always thought Luke Bryan songs lacked substance but he seems like a great guy. The one I liked both then and now is Dierks Bentley. From "What was I Thinking" to his current album "Gravel and Gold." It's like I grew up and moved forward in life, and a country singer went along with me.

This video taught me the entire world may move on and forget, but Grady never does!

It's a shame because ZBB is one of the gateway bands that got me into country music. But now not only is their modern output bad, but it's retroactively made it hard to enjoy their first couple albums too. It makes you notice how manufactured they were to be "authentic" country, even though this is the direction they actually wanted to go.

This is (embarrassingly) irrelevant to the content of the video, but I love how well the colors go together, with the walls and your t-shirt and... well.. you in that lighting! It creates such a visual harmony. Beautiful!

It's interesting to see ZB make the choices he made. He started off so strongly in a genre that wanted more but kept trying to veer away from it thinking he'd have success by default. I don't dislike his music but it's hard to listen to his body of work as a whole because it's so disjointed and has such drastic swings in quality and style.

Though Zac Brown has been on a more country path since 2020 with the release of the single “The man who loves you the most” which is still one of my favorites by him. He’s has released a comeback album as well.

There's so many reasons to listen to music. Yes it can tell an important story or relate a message, we definitely need that. However, it can also just flat out make you feel good, regardless of the creative 'merit' of the music. Luke Bryan does that every time for me. He doesn't pretend to be anything but someone making music for his fans to enjoy.

I think most people also tended to side with Zac as he has an absolutely amazing voice and Luke just... doesn't have anything special. Like, I've never heard a Luke Bryan song and thought, "Wow, his range is amazing, what a great voice!" I love that Zac tried stuff from other other genres, sure a few songs really didn't work (which is normal for most artists) but I have the majority of his stuff in my favorites playlist.

Love the new camera angle and lighting. Plus some of the subtle editing changes like the sliding images! Looks great! Solid production quality on this video 🔥

I love these little vids. No frills, just a fun little look back and exploration into a topic. Keep it all coming! Love them all.

While I don’t completely disagree with your assessment of Like Bryan’s evolution, it’s hard for me to look past the fact that his past few singles (particularly “Country On”) are some of the worst songs I’ve heard in my life.

Just saw ZBB in concert a month ago and they played 0 songs from the Owl, and maybe 1 from Welcome Home. They have effectively scrubbed it from their career. And I agree with the move.

As someone who's been a huge fan of Country EDM for the longest time. I love cross-genre music, and agree with Zac on the whole "one genre" thing (iTunes should show all the genres artists pick not just the first one). We need more music that combines multiple genres. When Red first cam out, I fell in love with how the album was equally country and pop. It wasn't "pop country"(which is often just pop music being labeled as country), it was pop AND country. Country EDM is so interesting because it's 2 genres that you wouldn't expect together. When Avicii first performed Wake Me Up live, the crowd was confused. The hype completely died. No one understood why there was a bluegrass band on stage. Early reviews of the song were calling it awful. And they were all wrong. Avicii was a pioneer of dance music, and showed everyone that mixing EDM with other genres is okay. Zac Brown did a song with Avicii in 2015, which I'm sure was a big inspiration for most of his music later on. At this point, country EDM was becoming more common, with remixes being made and country singers being featured on dance tracks. And then, Sir Rosevelt happened. One thing I like about Sir Rosevelt is they were country (I guess they said folk) and EDM. Both. They were willing to take the risk and do something that had never been done before. This project was never meant to be for the fans of ZBB's heartfelt stories. It was meant for people who liked this somewhat niche subgenre of music. People like me. Honestly, I did like it. Sunday Finest is meh (didn't really like all the buts in the album art) but Something Bout You is good and probably one of the better country EDM songs out there. As far as the other ZBB stuff goes, I wasn't really a fan, but that's not to say I'm not a fan of change. Like you said, there's a way to do it right. And they didn't. But Sir Rosevelt was done right. It was a clearly stated change under a new name. It was an experiment that kinda worked, (sound-wise not success) and should be treated as such. Definitely think the whole topic/video was interesting. I'd love another controversy recap/update video like this!

Very interesting analysis. As a history teacher your videos always seem to inspire me when looking at time periods in history and how to view the different trends and causes and effects of the different eras/ content that I teach.

I love these retrospective videos from you. I always enjoy revisiting the old takes or guess or just things in the past to see how it actually ended and what came of it.

jrfm is my local country station and i love the fact that this all took place right there 😭

I wish I could have really soaked in this feud while it was happening but instead I was 8 years old

Zac’s position isn’t as strong considering well the last ten years of output. But I still hate that Luke song.

Along the lines of this video, perhaps revisit that 2013 sucks video and look at what the various artists mentioned did since. Did they evolve or explore, or did they just keep releasing segments of the same 10 hour song in 3 minute pieces like Aldean has (Though I have loved a few of those segments muchly, Drowns the Whiskey and All Out of Beer being a couple favorites)

I got into the genre in mid 2013 but somehow I missed this feud. I vividly remember the CMA awards from that year and now I finally have context for the "Why can't we be friends" moment. Lol😅

jason isbell seems to be a recurring problem as far as public drama goes...

I absolutely love Aldean standing behind Luke Bryan since Luke just stood behind Aldean over Small town!! That’s true friendship right there

So hear me out… I’m 23. At 12 and 13 I was getting into country music. So 2012 and 2013 were kinda when bro country started and now it’s gradually come to what it is now… honestly I’ve enjoyed seeing the change and love sections of each era that country’s been going through… definitely happy it’s gotten to this point but I was definitely an FGL and Dustin lynch fan😂 and still am a Brantley Gilbert fan but yeah… I realize how dumb the bro country music was… but it was all just party anthems… no it’s a lot more story teller songs with substance I think

Give yourself credit man, I think that 2013 country music video of yours was a huge piece of the puzzle that has gotten country to where it is now. Keep doing your thing Grady we love ya ❤️

I just want to say I recently discovered "Something 'Bout You" when I was listening to music one morning on KZfaq earlier this year, and it is a very catchy blend of pop, a little bit of R&B and electronica. It's like if Aloe Blacc and Timbaland teamed up to do a song together; I'm surprised it wasn't a hit on Top 40 radio, when it came out!

I feel like most country songs are usually about a hand full of themes. Really most genres are the same but with different themes. There are songs about relaxing at the beach or lake, songs about farming, songs about small town life, songs about drinking, and love songs. There are some songs that don't fit that, but I think most do. I feel like Zac Brown did the beach/ relaxing care free vibe so well. When I think of Zac Brown band I think of pouring a drink and sitting by the water. I think it's fine for artists to evolve and experiment but music is a partnership between the artist and the listener. That partnership only really works if the artist feels fulfilled and the listener enjoys what they hear. There are lots of successful albums that the artist wasn't really feeling and that isn't a good partnership bc both sides aren't happy and lots where an artist does something they love and the fans don't share the love. We have to allow both artists and listeners the space to try new things and see where we meet.

Let me get the grunting out of my system: uhhhh uhhh

Jason Isbell vs everybody 😂😂😂😂 And it was the worst song ever made.

So I know Tailgates and Tanlines is about a bro country as you can get but I honestly think it was Luke’s best album. I cannot get into any of his new “country” albums. They just come off as boring and autopilot as you said. At least Tailgate and Tanlines was a big swing. To lean into bro country before FGL hit the scene was a huge change. Nobody was really doing that before. Bro country wasn’t bad. What was bad was everyone just trying to be FGL instead of trying to be their own artist

ZBB is still a great live band

I did not know about like… any of this😭😭 I don’t pay much attention to country radio anymore

They should all be embarrassed by what Tyler Childers is doing. Zac Brown had it exactly right. And then went completely of the rails and lost any credibility he had.

I literally think about this feud once a week and I'm not even kidding.

Still waiting on a video on Dixon Dallas

Luke may be on cruise control but hard not to love him, wife dragged me to his show once and I volunteered to go back again.

"Cowboys and Plowboys" is a title no zoomer can take seriously lmao

Highway 20 ride was the first song that made me cry. Idk what I'm thinking. I remember the controversy and found it very odd and interesting and I didn't know how I feel about it. What ever makes you happy I guess. I have a soft spot for Luke Bryan and have nostalgia with his "pop country" from around 10 years ago. I could see Luke combs and Walker Hayes have in the same argument.

As a freshman in college, I loved the party anthem phase country was in. It made my friends enjoy country nights at the bar.

I would love to hear your thoughts about where Brandi Carlile fits into the current evolution you're describing. It it seems to me that her forays in to country, her advocacy and producing of other artists, her community building and her collaborations with people like Jason Isbell and the other Highwomen artists, and so forth, definitely brings her into the conversation, even if she isn't directly a country artist.

The Foundation was an amazing album. He's allowed to try other things but don't be so entitled to say that your fans have to like it too. 🤷‍♀️

I always love your videos. I bring up this controversy and it’s irony all the time. I was a Zac Brown Stan 10 years ago, but that whole thing with bitching about Luke and then spiraling off into what was WEIRD, he lost me. He was no longer the family man I loved. Luke doesn’t make my favorite country music anymore but he really hasn’t changed his style, and I appreciate that! (I have just since evolved)

I knew a couple people that waited tables and/or bartended at Brown’s restaurant. This was probably 8-12 years ago now. That restaurant may not even exist anymore. Nobody had good things to say about Brown on a personal level. I am maybe semi-professional at best now, but then I was a full-on “hired gun” and session musician. I can’t recall if I ever directly met him, but he wasn’t popular amongst other players, recording engineers, etc. Also, where is this openness to the possibilities and variation within country now with Beyoncé’s country release? Everyone says it’s “not country” instead of saying it’s just bad country or a different flavor of country. It’s a bad look, my friends.. 😬😮😢

Imagine the “Chicken Fried” guy thinking any song is bad.

I know this was over two months ago but are we ever getting a Grady Smith/Dustin Lynch feud video??

We can finally see the Miranda Veranda!

Reductive was a great word to use where you did. I like that

I saw luke bryan this year and noticed he added steel gutair and banjos to the band he may have always had it or it’s new which i like for his new more country era

Waylon is up in heaven laughing at all these boys ! None of em could carry his guitar case .

It's hilarious that Zac Brown turned out to be a huge hypocrite.

Interesting fact, Zac Brown is my favorite country artist, but crash my party by Luke Bryan is my favorite country album of all time. Just my opinion though.

I think the big difference is that Zac Brown has always been very open about releasing music that wasn't country. He said for months before The Owl that it wasn't a country album. That said, other than about two songs on the album that did have substance, it sucked.

He has his share of bad music but he also has some good deep cuts... I actually like Luke Bryan though. He seems like a good person.

I didnt know about those other feuds he referenced as well! Are there video reviews on those other ones?

Jason Isbell be throwing shots.

If you are going to pick 2013 as year when Indy country began to flourish, the most important developments that year were the Dave Cobb-produced albums “Southeastern” (Isbell) and “High Top Mountain” (Sturgill). Those albums signaled the start of something different.

Idk what it is with zac brown but everything after the foundation just feels a lot more hollow. Even stuff in welcome home/the comeback just doesn't quite hit those same highs. He is still one of my favorite artists ever just because of those 3 prior albums but damn did I not care for his direction after.

ZACH Brown and Luke BRYAN had to fall so ZACH BRYAN could fly

Definitely a guilty pleasure song

I never had a problem with him doing pop music. My problem is the pop music he does is terrible.

this stream on consciousness are the best

Truck Yeah is the goat of country songs and everybody knows it.

Ngl, Beautiful Drug is a jam

Please cover Colter Wall's album "Little Songs"

Grady I don't want to be annoying in asking this... but I'd love to hear your thoughts on Larry Fleets new album. I can't decide if it's mid/great/meh or what lol. Keep up the great work!

Ohhh don’t talk about Joy and John Paul. After all this time I’m still tore up about them. 😭😭😭😭

Review Riley Green’s new album!! It’s amazing!!!!

An alternative way to frame this is that Zac Brown is about doing his own thing and Luke Bryan is about chasing what's popular. If framed that way, they've both stayed in their lanes -- it's just that their lanes have veered around. Zac Brown has had some success but also a lot of content that people don't know what to make of; Luke Bryan was bro country when bro country was hot, and now he's trending a bit more traditional as traditional is having a bit of a resurgence. Ironically, if that's the case, I would respect Zac Brown more as an artist but probably like more of Luke Bryan's songs. Broad appeal and artistry often do not go together.

The song Zac singing YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL TONIGHT is the best….Luke Bryan could never ever measure up to Zac Brown and the guys…….just saying

Swayze is the song i ironically showed ppl that slowly became a guilty pleasure song and i hate myself for it

Love that song

Zac Brown also had within this past year a collaboration with Pitbull after "The Comeback" was released. so it's anyone's guess where both him and the Zac Brown Band go from here.

I love Isbell but bro really has beef with everyone

ik zac brown and didn’t know that he said that ABT MY MANZ LIKE WHATTTT😭🙏

I was completely oblivious to Zac's downfall until now, and it was really bizarre! LOL! I kind of wondered where he went...

I grew up on 90s country and was so, sooo turned off by the pop-country of the 2000s, but really got into Zac Brown. I had no idea his music turned into that crap.

Grady you missed out on getting your two cents in on the Morgan wallen debacle

You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villian.

Good stuff I didn't know about 👍🏼👍🏼

Love the videos 🔥🔥🔥

We took the zac from zac brown band, and the Bryan from Luke Bryan and then…

Broken Arrow - Avicii and ZB is one of the best crossovers ever

You think there's any chance KM kinda returns now that her OG sound would like shoot to #1 these days?

Video idea: why country music was great in 2023

I don’t listen to many other artists besides the ZBB. Them at their best is without question better than any of the most popular artists we have today. They have so many songs that are so soulful and meaningful and just make you feel at peace in a weird way. Colder Weather, Highway 20 Ride, Quiet Your Mind, Lance’s Song, Bittersweet, there are so many. With that said, it’s been unfortunate to see how they’ve changed over the years. It’s almost like everything about them has been turned down a notch or two. Their live shows are still innovative and great and the addition of Caroline Jones was a good one, but Zac’s voice isn’t the same, just listen to him sing Colder Weather now compared to 2013, and one of the other band members has ALS and is clearly slowing down. They could have been one of the most iconic bands of all time in my opinion, but their career has sort of just tapered off. Now they’re releasing an album of live covers, which is cool since covers are such a big part of their live shows, but it will be fascinating to see what kind of originals they put out in the future.

You forgot to mention the feud between Blake Shelton and Ray Price.

Commenting to put a band o. Your Radar: The East Pointers! they're from PEI Canada. They're worth the search!

00:24 Jason Isbell pimping for literal DOJ criminals.

I clicked the video cause I saw Luke bryan in the title. That's my kind of night introduced me to Luke's music so i liked the song. I also remember this and kind of forgot about it too.

Man I love Jason Isbells music but you reminded me how much of a despicable human being I find him to be.

I love Luke Bryan but I agree “that’s my kinda night” is one of the worst country songs ever but Zac Brown Band isn’t what it used to be

That's a pretty bold statement from someone who wrote Swayze, which literally is the worst song I've ever heard.

Common Grady banger

Jason Isbell sure talks a lot of sh*t for a guy who’s only notable relevance exists because somebody he hates blew up one of his songs

I agree that Luke Bryan music is getting more countrier besides a few songs

Jekyll and Hyde walked so the mockingbird and the crow could fly.

I don’t care what people say. I enjoy Luke Bryan’s music mostly

All I’m going to say is country music is no more. 😢 What “performers” who claim to be in the country genre (w/a few exceptions) are NOT country. This new music sucks. Imo. But- I’m an old lady who grew up with real country music. And, I use the word “performers” loosely.

I'm here for the kiss.