Country singer Zach Bryan has run into plenty of controversial buzz saws lately. His messy breakup with ex-girlfriend Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia was one. Then his dust-up with fellow artist Gavin Adcock was another. Now he is embroiled in a third situation. It involves his recent song, "Bad News," which knocks I.C.E. [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] for its handling of anti-immigration actions.
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Bryan Responded Pointedly on Social Media
The singer took to Instagram to explain himself and clarify what he meant by the song. The post, captioned, "pls [expletive] read this, " states the following. "I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything.
He added, "When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back."
He Emphasized That He Cares About America
Bryan went on to say this as well. "I served this country. I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn't speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou [expletive], just a 29 year old man who is just as confused as everyone else. To see how much [expletive] it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we're all one bird and American. To be clear I'm on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know i'm trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes. Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!
Bryan added some more. He noted in part that "I feel like I've tried my hardest in so many ways and it's so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore."
The "Try That in a Small Town" Songwriters Took Exception to Bryan's Song
The quartet of songwriters who penned Jason Aldean's famed track, "Try That in a Small Town." found fault with Zach Bryan's song. Tully Kennedy, Neil Thrasher, Kurt Allison, and Kelley Lovelace aired their opinions of it on their Try That in a Small Town podcast. Bryan's plea for understanding seems to have fallen on unyielding ears.
Thrasher said this. "You cannot, when you say, 'the fading red, white and blue' as a line in a song, and you're gonna try to walk that [expletive] back? Sorry, it's too late... He's trying to be like Springsteen. 'I'm gonna be cool.' He thinks it's gonna be cool because he doesn't have anybody mentoring him and telling him what he should and shouldn't do, and he's a dumb— for doing it. He's listening to the wrong people."
Allison interjected, "At some point you think you can say anything and you won't have any backlash to it."
Thrasher came back with more. "If you truly love your country, you're not going to put something out there just for numbers and a dollar bill. You're not going to do that. If you truly are a patriot and you love your country, you're not going to do that...He's trying to take the Bruce Springsteen route. I hope he trips and falls on stage. I don't want him to get hurt, but I hope he trips and falls on stage."
