Country music star Zach Bryan is set to release his highly anticipated sixth studio album, 'With Heaven on Top,' this Friday. The 25-track project is widely believed to draw lyrical inspiration from the singer's tumultuous 15-month romance with Barstool Sports personality Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia.
Lyrical Jabs at a Past Relationship
The 29-year-old Grammy winner and US Navy veteran seems to direct pointed lyrics at his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend on at least three songs. One track, titled 'Skin,' includes particularly evocative lines. Bryan sings, 'I'm taking a blade to my old tattoos / I'm draining the blood to me / I'm taking a blade to my own skin / And I ain't never touching yours again.'
This lyrical choice is especially poignant given the couple's tattoo history. Reports indicate Bryan got ink dedicated to LaPaglia just 'three days' after they met, and the pair later got matching tattoos of his lyric 'How lucky are we?'
References to Social Media and a Fateful Meeting
In another song, 'Slicked Back,' the Oklahoma native appears to critique an obsession with online presence, singing: 'Used to know some folks who put it all online but you paint landscapes in the evening time.' The 'painter' referenced is thought to be his new wife, Samantha Leighton Leonard.
The album also seems to revisit the night the former couple met. In 'Plastic Cigarette,' Bryan recalls, 'My brother had told me to leave but I didn't believe the evil beneath some people you meet out in Queens,' a likely nod to their post-concert encounter in Queens, New York.
New Marriage and LaPaglia's Podcast Revelations
Bryan's new musical chapter follows his recent marriage to certified yoga instructor Samantha Leighton Leonard. The pair wed on New Year's Eve in San Sebastián, Spain, just five months after going public with their relationship.
The album's release comes shortly after LaPaglia made personal revelations on her 'Plan Bri Uncut' podcast. Just five days prior, she spoke about experiencing 'a lot of sexual trauma' from her last relationship and expressed a desire to move past it, stating, 'I want to get f***ing cracked this year!' The Boston native has remained celibate since the 2024 breakup, which she described as leaving her 'blindsided.'
Bryan will embark on a 39-date 'With Heaven On Tour' starting March 7 in Missouri, giving him time to honeymoon with his new wife before hitting the road.
