Country music star Zach Top has spoken about the pressures of his rapid rise to fame, admitting he felt a 'sigh of relief' after his second album proved successful. The 28-year-old, who won a Grammy for Best Traditional Country Album, is set to headline the Country 2 Country Festival in the UK.
In an exclusive interview, Top reflected on the challenges of maintaining momentum after his debut album 'Cold Beer and Country Music' took off. 'It was wild when the album just blew up so fast. It feels daunting to try and keep it going straight up that fast,' he said. However, the success of his follow-up record 'Ain't In It For My Health' eased those concerns. 'It's kind of a sigh of relief that we put out the second record. It's not a one hit wonder, you know?'
Top described his Grammy win as a 'pinnacle' achievement he never dreamed of as a child. 'I did not see that one coming. That's about the pinnacle of the type of award. You can be very proud of that and very thankful for it,' he said. He added that the accolade lifted a lot of pressure, but he remains focused on preserving the 'magic' of his music without overthinking it.
Looking ahead to his headline slot at Country 2 Country, Top promised a mix of classics and new material, with a bluegrass section paying tribute to his roots. 'We don't have many bells and whistles on our show. It's all about the music, just pouring our hearts out and making the people go crazy,' he said. He also expressed excitement about visiting the UK, hoping to try fish and chips and find his favourite ale on a bar crawl.
