Zach Bryan just pulled off the kind of history-making flex most artists only dream of.
On Saturday night, Sept. 27, the country singer became the first performer ever to headline Michigan Stadium, packing in a jaw-dropping 112,408 fans and smashing the record for the largest-ticketed concert audience in U.S. history.
As he stepped onstage, while he stared adoringly at his sea of fans who made his latest milestone possible, Zach Bryan said:
"This might be the craziest thing I've ever done."
Dubbed "The Big House" by fans, Michigan Stadium holds the title of the largest venue in the United States and ranks as the third-largest stadium worldwide.
Zach Bryan, at one point during his show, expressed his appreciation for the magnitude of the record-breaking moment in his humblest way. He told his fans:
"Thank you so much for the best night of my life."
He added:
"I'll remember this forever."
The "Purple Gas" singer also brought in the acclaimed singer-songwriter John Mayer onstage, and together, they serenaded the massive crowd with a cover of "Friend of the Devil."
Mayer didn't exit the stage without praising Bryan, saying:
"Zach is the guy right now, carrying the torch."
Meanwhile, the record was previously held by country superstar George Strait, who, in 2024, greeted 110,905 spectators at Kyle Field in Texas.
"I'm not meant for it": Zach Bryan once thought stardom was too big for him
The gigantic milestone comes a few years after Zach Bryan claimed he was not meant for stratospheric stardom. In an exclusive interview with The New York Times in 2022, he shared:
“I’m too writing-driven to be a big star. I’m not meant for it.”
Zach Bryan also spoke about his songwriting process and how his mother's death impacted it.
“I think my mom dying really solidified the darkness in life to me. It opened that thing in you that’s like, ‘Hey, be a man now.’”
The "Pink Skies" hitmaker continued:
“People say I repress. And I’m like, no, the person that I want to tell all this stuff to is dead. And you don’t deserve me weighing in on my feelings to you.”
In 2015, he began sharing his music online, and by 2019, he had already amassed a considerable following on country music websites. He also recorded his songs while still serving in the Navy, and with the help of his pals there, he was able to create "DeAnn," a reference to his mother's middle name.
In 2020, he released "Elisabeth," and in 2021, he appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
"I was like, don’t put your guitar down, keep going, something’s going to happen. Not because I felt driven. Not because I wanted to be famous."
The singer-songwriter went on:
"Not because I wanted to be rich. I literally just would sit there and think about my mom and be like, Something is telling me not to stop doing this.”
What is your favorite Zach Bryan song? Sound off in the comments section below.