Zach Top Makes Rare Comments About His Divorce: “I’m Trying Not To Bawl My Eyes Out”
on Sep 09, 2025
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Zach Top Opens Up About His Divorce
Zach Top is opening up about a difficult time in his life that became the inspiration behind his new song “South of Sanity.”
At the end of last month, Zach Top released his second full-length studio album, Ain’t In It For My Health.
And while he has been very open about drawing inspiration from country legends like George Jones, Alan Jackson, and Marty Robbins, he has also pulled from his own experiences to create these new tracks.
One in particular, “South of Sanity,” came from a very personal moment in his life.
Recently, Zach sat down with Kelleigh Bannen on Today’s Country and shared the story behind the song.
“South of Sanity” follows someone who loses their love while living life on the road, and the 27-year-old singer revealed that it was based on his own breakup.
RELATED: ZACH TOP HILARIOUSLY MESSES UP ONSTAGE GENDER REVEAL
When Zach first moved to Nashville, he was married. In the early days of his career, he remembers one moment especially clearly.
He was about to take the stage with the Red Clay Strays when he got a phone call that brought bad news.
“Played a couple shows with the Red Clay Strays, we had already done our show and they were going on after us, and I was supposed to go up and do a song with them,” he explained. “And I got a call with some bad news, and I was like, sitting over on the side of the stage or standing in the wings, like one song left and then I was going out.”
Just minutes before performing, he had to decide whether to break down or hold it together. In the end, he chose to push through and let the show go on.
“And I’m like, trying not to bawl my eyes out, and it’s like, put your phone back in your pocket, take a drag on your cigarette, and let’s go sing.”
He ended up turning the heartbreak into a song. While Zach didn’t go into much detail about his divorce, he did admit to his role in the marriage not working out.
“I had a marriage that didn’t work out when I first moved here, I was married. And yeah, messed that up, and so that’s that’s part of that song too.”
You can watch him talk about the inspiration behind “South of Sanity” below.
@thekelleighbannen Sometimes you get hit with bad news right as you’re about to walk out on stage. In 2013 I found out my dad had moved out right before playing a show. Exactly to Zach’s point, you shake it off and you put on the best show you can. Loved this convo and absolutely love this album. @Zach Top you are the real deal man. #southofsanity #countrymusic ♬ South Of Sanity – Zach Top
