Country music star Zach Bryan is speaking out after a snippet of his unreleased song, Bad News, stirred significant controversy online. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter clarified that he is not aligned with radical political sides, despite criticism from some conservative audiences.
Zach Bryan Addresses Controversy Over Unreleased Track
Bryan shared his response on Instagram on Tuesday evening, saying, “To see how much shit [the song] 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.”
He emphasized that the song, written months ago, reflects his deep love for the country and touches on issues affecting all Americans. “This song is about how much I love this country and everything in it more than anything,” he wrote. “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.”
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Bryan added a personal note for fans upset by the lyrics, stating, “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.”
Bryan Criticizes ICE in Lyrics and Stirs Political Reactions
The controversy centers around a minute-long Instagram snippet posted on October 3. In the track Bad News, Bryan appears to critique the immigration enforcement activities carried out during the Trump administration. The lyrics include:
“And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone.”
Bryan also sings:
“I’ve got some bad news / The fading of the red, white and blue.”
In another line, he refers to law enforcement as “cocky motherf***ers,” which further fueled the backlash among conservative audiences.
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The White House responded on Tuesday, with Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stating, “While Zach Bryan wants to Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens and has Condemned heroic ICE officers, Something in the Orange tells me a majority of Americans disagree with him and support President Trump’s great American Revival. Godspeed, Zach!”
The Department of Homeland Security also issued responses. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin tweeted on X, “Stick to Pink Skies, dude,” referencing Bryan’s 2024 track Pink Skies. DHS’ official X account posted a montage of ICE operations set to Bryan’s song Revival, highlighting enforcement actions.
Conservative social media users expressed anger at the singer, criticizing him for allegedly failing to recognize the risks ICE agents face while performing their duties. One user wrote, “Violent leftists throw bricks at them, attack them, spit at them, even shoot at them. And this is the song he released. Career over.”
Support and Comparisons to Past Country Music Controversies
Despite the backlash, Bryan has received praise from fans who admire his willingness to address politically sensitive topics. Many noted that his approach reflects courage and integrity, rather than simply following the traditional country music script.
One social media user wrote, “Zach Bryan just reminded everyone that real courage in music isn’t lip-syncing to corporate scripts. It’s calling out abuse of power while everyone else twiddles their thumbs.” Another added, “Wait Zach Bryan, I’m sorry I wasn’t familiar with your game,” acknowledging his bold stance.
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Some have compared the situation to the controversy faced by the country music trio formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, now called The Chicks. In 2003, the group publicly criticized then-President George W. Bush during a London performance, expressing shame that he was from Texas and opposing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Their comments led to boycotts, death threats, and blacklisting from country radio. Despite the backlash, The Chicks later achieved major success, winning five Grammys in 2007.
Fans and social media users are drawing parallels between Bryan’s current backlash and The Chicks’ past experiences, suggesting that speaking out against political issues remains a sensitive topic in country music. Others hope Bryan’s intention to highlight social issues will be understood in full once the complete track is released.