This evening, Walker Hayes released a short song on Instagram discussing his feelings on his recent back-and-forth with Zach Bryan surrounding his 2021 smash hit “Fancy Like.” The chippy exchange on X between country music artists Walker Hayes and Zach Bryan unfolded in a series of posts, progressing from initial jabs to apologies and creative olive branches. Here is a chronological breakdown of the since-resolved spat:
January 9, 2024: The Initial Tweet
- Zach Bryan expressed his support for Tyler Childers on X (who recently earned his first charting song at country radio), indirectly taking a dig at Walker Hayes and his hit song “Fancy Like.”
Shortly After: Zach Bryan’s Clarification
- Bryan followed up with a tweet clarifying his statement, stating that he meant it with humor and not malice. He emphasized that the comment was directed at radio preferences rather than a personal insult towards Walker Hayes.
Walker Hayes’s Response
- Surprisingly, Walker Hayes responded with a tweet extending an olive branch, thanking country radio for playing the “Applebees song” and expressing well-wishes to Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers.
January 24, 2024: Walker Hayes’s New Song
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- Hayes released a snippet of a new song on Instagram, playfully addressing the resolved Twitter feud. The song poked at Zach with nagging lyrics like “Something in the orange tells me you’re feeling green.” The accompanying caption delved into reflections on insecurity and competition in the music industry.
Zach Bryan’s Instagram Story
- Zach Bryan clarified in a since-deleted Instagram story that his initial post was not intended as an insult towards Walker Hayes. He explained once again that he was speaking in the context of excellent songs like “Shake the Frost” getting slighted at country radio.
