Zach Bryan has just re-released his song “Memphis; The Blues,” which now features J.R. Carroll, a close friend and bandmate of Bryan’s. The track’s original version from The Great American Bar Scene featured John Moreland, a respected Americana singer-songwriter known for his raw, introspective storytelling. After Moreland publicly called him out on social media, Bryan removed the original song from streaming platforms.
Moreland’s original claims, made in a now-expired Instagram story, centered on Bryan’s reported $350 million record deal, calling him “the f—ing off-brand version of me.” accusing Bryan of behaving strangely toward his wife, making “borderline racist jokes,” and attempting to bring a nineteen-year-old girl into a bar despite knowing she was underage. While no evidence has been provided to support these claims, the controversy led to the termination of their collaboration and the removal of their joint track from The Great American Bar Scene.
After some time off streaming platforms, the song has now been re-uploaded featuring J.R. Carroll. Carroll, known for songs like “Where the Red Fern Grows” and “Diamondhead,” brings a sound that feels like a natural fit for this track. Now, alongside artists like Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer on The Great American Bar Scene, this marks J.R.’s first collaboration with Bryan, his longtime friend and bandmate.
