Zach Top Left Rodeo Houston a True Country Music Star
Source: Country music star Zach Top performs live at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 11, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Rodeo Houston/Just Visuals)
HOUSTON — Tuesday evening saw the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo debut of Zach Top, once thought to be a rising star in country music. Once his show had reached its end and he rode off on horseback as nearly 70,000 fans cheered him on, he left Rodeo Houston a true country music star.
Top’s electric performance at the rodeo wasn’t a surprise, as the young country singer’s talent is obvious: His performance cemented the idea, in my mind, that he’s a country music star that’s here to stay.
The pull toward Top beyond his fun-loving charm and humble personality is his throwback style, reviving that ’90s country sound and giving it his own fresh spin on it. Hit singles Sounds Like the Radio, which was an early 2024 favorite on 93Q Country, and the catchy-as-all-hell I Never Lie feel like instant country classics already. His debut country record, Cold Beer & Country Music, has several other very strong tracks like Bad Luck, Use Me and its title track, evident by the tens of thousands of fans screaming the lyrics back to Top and his band last night.
Only a few years ago, according to Top himself, the country star was only able to sell 12 tickets to a show. Now his name generates 70,865 ticket sales on a Tuesday, selling out a Texas-sized NFL stadium. Last year he packed Fort Bend County Fair, where people were literally climbing trees to get a glimpse of him. When it was announced he’d be performing at our very own 93Q Star Party 2024, Top was the main draw for many of those lucky enough to get a ticket into the show.
Inside NRG Stadium last night, Top had the crowd in a frenzy from the start as he kicked off his show with Sounds Like the Radio, before playing through most of his Cold Beer & Country Music record, along with some early singles like Justa Jonesin’. The real treat was Top pulling out a fantastic cover of George Strait‘s Amarillo by Morning (originally a single by Terry Stafford), the first song he claimed to have learned on guitar. If you play Strait songs in Texas and do it well, the fans will love you for it.
The pressure cooker that was NRG Stadium finally burst once Top and his band played I Never Lie, and the crowd returned the favor, singing every single lyric right back to them. He closed the show with Things to Do and Cold Beer & Country Music, and rode off into Rodeo Houston legend.
Back in November at the 58th Annual CMA Awards, Top spoke with Lo Sessions on his recent surge of success and his “pipe dream” coming true at the time:
“Hopefully we can keep it going for another 40 years,” Top said. “But if this is it, it’s more than I’ve ever thought it’d be.”
Mr. Top, I think one thing is for certain; this is far from it.
