Written by Kelly Speed
We all know Zac Brown loves chicken fries, but the frontman of his eponymous country band is also an avid spearfisherman, adventurous freediver, and Demarbox. You may not know that he is also the co-owner and proud father of five children.
The lead vocalist of the Zac Brown Band also owns a Napa-based wine brand called Z. Alexander Brown and is the passionate owner of the knife company Southern Grind. “My father traveled all over the world for work, and when I was a child he brought back knives from all over the world, including Mongolia, China, and Taiwan. Even now, when I pick up a knife, I still get this intuitive feeling. I will remember.”
Over the course of their impressive career, the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum Zac Brown Band has sold over 30.5 million singles and 9.3 million albums, with 16 #1 radio singles. I did. The versatile group also scored their first number one hit on the rock charts, collaborating with rock legend Chris Cornell.
With so many accolades, it’s no wonder the band has been inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame alongside music legends Billy Joel and Paul McCartney. “Boston is a really great city,” Brown said. “Fenway Park is my favorite place to play in New England, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to create such lasting memories at a venue with so much heritage.”
After the Georgia native declared the band’s seventh studio album, The Comeback, their best album to date, Brown has now announced his proudest achievement, the new EP No. He talks excitedly about the release of “Wake Zone” and the female artists he wants to see. Collaborate with
What can fans expect to find on your new EP “No Wake Zone”?
Fans can expect this new “No Wake Zone” EP to be a mix of summer songs, songs you’ll want to listen to on your boat. It started when the late Jimmy Buffett passed away and I wanted to write a song for him. You know, what would I say to a man who created such an incredible musical legacy? Everything else followed suit. This is something you can put on and listen to when you’re on a boat or in the middle of winter and want a little tropical vibe.
It’s been 16 years since your hit song “Chicken Fried” exploded onto the country music scene. When you and Wyatt Durrett were writing this piece, did you ever think that it would not just be an overnight success, but that it would have the staying power that it has today?
Ten years before this song was on the radio, I was playing it in a bar. Each time, people started cheering and making noise. We saved it until last as we wrapped up the night. That was great at the time. Because it allowed a lot of people to try it out, and it was like a barometer of what worked and what didn’t work. I knew the impact it had on people, and I’m so excited that it still has that staying power today.
What are your favorite songs to play live? What is it about them that makes them your favorites?
When we play “Chicken Fried” and “Colder Weather” live, we really have that connection. One of my favorite things is seeing people singing along. The newest thing we’ve created is like our baby, so we want to get it out to people and have them listen to it. Then there’s the cover. We love to throw curveballs. We love finding songs that no one expects us to play and seeing how the audience reacts to them. Every year we try to find a song that everyone knows but has forgotten about and that makes you go, “Oh my god, I can’t believe we’re playing this song.”
Can you tell us about the most difficult song to write?
“Heavy is the Head” was definitely one of the most difficult songs musically to write and understand. There were a lot of different time signatures in there. Working with a band that included Donald Dunlavy, Darrell Scott, and some of my favorite guitarists, I knew I had something special, and that message resonated with Chris Cornell. I thought so.
We sent it to him and he was happy to sing it. It was a great honor to work with Chris on this song. Then I edit it and figure it out…I let them play the riffs for 30 minutes and then I analyze them all and piece it together to make the magic of what it is and play it like that. I made it possible. That was definitely a bear.
Camp Southern Ground’s summer camp for kids is one of the first residential programs in the country to be certified by the National Inclusion Project. How did that feel? Could you please explain the content of the program?
It has been a lifelong dream of mine to build Camp Southern Grounds. I somehow knew that I was placed here and given the musical ability to be a conduit to help and unite people. Helping build this place, watching it grow, and seeing people’s lives impacted has been one of the greatest things in my life.
There are nine week-long programs that kids can come and sleep in. White Star and Gold Star families, children who lost their parents or whose parents were injured in combat. Children on the spectrum. Children from underserved communities. All different backgrounds and ethnicities. They are all grouped together and help each other with all the fun challenges to do that week.
What do you hope children will learn from the experience?
We want our children to claim their place wherever they are. They have amazing courage to do stupid things. To be able to dance and sing and do things that you wouldn’t normally do that you would probably get teased for in public school. They are in an environment where they are supported and encouraged to be themselves. They get to interact with different kinds of people that they wouldn’t normally get to know. Some children from underprivileged areas are immersed in love and are able to see a different side of the world than the corner they grew up in, which gives them hope.
You want them to get rid of the belief that they can be better. That there are other opportunities. And to be able to understand people who are different from ourselves and have direct experience with them. We want them to believe that they can take it into the world and make their lives better and become something they never imagined possible.
During the off-season, the camp offers a variety of programs aimed at healing veterans as they transition back to civilian life. Would you say Camp Southern Ground is one of your proudest achievements to date?
Camp Southern Ground is truly my favorite. That is my proudest accomplishment. We have a 34 week veteran program and 28 weeks of veteran service and repatriation assistance. We also just started a six-week veteran family camp. There, veterans learn to see their families as a new unit after leaving the military. They can no longer be part of the unit – something they have spent their entire lives doing. We do Bernie Marcus’ Warrior Pass program there. We also have a Warrior Song program that teaches people how to tell their stories through song. They don’t really want to talk about that kind of thing with civilians, so we help them tell their story.
From growing organic food to removing period techniques to allow people to be present and interact with each other, everything is curated around health and inclusivity. It’s a really, really great place. This is a world-class campus and more than just a camp. Rather, it’s like a great university that helps people. It is an honor to serve our veterans.
You have a tradition of meeting veterans before every show and have been big supporters of our military since the band’s inception. Why is it so important to you to honor those who have served?
Honoring our veterans is important to me. They’re making a lot of sacrifices, including their own lives and the lives of their families, so that we can live safely here in America. This is the best country in the world to live in and it’s great to live here and make your dreams come true. It is important to us to honor those who serve and help keep us safe. We salute them and they deserve more credit than they’re getting.
Does your tattoo have a hidden story behind it?
Each tattoo I get has a story. It comes from different things that I’m passionate about, whether it’s my family or places I’ve been. People I was close to who passed away. I have a lot of Alaskan tattoos, a lot of Haida art from the Northwest, and part of my arm is dedicated to Day of the Dead, which I really love. I also have a family tattoo in that style on one arm. I’ve had tattoos on my arms from knife makers who have been a huge part of my life, from Rodney Shelton to Tony Bose. I am very attracted to art and collect art. Your tattoo is art that you can take with you wherever you go.
You have four daughters and a son between the ages of 10 and 17. What is the best part about being a father?
The best thing about being a father is reliving your own childhood over and over again and having little people you are responsible for. No matter how much time and love you give to your children, it’s up to you what they become. That’s my priority in life, above and beyond music, is raising my kids and making sure they feel safe. And I get to coach kids about what’s important and what’s not in the world. It was the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I’m so proud of the people they turned out to be. It’s the best thing in my life.
You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, from Steven Tyler to Alan Jackson. Are there any other artists you would like to work with?
I would like to make a song with Adele. It’s on my bucket list. She is my favorite female voice of all time. Paul McCartney is also on my bucket list. I have a lot of favorite artists that I’ve met and worked with, but never created with. The list is long.
What can fans expect in 2025?
For our band, I’m always pushing the boundaries of what we can do, how we present it, where we’re going, and what we’re doing. We have some great things in store for 2025, including going to the Sphere in Las Vegas to perform our masterpieces. We’ve put a lot of work into this show and can’t wait to release it. Our goal is to give you a different experience every time you return to our city. I want people to come out and say, “I’ve never seen this before.”
We’re dedicated to giving our fans something fresh, showcasing our musicality and the great people in the band, and showcasing the new music we’re creating. It’s an honor to be involved in music. Thank you to all our fans and those who have given us a life of music. We are very honored to be involved in our work. We take that very seriously and strive to give you the best show possible. Our band is a band that you can’t understand unless you see it live, so if you’ve never seen us live, please come and see us.
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