Zach Bryan is back in the spotlight, but this time, it’s not for his music, but for the drama that unfolded between him and fellow Tulsa, Oklahoma-native musician John Moreland. The whole shebang started when Zach released a new version of his song “Memphis; The Blues,” swapping out Moreland for J.R. Carroll. Talk about a musical mic drop, am I right?
The original version of “Memphis; The Blues” was featured on Bryan’s 2024 album, “The Great American Bar Scene.” But who needs Moreland when you’ve got Carroll adding his flair on the keys? Carroll, who also dropped his first full-length album, “Dark Cloud,” in 2024, is clearly making waves in Bryan’s world.
In a social media post dripping with subtle shade, Bryan wrote, “‘Memphis; The Blues’ is back out with @jrvcarroll. Promise is a promise. Honored to have done this with one of my best friends in the world.” Ah, the sweet sound of friendship and collaboration, right?
But things got spicy when Moreland threw shade at Bryan for reportedly selling his publishing rights to Merritt Group and re-upping his deal with Warner, raking in a cool $350 million. Moreland took to Instagram, saying, “$350 M is a lot to pay for the f—in’ off-brand version of me.” We love a bit of industry drama, don’t we?
Bryan wasn’t having any of Moreland’s sass and swiftly removed their collaboration from streaming platforms. Moreland, not one to back down, stood his ground, stating he doesn’t regret his statement or the fallout. He even claimed that getting kicked off a Zach Bryan album was cooler than being on one. Ouch, shots fired!
After the dust settled, the new version of “Memphis; The Blues” featuring Carroll was unleashed on the world. Carroll, in a move of self-preservation, announced on Instagram Stories that he’d be ducking out to avoid any hurtful comments. Stay strong, Carroll!
And of course, we couldn’t leave you hanging without a taste of the new version. So, check out the revamped “Memphis; The Blues” below if you’re in the mood for some musical drama and sonic excellence. Enjoy the ride, music lovers!
