With a new album, new wife and new life perspectives, Zach Bryan retakes the stage in Saint Louis for his opening concert of “With Heaven on Tour.”
On March 7, 2026, singer/songwriter Zach Bryan performed his first of 39 shows of his 2026 “With Heaven on Tour”—a play on words to his newly released album, “With Heaven on Top”—at the Dome at America’s Center in Saint Louis, MO. The show attracted a sold-out crowd of 60,000 people and featured opening acts from JR Carroll and Caamp. During his 32-song set list, Bryan played some new songs off of his latest album, including highlights such as “Appetite” and “Santa Fe,” as well as some of his fan favorites like “Something in the Orange” and “Oklahoma Smokeshow.” Also included in his setlist were “Plastic Cigarette” and “Slicked Back,” two songs written about his new wife, Samantha Leonard Bryan. The couple married on New Year’s Eve of 2025 in San Sebastián, Spain and were rumored to have been dating since July of 2025.
Bryan even performed “Skin,” his diss track of his ex-girlfriend Brianna Chickenfry, whom he had a messy, public breakup with in October 2024. This drew a chaotic reaction from the crowd, who bellowed the scathing lyrics “I’m taking a blade to my own skin, and I’m never touching yours again” along with Bryan. Overall, the concert lasted 4 ½ hours, with Bryan playing for 2 ½ of them and was well received by his loyal fanbase.
Bryan began 2026 by releasing his 6th studio album “With Heaven on Top,” a heavily produced album sonically defined by the frequent use of horns and strings sections. It is notably a stark contrast to his previous albums which centered around Bryan and his guitar. This album also saw no guest features, something unseen in a Zach Bryan album since his 2022 blockbuster “American Heartbreak.” However, “With Heaven on Top” saw a continuation of Bryan’s emotionally raw lyrics that fully immerse the listener into a state of wistful nostalgia. Themes of overcoming alcoholism, leaving a toxic relationship, new love and strengthening faith work together with the cinematic atmosphere of soulful horns and dramatic violin sections to create a refreshing and sentimental Western sound.
Supporters praised Bryan’s sonic growth to a more produced, folk sound while refusing to be tied to a genre, but critics argued that the heavy production of the album undermined the raw, simplistic feel that made Bryan famous. Some also claimed that the massive 25-song track list led to a redundant sound that made the final tracks lose their value, while loyal fans appreciated the deep cuts to add to their list of “niche” Zach Bryan songs. Regardless, the album’s overall performance suggests a major success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and accumulating over 130 million streams during its opening week.
Those numbers serve as a striking reminder of how far Bryan has come. “With Heaven on Top” represents Bryan’s growth not just musically but on a personal level. He looks to maintain his newfound sobriety and leave behind the past, focusing on his new marriage and making music for his devoted fanbase. “And I’m sayin’ goodbye to who I used to be,” Bryan sang on the album track “Aeroplane.” He has become a superstar singer known by millions, yet he still maintains his red-dirt Oklahoma roots and patriotic authenticity. Now, Bryan looks to take his music to the world stage, and 13 of his 39 shows will be played overseas. Stops include Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, as well as six shows in the UK. Sioux Falls fans can catch him closer to home in places such as Lincoln, NE, on April 25 or in Denver, CO on Aug. 13 or 14. As he himself puts it, there’s no better place to experience his music than where “the masses scream the lyrics of a messed up kid.”
