With Heaven on Top

Last updated

With Heaven on Top
Zach Bryan - With Heaven on Top.jpg
Studio album by
Zach Bryan
ReleasedJanuary 9, 2026 (2026-01-09)
Length78:16
Label
Producer Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan chronology
24 (Live)
(2024)		With Heaven on Top
(2026)
Singles from With Heaven on Top
  1. "Plastic Cigarette"
    Released: January 16, 2026

With Heaven on Top is the sixth studio album by the American singer Zach Bryan. It was released on January 9, 2026, via Belting Bronco Records and Warner Music Group. The album was both written and produced by Bryan, containing a total of 25 songs. It is anticipated to be Bryan's final release with a major label. [1]

Contents

With Heaven on Top was supported by the release of one single, "Plastic Cigarette", on January 16, 2026. [2] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.

Background

In February 2025, Bryan announced to Instagram that With Heaven on Top was scheduled for release, saying, "With Heaven On Top the EP is out sooner than not." [3]

Bryan released "Madeline" on July 18, 2025. [4] The song was announced for upcoming release a week prior via social media, in addition to the cover art being revealed. [5] [6] "Madeline" had been anticipated to be the lead single from With Heaven on Top, however, when it was released, the song did not appear on the album. [7] Shortly following the release of the song, the cover artwork for With Heaven on Top was released to social media. Bryan also announced the album's scheduled release date. [8] [9] While the album was initially anticipated to be an extended play, it was later announced to be a full-length studio album. [10] On January 8, 2026, the track listing to With Heaven on Top was announced. It was also announced that an acoustic edition of the album would be released. [11] [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 74/100 [13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 8/10 [14]
Consequence B+ [15]
Paste C [16]
Pitchfork 7.0/10 [17]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 [18]

With Heaven on Top was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 74, based on five reviews. [13]

Commercial performance

With Heaven on Top debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 134,000 album-equivalent units, making it Bryan's second US number-one album. [19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Zach Bryan. [20]

With Heaven on Top track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Down, Down, Stream"1:59
2."Runny Eggs"3:52
3."Appetite"3:05
4."DeAnn's Denim"2:41
5."Say Why"2:24
6."Drowning"3:05
7."Santa Fe"2:54
8."Skin"2:55
9."Dry Deserts"2:31
10."Bad News"3:16
11."South and Pine"3:22
12."Cannonball"3:58
13."Slicked Back"3:51
14."Anyways"3:24
15."If They Come Lookin'"2:28
16."Rivers and Creeks"3:35
17."Plastic Cigarette"3:06
18."You Can Still Come Home"3:41
19."Aeroplane"2:20
20."Always Willin'"4:05
21."Miles"3:31
22."All Good Things Past"4:02
23."Camper"2:15
24."Sundown Girls"2:03
25."With Heaven on Top"3:53
Total length:78:16

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [20]

Musicians

  • Zach Bryan – lead vocals (all tracks), electric guitar (tracks 3, 6–10, 13), acoustic guitar (4–6, 11, 12, 16, 17, 21–25)
  • Noah Legros – electric guitar (2–7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 25), background vocals (2)
  • Zephyr Avalon – bass (2, 3, 5–7, 9–13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 24), acoustic bass (4)
  • Keenan O'Meara – acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5–7, 9, 13), piano (7, 9, 10), background vocals (7, 9, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24)
  • Nate Head – drums (2, 3, 5–7, 9–11, 13, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25), tambourine (12)
  • Read Connolly – pedal steel guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 8–10, 18, 22, 25), Dobro (16), banjo (22, 24)
  • William Werthimer – trumpet (2, 3, 5, 9–11, 13, 16, 18, 22, 25)
  • Heaven Schmitt – background vocals (3, 5–9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25)
  • Ana Monwah Lei – cello (3, 5–7, 9–12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25)
  • Lucas Ruge-Jones – fiddle (3, 5, 6, 10–12, 18, 22, 24, 25), violin (7, 9, 16), background vocals (7, 9), mandolin (7)
  • Samantha Uzbay – viola (3, 5–7, 9–12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25)
  • Hannah Cohen – violin (3, 5–7, 9–12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25)
  • Andy McCormick – tenor saxophone (3, 5–7, 9, 10, 18, 22, 25)
  • Isaac Washam – trombone (3, 5–7, 9, 10, 18, 22, 25)
  • Austin Stunkard – trumpet (3, 5–7, 9, 10, 18, 22, 25)
  • Ryan Hatcher – trumpet (3, 5–7, 9, 10, 18, 22, 25)
  • Junior Carroll – piano (3, 5, 18, 22)
  • Sasha Ono – cello (3, 6, 9, 22, 25)
  • Jake Weinberg – electric guitar (4, 23), percussion (6, 9), acoustic guitar (8, 13, 17, 23), background vocals (8, 17, 24), bass (8), drums (17, 23); piano, synthesizer, Wurlitzer (23)
  • Scott Zhang – piano (4, 8, 11), organ (11); acoustic guitar, background vocals, bass (17)
  • Graham Bright – electric guitar (5)
  • Greg Fallis – trombone (5, 18, 22)
  • Gabe Wax – background vocals (7, 8, 17), drums (8, 23), baritone guitar (17), bass (23)
  • Chris Braun – electric guitar (8)

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for With Heaven on Top
Chart (2026)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [21] 4
Australian Country Albums (ARIA) [22] 1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [23] 49
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [24] 109
Canadian Albums ( Billboard ) [25] 1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [26] 39
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [27] 20
Irish Albums (OCC) [28] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [29] 5
Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge) [30] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [31] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [32] 17
UK Albums (OCC) [33] 3
UK Americana Albums (OCC) [34] 1
UK Country Albums (OCC) [35] 1
US Billboard 200 [36] 1
US Americana/Folk Albums ( Billboard ) [37] 1
US Top Country Albums ( Billboard ) [38] 1
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums ( Billboard ) [39] 1

Release history

Release history and formats for With Heaven on Top
RegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabel(s)Ref.
VariousJanuary 9, 2026Original
 [40]
January 12, 2026
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Acoustic [41]

References

  1. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (January 15, 2025). "Matthew McConaughey Helps Zach Bryan Tease His 'Final Major-Label Album' and a Film". Uproxx. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ Fagioli, Roberto (January 13, 2026). "Plastic Cigarette - Zach Bryan". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (July 18, 2025). "Zach Bryan Gives A Long-Awaited New Project A Release Date And Shares 'Madeline'". Uproxx . Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Mier, Tomás (July 18, 2025). "Zach Bryan Sings a Melancholic Duet With Gabriella Rose on 'Madeline'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Humphrey, Jack (July 12, 2025). "Zach Bryan To Release New Song 'Madeline' Next Week". Country Central. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ Eaton, Quinn (July 13, 2025). "Zach Bryan Confirms New Single "Madeline" Will Be Out This Week". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ Mower, Maxim (September 24, 2025). "'Madeline' by Zach Bryan & Gabriella Rose – Lyrics & Meaning". Holler. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Humphrey, Jack (July 18, 2025). "Zach Bryan Reveals New Project 'With Heaven On Top'". Country Central. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ Mower, Maxim (July 18, 2025). "Zach Bryan Confirms Release Date for Long-Awaited 'With Heaven on Top' Project". Holler. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ Eggleston, Jennifer (December 24, 2025). "Zach Bryan Previews 21-Track Album 'With Heaven On Top' for Jan. 9 Release". Backstage Country. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ Jones, Ross (January 8, 2026). "Zach Bryan Reveals 25-Song Tracklist for Upcoming Album 'With Heaven on Top'". Holler. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ Iahn, Buddy (January 8, 2026). "Zach Bryan to release acoustic version of 'With Heaven on Top'". Music Universe. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for With Heaven On Top". Metacritic . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ Murray, Robin (January 9, 2026). "Zach Bryan – With Heaven On Top". Clash . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ Graves, Wren (January 10, 2026). "Zach Bryan Maps America's Restless Heart on With Heaven on Top: Review". Consequence . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (January 15, 2026). "Zach Bryan's sixth album is compelling, frustrating, and too damn long". Paste . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (January 13, 2026). "Zach Bryan: With Heaven on Top / With Heaven on Top (Acoustic) Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ Dolan, Jon (January 9, 2026). "Zach Bryan Swings Bigger Than Ever on 'With Heaven on Top'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (January 18, 2026). "Zach Bryan's With Heaven on Top Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "With Heaven On Top / Zach Bryan / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  21. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Album Top-40 Uge 2, 2026". Hitlisten . Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Official Irish Albums Chart on 16/1/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Album 2026 uke 03". IFPI Norge . Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Veckolista Album, vecka 3, 2026". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 16/1/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Official Americana Albums Chart on 16/1/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart on 23/1/2026 – Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Zach Bryan Chart History (Top Rock & Alternative Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  40. ↑ Paul, Larisha (January 9, 2026). "Zach Bryan's New Album 'With Heaven on Top' Is Here". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  41. ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (January 12, 2026). "Zach Bryan Releases Acoustic Version of With Heaven on Top So He Doesn't 'Have to Hear Everyone Whine'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.