Why Zach Bryan Skipped the 2024 Country Music Awards

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

Zach Bryan was noticeably absent from the 2024 Country Music Awards.

The 30-year-old singer posted a photo of his whereabouts on Instagram, a little after the ceremony which took place on Wednesday, November 20, where he was nominated for Musical Event of the Year category for his “I Remember Everything” duet with Kacey Musgraves.

In a photo shared to his Instagram Story, Zach’s dog Jack Daniels is sat by the water at a rocky beach while a sunset is seen in the background.

His decision to skip the award ceremony comes after his public breakup with Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia in October 2024.

“Brianna and me have broken up with eachother [sic] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart,” he wrote in an Instagram Story post on Oct. 22. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her.”

Following his statement, Brianna posted one of her own, saying she felt “blindsided” by the sudden Instagram announcement.

“Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately,” she wrote in her own Instagram story. “When I’m ready I’ll be back and ready to talk.”

And talk she did! In a Nov. 7 “BFFs” episode, Brianna gave further insight into her relationship with the “28” singer, with claims of manipulation, isolation from friends and family and emotional abuse directed at Zach.

Additionally, Brianna revealed that Zach’s team allegedly approached her with a non-disclosure agreement and offered a payout that eventually reached $12 million to keep her experiences private.

She explained that the offer involved “the money over the course of three years” if she agreed not to disclose her “experiences” with Zach.

“They would’ve been monitoring everything that I do,” she continued. “I thought about it for a second and I think they tend to forget, I started to forget, that I was someone, I was established, I was successful, before [Zach].”

She continued, “I’m all right where I’m at and I don’t want blood money. I don’t think you can pay people off that you hurt [and expect] for them to protect you … offering millions of dollars to this apparent beautiful relationship [and] keep it a secret, speaks volumes.”

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