If you haven’t been scrolling through the wreckage of celebrity TikTok lately, you might have missed the most chaotic crossover in modern music history. It’s basically what happens when a "tortured" country poet runs headfirst into the Barstool Sports machine. We aren't just talking about a couple of sad breakup songs here. We’re talking about actual, recorded diss tracks, $12 million hush-money allegations, and some of the most visceral lyrics to ever hit a Billboard chart.
Honestly, the diss track Zach Bryan saga is less of a musical rivalry and more of a scorched-earth public divorce.
Most people think this is just some petty internet drama. It’s not. It has fundamentally changed how people view the "Something in the Orange" singer, shifting him from a humble veteran-turned-songwriter to a guy navigating accusations of emotional abuse and "evil" behavior in Queens.
The Song That Started the Fire: "Smallest Man"
Back in November 2024, the internet collectively lost its mind when Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards—co-hosts of the BFFs podcast alongside Zach’s ex, Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia—dropped a track called "Smallest Man."
It wasn't subtle.
They didn't just hint at Zach; they went for his throat. They mocked his height, his notorious 2023 arrest in Oklahoma, and even made some pretty heavy claims about his health and fidelity. One line that went viral basically told him his music was infectious, but his "penis was infected." Yeah. They went there.
Portnoy, being Portnoy, didn't stop there. After Warner Music Group (Zach's label) tried to scrub the song from the internet for copyright infringement, Dave doubled down. He promised he’d write "10,000 diss tracks" if he had to. He eventually released "Country Diddy," a follow-up that compared Bryan to Sean Combs in a move that was, frankly, wild even for Barstool standards.
Zach Bryan Fires Back: The Scathing Lyrics of "Skin"
For a long time, Zach stayed quiet. He’s always been the guy who lets the music do the talking, and in January 2026, he finally spoke up on his new album, With Heaven on Top.
If you listen to the track "Skin," it’s a direct response to the fallout. He doesn't name Brianna, but you don't need a detective kit to figure it out.
"I’m taking a blade to my old tattoos / I’m draining the blood between me and you / I’m taking a blade to my own skin / And I ain’t ever touching yours again."
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This is a brutal reference to the matching ink they got. Brianna has the lyrics "How lucky are we" on her arm—a line from Zach’s song "28." Zach’s new lyrics suggest he’s literally ready to cut the memory of her out of his body. He also takes a shot at her reputation for "spilling tea," asking if she still "talks sh*t on all her friends" and questioning if her "higher ground" is ever going to sink in.
He also dropped a track called "Plastic Cigarette," where he sings about meeting someone "evil" in Queens. Guess where he and Brianna first met? Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. It’s pointed. It’s mean. And it’s exactly what fans expected from a guy who writes songs while "blackout at 6 AM," as Brianna later claimed on TikTok.
The $12 Million Elephant in the Room
The most insane part of this whole diss track Zach Bryan timeline isn't even the music. It’s the money. Brianna went on the BFFs podcast and told the world that Zach’s team offered her a $12 million NDA to keep her quiet after the split.
Twelve. Million.
She turned it down. She said she was already successful and wasn't going to sign away her "experiences" to protect a "weak man." This claim shifted the narrative from a messy breakup to a conversation about how major stars use their wealth to silence ex-partners. While Zach hasn't confirmed the NDA offer, his lyrics about "taking it to the chin stone-cold sober" suggest he’s leaning into a "new man" persona after getting sober in late 2025.
What Actually Happened in New Hampshire?
Brianna detailed a specific night at a house Zach bought for them where he allegedly "freaked out" because she was singing a Morgan Wallen song. Apparently, he couldn't stand her singing "another man's song" under his roof. She also claimed there was a birthday party incident involving broken glass and her aunt having to physically restrain him.
Zach’s response? In "Plastic Cigarette," he says his brother told him to leave because of the "evil beneath" people you meet in New York. It’s a classic "he said, she said," but set to a folk-rock melody.
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Why This Matters for Fans
If you’re a fan of Zach Bryan, this whole era feels heavy. He’s now married to Samantha Leonard—they tied the knot in Spain on New Year's Eve 2025—and much of his new music is dedicated to her. Tracks like "Slicked Back" and "Runny Eggs" are sweet odes to his new wife, but they often come at Brianna’s expense, contrasting Samantha’s "offline" life with people who "put it all online."
The takeaway here isn't just about who won the breakup. It's about the end of the "Humble Zach" era. We are now in the "Scorched Earth" era.
Next Steps for the Obsessed:
- Check the Credits: Go look at the writing credits on With Heaven on Top. Notice how many songs reference sobriety; this is his attempt to rebrand after the "Smallest Man" allegations.
- Watch the BFFs Podcast (Nov 2024 Episode): If you want to hear the raw audio of the "Wallen incident" story, that’s where the receipts are.
- Compare "28" to "Skin": Listening to these two back-to-back shows the exact moment the "How lucky are we" sentiment turned into "I'm taking a blade to my skin."
The drama might be exhausting, but for a songwriter who thrives on pain, it’s probably the best marketing he’s ever had.