If you’ve been following the whirlwind that is Zach Bryan’s life lately, you probably feel a bit like you’re watching a movie on double speed. One minute he’s the Navy veteran writing songs on a porch, the next he’s a stadium-filling superstar with a dating history that keeps the internet up at night. Honestly, keeping track of his relationship status has become a full-time job for some fans.
So, let's get right to it. Does Zach Bryan have a wife? As of early 2026, the answer is a definitive yes.
On New Year’s Eve 2025, Zach Bryan officially tied the knot with Samantha Leonard. The wedding wasn't just some quiet courthouse affair, either. It was a picturesque ceremony in San Sebastián, Spain, and it basically broke the country music side of TikTok.
The San Sebastián Wedding: How It Went Down
The rumors started flying when a video leaked showing Zach in a tuxedo, carrying a woman in a massive white wedding dress through the cobblestone streets of Spain. They hopped into a dark green convertible with a "Just Married" sign on the back, and the internet did what it does best: it went into a frenzy.
A few days later, Zach confirmed the news himself. He posted a photo of the two of them with the caption "Tougher than the rest," a nod to the Bruce Springsteen classic he actually covered during the wedding celebration.
Samantha, who now goes by Samantha Leonard Bryan, has been a steady presence in his life since the summer of 2025. She’s an NYU grad with a background in fine arts and business, and she comes from a pretty wealthy California family. Fans have noticed she seems to bring a different energy to his life—one that’s a bit more private than his previous high-profile relationships.
- The Date: December 31, 2025
- The Location: Basílica de Santa María del Coro, Spain
- The Vibe: High-end, romantic, and surprisingly sentimental
One detail that really got to people was the dress. Zach shared on his Instagram Stories that Samantha actually had lace from his late mother’s wedding dress sewn into her own gown. If you know anything about Zach’s music, you know how much his mom, Annette, meant to him. He admitted he "cried for a good bit" when he saw it.
👉 See also: Kylie Jenner Makeup Foundation: Why People Are Still Divided Over It
It’s Not His First Time Down the Aisle
To understand why people are so obsessed with Zach’s marriage, you have to look at the track record. This isn't his first marriage. Back in 2020, while he was still serving in the Navy, Zach married Rose Madden.
That marriage was the inspiration for his album Elisabeth. But, like many young military marriages, it didn't last. They split in 2021 after only about a year. The divorce was messy, at least according to the rumor mill. There were whispers of infidelity and Rose famously posted a TikTok about having to cook potatoes in a pumpkin pie mold because Zach took the kitchenware when he moved out.
It was a sharp, public end to a relationship that many fans thought was "the one."
The Brianna Chickenfry Era (and the Drama That Followed)
You can’t talk about Zach Bryan’s wife without mentioning the woman he didn’t marry: Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia.
👉 See also: The Duchess of Kent Funeral: Why This Royal Legend is Rewriting the Rulebook
Their relationship was everywhere. They were the "it" couple of 2023 and 2024. But when they broke up in October 2024, it wasn't a clean break. It was a nuclear explosion. Brianna went on her BFFs podcast and dropped some massive bombs.
She accused him of emotional abuse. She claimed his team offered her $12 million and a house in New York just to sign an NDA and keep her mouth shut. She refused.
"I’m not signing away my experiences to protect someone that hurt me," she said at the time. "Fuck you and fuck your money."
When Zach married Samantha just a year or so after that breakup, Brianna didn't stay silent. She posted a TikTok lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s "Mastermind," specifically the "checkmate" line. It was a clear signal to her fans that she felt she had escaped a bad situation.
Why Samantha Leonard Is Different
So, why did Zach rush into another marriage so quickly? After his split from Brianna, he was briefly linked to a girl named Hannah Duncan, but that fizzled out fast. Then came Samantha.
🔗 Read more: Is Kamala Harris' Dad Black? The Details Most People Get Wrong
They were first spotted together at the Running of the Bulls in Spain in July 2025. Since then, she’s been all over his social media—fishing together, skydiving over the Alps, and attending his shows. On his 2026 album, With Heaven on Top, fans are convinced several songs are dedicated to her.
He describes her as the only woman who can "hike six miles in Chanel flats" and "catch a bigger fish" than him. It sounds like he’s found someone who can keep up with his chaotic lifestyle but also keep him grounded.
What This Means for Fans
If you're a fan of the music, this marriage is a big deal. Zach’s best work usually comes from a place of deep emotion—whether that’s heartbreak or new love.
- New Music Vibe: Expect more songs like "Tougher Than the Rest" and fewer "burn-it-all-down" breakup anthems (though he did include a few jabs at his exes on the new record).
- Touring: Samantha has been spotted at almost every stop of the With Heaven on Tour 2026. She seems to be his rock while he’s on the road.
- Privacy: While he’s still active on social media, Zach has been deactivating and reactivating his accounts a lot lately. He seems to be trying to shield this relationship more than he did with Brianna.
The Bottom Line
Zach Bryan is officially a married man. Samantha Leonard Bryan is his wife.
Whether this marriage lasts longer than his first one remains to be seen. The country music world is notoriously tough on relationships, and Zach’s "burn fast" personality has caused issues in the past. But for now, he seems happier than he’s been in years.
If you want to keep up with the latest, keep an eye on Samantha’s Instagram. She’s much more likely to post the "real" behind-the-scenes stuff than Zach is these days. Just don't expect a lot of drama—it looks like they're trying to keep the "just married" bliss alive for as long as possible.
The best way to support the artist now is to catch a show on his 2026 tour and see the transformation for yourself. He's playing massive stadiums all through the summer, from St. Louis to London.
Check his official site for the remaining ticket batches before they hit the secondary market.