Hannah Duncan and Zach Bryan: What Really Happened

The internet moves fast, but Zach Bryan moves faster. One minute everyone is talking about the fallout with Brianna Chickenfry, and the next, a new face is popping up on his Instagram stories. Enter Hannah Duncan. If you were online in early 2025, you probably saw her name everywhere. She was the Australian "mystery woman" who seemed to be the country star's next big chapter.

Honestly, it felt like a whirlwind. People were still dissecting the $12 million NDA allegations from his previous relationship when Hannah appeared. But as quickly as that flame flickered on, it seemed to dim. By now, in early 2026, Zach is already married to Samantha Leonard, leaving many to wonder: what actually happened with Hannah Duncan?

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The 6 AM "Hard Launch"

It all started with a beach photo. In March 2025, Zach Bryan shared a picture of a woman standing by the ocean, tagged her, and added a caption about a "6 am half marathon." That woman was Hannah Duncan.

For fans, this was the "hard launch" they weren't expecting. Zach had been spotted earlier that month at an Australian-themed pub in New York City called Old Mates with a "local female friend." Soon after, they were seen at Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game. At the time, it looked like a legitimate new relationship. Hannah, a marketing professional from Byron Bay, New South Wales, was suddenly the most Googled person in the country music sphere.

She wasn't a public figure or a TikTok star. She was, by all accounts, a "civilian" who worked for ClassPass. She’d spent five months traveling Europe the year before and seemed to live a life of beaches and hiking—a vibe that fits the "Something in the Orange" aesthetic perfectly.

Why it Didn't Last

Despite the initial hype, the Hannah Duncan and Zach Bryan era was remarkably short. By late spring 2025, the sightings stopped. The tags disappeared.

What went wrong? Most insiders suggest it was a classic "rebound" situation. Zach had just come out of a massive, public, and frankly messy breakup with Brianna LaPaglia (Chickenfry). When you’re dealing with diss tracks and public accusations of emotional abuse, jumping into a relationship with someone from a completely different continent is a lot of pressure.

• Distance: Hannah is based in Australia/NYC; Zach is constantly on the road.
• The Spotlight: Going from a marketing job to being the target of "Swiftie-level" fan investigation is jarring.
• Timing: Zach was clearly in a transitional phase, eventually finding a permanent match in Samantha Leonard just a few months later.

By August 2025, People Magazine was already referring to Hannah as his "rumored ex-girlfriend." It was a blink-and-you-miss-it romance that served more as a palate cleanser for the media than a long-term love story.

The Aftermath and Where They Are Now

Today, Hannah Duncan seems to have returned to her private life. Her Instagram still features the beachy, travel-heavy content her followers loved before the Zach Bryan surge. She never capitalized on the fame, didn't start a podcast, and didn't "spill the tea."

Zach, on the other hand, went full speed ahead. He married Samantha Leonard in Spain on New Year's Eve 2025. His new album, With Heaven on Top, dropped just a few days ago in January 2026, and while fans are busy looking for lyrics about his exes, Hannah Duncan is rarely the focus of those theories. She was a footnote—a brief moment of calm in a very loud year for the singer.

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Keeping Up with the Timeline

If you're trying to track the chaos, here’s how the timeline actually shook out:

1. October 2024: The messy split from Brianna Chickenfry.
2. March 2025: The Hannah Duncan "6 am marathon" post and NYC dates.
3. July 2025: Zach starts appearing in photos with Samantha Leonard.
4. December 2025: Zach and Samantha tie the knot in San Sebastián.

It’s easy to get confused because Zach’s dating history looks like a high-speed chase. But Hannah Duncan represents a specific moment where it seemed like he might move away from the "influencer" world and date someone more low-key.

If you're looking for more details on Zach's current life, his latest album With Heaven on Top is the best place to start. It’s arguably his most personal work yet, reflecting on his marriage and the "hard years" he’s mentioned in past social media posts. You can find it on all major streaming platforms as of January 9, 2026.