Zach Bryan doesn't exactly do things the "Nashville way." He doesn't do the shiny award show circuits without a fight, and he definitely doesn't follow the standard PR playbook when it comes to his love life. If you've spent any time listening to the raw, gravelly desperation in his lyrics, you know he writes about women like they're both the anchor and the storm.
But the question keeps popping up in fan circles and on TikTok: was Zach Bryan married?
The short answer is yes. Twice, actually.
Most people know about the high-profile drama with Brianna Chickenfry or the long-term era with Deb Peifer. But before the sold-out stadiums and the Grammy wins, there was a marriage that basically served as the blueprint for his early career. And then, there's the massive news from just a few weeks ago that caught everyone off guard.
The First Marriage: Rose Madden and the Elisabeth Era
Before he was a superstar, Zach was a sailor. He spent eight years in the U.S. Navy, and that’s where he met Rose Madden. They weren't just a casual couple; they were both serving when they decided to tie the knot in July 2020.
If you're an "OG" fan, you recognize her name for a very specific reason. Zach’s 2020 album is titled Elisabeth. That’s Rose’s middle name. She was the muse. She was even on the original cover of the album, though if you look for it on Spotify today, you’ll just see a black square.
✨ Don't miss: The Billy Bob Tattoo: What Angelina Jolie Taught Us About Inking Your Ex
The marriage was fast.
They married in 2020.
They were divorced by July 2021.
Honestly, the split seemed pretty quiet at first, but the digital trail told a different story. Rose went dark on social media for a long time. When she finally came back, every trace of Zach was gone. Around the same time, Zach was honorably discharged from the Navy to pursue music full-time. The man traded his uniform and his marriage for a guitar and a tour bus in the span of a single year.
The "Blindsided" Breakup with Brianna Chickenfry
You can't talk about Zach's marital history without addressing the chaos of 2024. After a very public relationship with Barstool Sports personality Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, things went south in a way that kept the tabloids busy for months.
In October 2024, Zach posted an Instagram story announcing they had broken up. He said he’d had an "incredibly hard year." Brianna, however, hopped on YouTube and told the world she was "blindsided" by the post.
It got messy.
Really messy.
🔗 Read more: Birth Date of Pope Francis: Why Dec 17 Still Matters for the Church
Brianna later alleged on her BFFs podcast that Zach’s team offered her a $12 million NDA to keep her quiet about the relationship. She turned it down. Fast forward to early 2026, and Zach’s new album With Heaven on Top is filled with what fans are calling "diss tracks" aimed at her. In the song "Skin," he sings about taking a blade to old tattoos—a reference to the matching "How lucky are we?" ink they got during their year together.
The Surprise 2026 Wedding in Spain
So, is he married now?
Yes. Zach Bryan shocked the internet on New Year’s Eve 2025 by marrying Samantha Leonard.
They were first linked in July 2025 after being spotted at the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. By October, he was calling her the "only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats." The wedding took place in Spain, and the first hint the public got was a grainy video of the couple getting into a car with a "Just Married" sign.
Zach later confirmed it with a black-and-white photo of him lifting Samantha into the air, captioned "Tougher than the rest." It’s a wild pivot from the public feuds of 2024, and it seems like he’s trying to start 2026 with a completely clean slate.
💡 You might also like: Kanye West Black Head Mask: Why Ye Stopped Showing His Face
What This Means for the Music
Zach Bryan’s relationships aren't just gossip; they are the literal source material for the songs we scream-sing in our cars.
- Elisabeth: Written for his first wife, Rose.
- 28: Written during the peak of his time with Brianna.
- With Heaven on Top: Clearly inspired by his new life with Samantha (and his lingering bitterness over the previous year).
When you ask was Zach Bryan married, you’re really asking about the timeline of his evolution. He went from a married Navy man in Washington to a divorced rising star, to a heartbroken celebrity, and now to a husband again.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, here is the "real-talk" version of the timeline:
- Rose Madden (2020–2021): The first wife. The inspiration for the Elisabeth album. They met in the Navy and split just as his career exploded.
- Deb Peifer (2022–2023): The long-term girlfriend after the divorce. Their breakup was "mutual" but led right into the next chaotic chapter.
- Brianna LaPaglia (2023–2024): The high-profile relationship that ended in NDA allegations and "blindsided" YouTube videos.
- Samantha Leonard (2025–Present): The second wife. They married in Spain on December 31, 2025, after a whirlwind six-month romance.
Zach Bryan moves fast. He loves fast, he writes fast, and he clearly marries fast. Whether this new marriage lasts longer than the first remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: we're going to get some incredible songs out of it.
Next Steps for You
Check out Zach’s latest album, With Heaven on Top, particularly the tracks "Skin" and the title song. You can hear the transition from the "Chickenfry" era to his new life with Samantha Leonard in real-time. If you’re looking for the Rose Madden influence, you’ll have to dig back into the 2020 archives of Elisabeth, though most of the visual evidence of that marriage has been scrubbed from the internet.