His record title said it best… he ain’t in it for his health.
Zach Top has been living the dream over the past year. The Washington native won his first CMA Award for Best New Artist at the CMA Awards in November, which he accepted with a Coors Banquet in hand, but also when he scored his first-career Grammy at the start of 2026. In turn, Top became the first-ever winner of the brand-new Best Traditional Country Album category, winning it with his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health.
While carrying the torch of traditional country music, Zach Top is also carrying the torch of the outlaws before him and isn’t afraid to have a good time. From ripping darts on stage to (likely) having a few too many airport beers leading to an impromptu karaoke performance while boarding the plane, Zach Top knows how to get down.
Because Zach Top has been open about enjoying himself recently, MTV UK asked Zach Top what his tour rider looks like.
Many artists have spoken about what they request on their tour rider, and it’s way less extravagant than what you might think. Of course, many folks’ minds go to rock stars requesting crazy items, but most of the time, artists just want a good meal and maybe a cold beer. Miranda Lambert hilariously shared with Joe Rogan last year that she is set with two items on her tour rider:
“People are always like, ‘What’s on your rider?’ I’m like, ‘Cheetos and Tito’s.’ That’s kind of all I need.”
A girl after our own hearts.
Similarly, Zach Top’s rider was pretty simple the first few years of touring, sharing with MTV UK that they requested more beer than you can imagine (and for a period of time cigarettes).
“A bunch of booze. Beer. We kind of had a year, we had a carton of cigarettes on the rider and way more booze than anybody should be drinking.”
But those wild beer guzzling days didn’t last long, and Top shared that his rider now includes some healthier options:
“And now it’s like, everyone’s making sure we got electrolytes for our water in the green room. I thought we had 10 to 15 years of debauchery in us, but now we get up in the morning and hit the gym before sound check.”
The woman conducting the interview then joked with Top that electrolytes on the rider is quite the opposite of what one imagines when pursuing a rockstar life.
“No! No! Not a bit. But anyway, it’s the dream we’re living, and we won’t complain too much.”
But as Top showed us last year, life is all about balance — and doing a cold plunge with a heater and a white claw gives you the best of both worlds. I mean, the cig while cold plunging has to enhance the benefits, right?
He sure is living the dream, and also, I don’t think Zach Top gets the credit he deserves for being downright hilarious… he might be the funniest person in country music.
Check out the entire MTV UK interview while you’re here:
