Looks like another big hit for Mr. Top.
In an era filled with some of the most exciting voices we’ve heard in the genre lately, ranging from the likes of Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson to Turnpike Troubadours and Colter Wall, there’s no one doing it quite the way Zach Top is these days on a national scale. Though there are plenty of other stellar artists keeping the traditional scene alive, such as Jake Worthington, Charley Crockett and more, the Washington native has launched himself into the stratosphere as of late.
Of course, this was highlighted on a national scale the past year when he not only took home 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 back in February. 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.
Given the immense amount of buzz surrounding him over the past few years, the success of his last two albums and his newly-announced fall extension of the Cold Beer & Country Music Tour, the question on everyone’s mind lately has been “When is new music coming?”
Last month, during an appearance on the Mostly Sports With Mark Titus and Brandon Walker podcast, Top would confirm that his junior album is coming next spring and that he’s planning to drop a “couple songs” at the end of the summer
“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say it yet or not, but I think we’re gonna put out a couple songs at the end of the summer. Then [I’m] planning on next spring, putting out another record.”
Back on July 18th at Under the Big Sky festival in Whitefish, Montana, Top would reignite talk about new music when he debuted an unreleased track, “Good Girls & Cowgirls,” to the sold-out crowd, leading fans to beg for a release date.
Turns out the “I Never Lie” singer had even more up his sleeve than just the new track. Shortly after confirming “Good Girls & Cowgirls” is coming on August 21st, he’d double down and announce the release of a second song, “Other Side Of Hurtin’,” on the same day, along with a 7″ vinyl record.
Though we’re still three weeks from the official release of the two brand new tracks, the 28-year-old singer/songwriter is giving fans a preview of the lead single, “Good Girls & Cowgirls,” in its entirety with a brand new acoustic video on his YouTube channel.
Spoiler alert: it looks like Top has a big hit on his hands once again here.
After dropping some rock-solid, twangy riffs in the intro that once again showcase his stellar guitarwork, Top opens up with some rapid-fire lyrics that set the scene of a barroom meet-up with one of the titular cowgirls.
“Cotton Eyed Joe’s, Friday night
What ya drinking? Baby, I’ll buy
She said make it a double. Make it on ice
You sound like the kinda woman I like
She just smiled and said you sure about that?
Are you sure you can handle what’s under this hat?
There’s two kinda girls in the world
There’s good girls then there’s cowgirls”
Delivering his signature ’90s sound, here, Top compares the difference between good girls and cowgirls, noting “Good girls are made of sugar and spice. Cowgirls are made of whiskey and ice” in the chorus’ hook.
“Good girls you can take home to mama
Take ’em to church when they want you to
They’re everything nice and not much drama
Got your thing that’s good for you
If you like them more on the wild side
Kind of rodeo that goes all night
Good girls are made of sugar and spice
Cowgirls are made of whiskey and ice”
Though it might not be the most lyrically groundbreaking song by any stretch of the imagination, it simply doesn’t have to be. Much in the vein of Top’s lead single from Ain’t In It For My Health, “Good Times & Tan Lines,” last year, it’s another fun, twangy romp that’s perfect for a late summer release.
Watch here:
Zach Top 2026 Tour Dates
August 6—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium~
August 7—Ottawa, ON—Canadian Tire Centre«
August 8—Canandaigua, NY—CMAC«
August 13—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater≈
August 14—Boston, MA—Fenway Park~
August 15—Boston, MA—Fenway Park~
August 20—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena∞
August 21—Allentown, PA—PPL Center
August 22—Bangor, ME—Maine Savings Amphitheater∞
August 27—Dieppe, New Brunswick—YQM Countryfest 2026
August 28—Gilford, NH—BankNH Pavilion∞
September 1—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium~
September 11—Lake Tahoe, NV—Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic«
September 17—San Diego, CA—Pechanga Arena«
September 18—Anaheim, CA—Honda Center
September 19—Fresno, CA—Boots In The Park
September 25—Corpus Christi, TX—Hillard Center Arena«
September 26—San Antonio, TX—Frost Bank Center«
October 2—Jacksonville, FL—VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
October 3—West Palm Beach, FL—iTHINK FinancialAmphitheatre
October 8—Des Moines, IA—Casey’s Center≈
October 9—Rosemont, IL—Allstate Arena≈
October 10—St. Paul, MN—Grand Casino Arena≈
October 15—Sioux Falls, SD—Denny Sanford PREMIER Center≈
October 16—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum≈
October 17—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena≈
October 23—Lafayette, LA—CAJUNDOME∆
October 29—Duluth, GA—Gas South Arena∆
October 30—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena∆
≠with special guest Cole Goodwin
«with special guest Wyatt McCubbin
∆with special guest Lukas Nelson
~with Chris Stapleton
≈with special guest Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
∞with special guest Marcus King Band
