“More Than a Whispersome Tale”: Zach Top Chuckles Over Rumor He’s Alan Jackson’s Kin
The country music grapevine’s been buzzing, and it ain’t just about new tunes. A wild theory, sparked last month by a radio host’s keen eye, has folks giggling and side-eyeing: could Zach Top, the rising star with a twang as sharp as a switchblade, be the secret son of Alan Jackson, the “Chattahoochee” legend? The internet’s been chewing on this one for weeks—part jest, part “what if”—and now Top’s finally tipped his hat to the chatter with a grin and a quip.
On Audacy’s Rob and Hollie show, where he was dishing about his headlining tour and an upcoming stint with Jackson, Top leaned into the rumor with a sparkle in his eye. “There’s talk you’re Alan Jackson’s boy,” host Rob teased. “Oh, it’s more than talk,” Top shot back, setting off a round of chuckles. “I’ve been tryin’ to get a straight answer, but my folks are dodgin’ me like a spooked colt. Nobody’s fessin’ up.”
Top’s got a plan, though, to settle the score. “I reckon I’ll know for sure in Fort Worth when I meet him at that first show in a few weeks,” he said, mischief in his voice. “I’ll just stroll up and say, ‘Hey, Daddy, been missin’ you.’ His face’ll tell me all I need to know.” The “Beer for Breakfast” crooner’s jest had the hosts in stitches, picturing the showdown.
Mindful of his idol, Top tossed in a quick nod to Jackson, whose “Midnight in Montgomery” looms large in his playlist. “Alan, if this gets back to you and feels like a low blow, I’m sorry,” he said. “Love you, respect you—we’re just kickin’ up some dust.” He mused that Jackson, no social media hound, must’ve caught wind of the rumor by now. “Somebody in his crew’s gotta have clued him in,” Top figured. “I’m hopin’ we can cook up somethin’ fun on tour to give a wink to this whole thing.”
The rumor’s a lark, born from a radio host noting the uncanny likeness between Top’s boyish charm and Jackson’s weathered cool. Fans have fueled the fire online, chuckling over the “long-lost son” yarn while secretly wondering if there’s a grain of truth. Top’s playful jab keeps the spirit light, proving he’s as quick with a laugh as he is with a lyric. As he gears up to share a stage with his hero, one thing’s clear: whether kin or not, Top’s carrying the torch for country’s soul with a nod and a smile.