Zach Bryan Says He’s 2 Months Sober: ‘I Pray This Helps Somebody’

Military veteran-turned-singer-songwriter Zach Bryan is getting candid about his mental health struggles.

The 29-year-old musician took to Instagram on Nov. 18 to share that he is now two months sober after embarking on an introspective motorcycle trip across America this year.

“For 20 days, I camped and rode looking for a solution,” he penned.

“At the end of this ride, I was sitting in a parking lot in Seattle, Washington, thinking, ‘I really need some … help.'”

Bryan enlisted in the Navy when he was 17. The country singer wrote and played music during his free time, releasing his debut album, “DeAnn,” in 2019 while he was still on active duty. He put out his sophomore record, “Elisabeth,” the following year.

After serving for eight years, he was honorably discharged in 2021 to pursue his music career. His 2022 breakout hit “Something in the Orange,” from his third album, “American Heartbreak,” scored a Grammy nomination and made him a household name.

In his post, Bryan acknowledged that his swift rise to fame after his stint in the military had subconsciously affected him more than he realized.

“I was not content but I also feared showing weakness because that’s not who I am or how I was raised. To charge forward and to never settle was the motto,” the Oklahoma native wrote.

“I was stuck in a perpetual discontent that led me to always reach for alcohol, not for the taste, but because there was a consistent black hole in me always needing its void filled.”

Bryan said his frayed mental health was exacerbated by a series of stressful life events, including his hectic touring schedule and other personal matters. He also went through a public breakup in October 2024 with his former girlfriend, Brianna LaPaglia, who accused the singer of being emotionally abusive during their more than year-long relationship.

“I was having earth-shattering panic attacks. The anxiety I felt was paralyzing, and I thought since I was successful, had the money I always longed for, and had great friends, that I could tough anything out,” Bryan wrote.

“All that said, I went out of my way to find a therapist and made the conscious decision to do something about my toxic relationship with booze and how I cope with major life changes.”

Bryan said getting sober was something he had to do for his own personal clarity, and encouraged fans and followers who were facing similar struggles with alcohol to seek help.

“I feel great, I feel content, I feel whole. There is nothing I need to get me by anymore. If you or any of your friends are too tough, too scared, or too stubborn to reach out, know that the most stubborn [person] on the planet did and didn’t regret it,” he shared.

“It is OK to be weak at times and need help. God speed everyone! I pray this helps somebody.”