Bailey Zimmerman explains how his heartbreaking anthems conquered country radio, broke streaming records and brought him to Stagecoach's door

When THE line up For THE 2024 Diligence Festival was announcement earlier This month, Bailey Zimmerman name was up there on THE second double, RIGHT below Morgan Wallen's. He represented A heady move up In THE big leagues (And big fonts) For A 23 years WHO had only THE most little awareness that there was such A thing as A country music industry A little short years There is. NOW, he is had a few of THE the biggest Songs of THE pass year, not just In THE country kingdom but on THE all kinds graphics, including THE still on the rise " Religiously " THE title song of her beginning album.

When " Religiously : THE Album" came out In Can, It is First of all week won Zimmerman credit For having THE the biggest streaming beginning album of THE year In any of them gender up has that indicate In 2023, along with, not incidentally, THE best streaming bow For any of them beginning country album, Never. Useless has say, he had A plot going For him Already has arrive has that place: "Autumn In Love" And "Rock And A Hard Place" had Already both disappeared No 1 has country, And THE last between THE Billboard Hot hundreds high ten while expenses six weeks a top THE country diffusion rankings. “Religious” (THE song) East about has give him A three peats, Since all indications. Hell be recalled as A of 2023 to burst, if Or not he becomes THE rare country interpreter has score A best new artist Grammy nomination.

Also rare East THE path Zimmerman has has been A exception, not THE ruler, In play be A smash on Tic Tac In become A smash by THE standard measures of radio And streaming. He had A head to start: THE rural Illinois native had A significant social following as A viral truck guys Before he Never thought has to use THE AVERAGE has sing. Warner jumped up In has TO DO Of course THE rest was story.

When Variety caught up with Zimmermann, he was join THE Morgan Wallen tour, Or he is opening watch For most of THE year Before departure her own Headlining hiking following year has The ace Novo on Feb. 1. But April 28, 2024 East THE date most California Fans will to have surrounded on their calendars, as he joined tour companions Wallen And Robust out has Diligence has recreate their tour chemistry on THE final night of THE party. (Pass to have just disappeared on sale.)

In learning about your history, We know You were not all that soaked In THE manners of country music Or THE industry until even A couple of years There is. Was something as Diligence out here In California even on your radar very long there is?

No, And It is THE the most crazy thing. I grown up up In A little city of 800 people that was basically three hours Since anywhere, SO I Never obtained has go has festivals. I Never obtained has go has concerts — I only went has as A, When I was as 8, And he was A You're here to show. SO When I obtained In music, I knew Nothing. SO When I begin tour, It is When I begin has learn as how important these watch that I am get on are. I obtained has go has Diligence last year And play has, I think, 4:30 p.m. There was not A huge crowd In THE in front, but I doesn't realize In THE back, behind THE fence [separating THE VIP area Since A general area], were, as, 20,000 people. When I saw that they were not just standing out there but singing with Me And yelling, I was as, "Holy cow, SO This East What Diligence East. I get THE threshing NOW." … When I heard that I get has play he following year with Morgan And Robust, I was as, Diligence East about has be lit.

You are known For your heartbreak Songs. On THE tour You are on, You are going out there Before Morgan Wallen And Robust, WHO to have A plot more rowdy to party hymns. Do he work has go out there And to break people hearts A little little First of all, Or East THE Your of your together more of A pure good time thing that THE album would be suggest?

I have only has been A artist Since December of 2020. SO I jumped up In music SO fast that When I begin tour, It is When he begin get on THE brain: I as these heartbreak Songs, And everyone love them, but TO DO I need rowdy Songs? And When I First of all obtained out on Morgan (Wallen tour), I quickly accomplished, No, You just need has keep TO DO What You are TO DO. Because THE heartbreak hymns We to have are optimistic — SO instead of be sad, You are almost mad. It is not necessarily " Let's go go drink beer," but It is "I always can d...