Zach Top Accepts the CMA for New Artist of the Year With His Beer Still in Hand: ‘So Thankful’

Zach Top didn’t need anyone to hold his beer when he won big at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 19) — he just took it right on up with him.

Shortly after performing on stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter was crowned new artist of the year, beating out Shaboozey, Ella Langley, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr. In his excitement, Top — looking dapper in a blue suit and cowboy hat — neglected to set down his can of Coors before running up to accept the trophy.

Confessing to the crowd that he couldn’t remember if he was supposed to put his beer down or not, he said with a shrug, “Here it is,” before downing a celebratory sip.

Top went on to thank numerous people on his team for helping him reach the CMA summit. “It’s been a hell of a last couple of years,” he concluded. “So, so thankful.”

The onstage beer moment is certainly on brand for Top. The Washington native’s 2024 debut album is titled Cold Beer & Country Music, an LP he followed up this year with Ain’t In It for My Health, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200. The latter full-length produced two Billboard Hot 100 hits: “South of Sanity” and “Good Times & Tan Lines.”

Have you played Billboard’s “A Little Bit Country” Crossword?
Play now!

The new artist victory is also probably quite vindicating for Top, whose absence from the best new artist Grammy category was considered one of the most head-scratching snubs of the 2026 nominations, which went live earlier in November. In fact, no country artists were recognized in the category, with Langley and Megan Moroney also getting left out.

Even so, Top certainly felt the love from the CMAs this year. The musician earned a total of five nods — including album of the year for Cold Beer & Country Music — tying him for second-most nominations in 2025.