Zach John King isn’t wasting any time this year. The Sony Music Nashville artist is charging into 2026 with the release of his new track, “Get To Drinkin’,” a whiskey-soaked reflection on heartbreak, denial, and the stories we tell ourselves after one too many drinks.
Co-written with Rhett Akins, Kyle Sturrock, Thomas Archer, and Kyle Fishman, the song pairs a catchy, nostalgia-tinged melody with driving production that pulls listeners straight into its emotional haze. On the surface, the narrator swears he’s moved on from his ex—but every cracked bottle of whiskey tells a different story. As the night goes on, the memories get rosier, the truth gets blurrier, and the past starts to feel a lot better than it really was.
“‘Get To Drinkin’ is a song about how your mind plays tricks on you when you’re a few Jack and Coke’s down,” King explains. “A little whiskey can make bad memories feel good again. In this case, it’s me convincing myself that the heart I broke actually wants me back. Sometimes it’s easier to put on those rose-colored glasses and pretend you weren’t the problem.”
The new release follows King’s previous single, “Happy For You,” which drew praise for its emotional honesty and cleverly misleading hook, turning what sounds like a supportive sentiment into a deeply vulnerable confession.
Already shaping up to be a massive year, 2026 will see King back on the road with Morgan Wallen starting this April. He’ll also tour alongside Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Jon Pardi, Vincent Mason, and Chase Matthew, with a Stagecoach appearance rounding out a packed live schedule.
Blending the thoughtful introspection of a roots poet with the grit and edge of alt-rock, Zach John King continues to carve out a lane that feels both fresh and familiar. Raised in Fayetteville, Georgia, and coming from a family of poets, King grew up steeped in classic influences like George Jones and Otis Redding while also pulling inspiration from The Police and Third Eye Blind. Before moving to Nashville in 2021, he fronted an indie-rock band through college, shaping the genre-blurring sound he’s now known for.
His breakout 2024 single, “Wannabe Cowboy,” turned heads with its conflicted, confessional tone, earning over 6.7 million streams worldwide and standing apart from country’s usual bravado. Since then, King has been named to MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2026, Country Now’s 10 Artists to Watch, and Holler’s 20 New Artists for 2026, solidifying his status as one of the genre’s most exciting rising voices.
With “Get To Drinkin’,” Zach John King opens another bold chapter—one rooted in honesty, electric guitars, and the blurred line where country and rock collide. And if this release is any indication, he’s just getting started.
