Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Get To Know Chris Fryar And His Humble Beginning in Music Industry

Zac Brown Band Member - CHRIS FRYAR
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Chris Fryar, the drummer for The Zac Brown Band, got a humble beginning before joining the award-winning country group. He was playing at shows in Georgia for $40 and a free meal per night when a friend of Zac Brown noticed his talent and asked him if he was interested in joining the band.

It was in 2008, about the same time Zac Brown Band was about to tour with a breakthrough hit “Chicken Fried” – and was in need of a new drummer, to which Fryar happily auditioned. In less than 24 hours, Fryar found himself driving from Birmingham all the way to Atlanta, despite not knowing any Zac Brown Band Songs at the time.

A month later, Fryar joined Zac Brown Band members traveling by bus and performing shows at Austin, Texas. Soon, they’re already touring and promoting “Chicken Fried,” the song that put them to stardom.

Chris Fryar’s Early Start In Music

Born in 1970, Chris Fryar was already “singing and banging on pots and pans at a very early age.” At the age of six, Fryar was already strumming his first guitar, and when he was eleven, Fryar received his first pair of drumsticks.

But it was in junior high school when he started learning his craft and developed his love for making all kinds of music. It was at this very moment Fryar wanted to pursue music as a career. But with his parents’ desire to go to college, Fryar attended the University of North Texas and the Mississippi University for Women.

However, his professors saw something in him that he missed seeing at the time. They advised him to drop out of school and get out on the road with a band, which he did! He started pursuing the life of a working musician and made a name for himself in the Birmingham music scene, and eventually became Zac Brown Band’s drummer.

“My journey has been long, sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, but always very fun,” Fryar said.

Latest Stories

Luke Bryan laughs at the piano during a concert moment, capturing the exact scene where he forgot the lyrics to his own hit “Strip It Down” but charmed the crowd anyway.

Luke Bryan Halts His Show After Forgetting the Lyrics to One of His Biggest Hits

Even the biggest stars can blank out when the spotlight hits just right. Luke Bryan has performed in sold-out arenas, headlined every major tour from coast to coast, and stacked ...

Thompson Square's Keifer and Shawna smile while holding ACM awards and red cups, celebrating with old-school country charm and a firm stance against pop crossover trends.

Thompson Square Roasts Pop Collabs Says Country’s Cool Enough Without Beyoncé or Any of That Pop

Country music’s no stranger to outsiders trying to crash the party, but Thompson Square just poured a stiff shot of truth and said what a lot of folks in Nashville ...

Allie Colleen performs on stage with a big smile and acoustic guitar, showing confidence and independence as she builds her music career on her own terms—far from her father Garth Brooks’ shadow.

Garth Brooks’ Daughter Says She Doesn’t Represent Him and Wants No Part of His Shadow

In a world where name-dropping can open every door in Nashville, Allie Colleen is out here trying to slam it shut. The 28-year-old country artist and youngest daughter of Garth ...

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Moved On, But Did They Ever Make Amends?

Country music fans watched their fairytale unfold like a damn movie until the credits rolled too soon, and the lights came up on something way messier. Blake Shelton and Miranda ...

Gwen Stefani smiles at Blake Shelton on the red carpet of the Academy of Country Music Awards—despite new song lyrics fueling speculation about trouble in their marriage.

Gwen Stefani’s New Song Is Stirring Talk of Marriage Trouble With Blake Shelton and It’s Not Just the Lyrics

It doesn’t take much to set the rumor mill spinning, but Gwen Stefani just handed it a full tank of gas and a match. Her new single “Still Gonna Love ...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban smile on the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, showing off their unshakable bond—even if a professional collaboration isn’t on the table.

Nicole Kidman Reveals Disappointing News About Keith Urban and Why They Won’t Work Together

Hollywood’s favorite Aussie power couple just crushed a longtime fan dream with one word. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban may have the kind of private fairy tale that gives tabloid ...

Cody Johnson performs at an outdoor concert in front of an American flag, shown here during a previous show, before he paused his Tailgate N Tallboys set to address anti-Trump protests and lead the crowd in a "God Bless America" sing-along.

Cody Johnson Blasts Anti-Trump Protests and His Crowd Responds With a “God Bless America” Sing-Along

Cody Johnson doesn’t tiptoe. He stomps. During his June 14 stop at the Tailgate N Tallboys festival in Bloomington, Illinois, CoJo grabbed the mic, hit pause on the hits, and ...

HARDY performing live onstage in the U.S., shown here during a past show, ahead of canceling the European leg of his Jim Bob World Tour to prioritize family and crew.

HARDY Cancels European Leg of Jim Bob World Tour Ahead of First-Ever Headlining Dates

The long-awaited European run for HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour just hit the brakes, and fans across the pond are understandably bummed. On the morning of June 16, HARDY dropped ...

Billy Ray Cyrus stands on the red carpet in a black leather jacket and sunglasses, unintentionally becoming the center of family drama after Trace Cyrus called him out online.

Trace Cyrus Blasts Billy Ray for Skipping Grandma’s Funeral to Chase Fame and It’s About as Ugly as It Gets

When your son calls you “the l𝐚mest man to ever walk planet earth,” it’s safe to say things have gone past the point of no return. Trace Cyrus is not ...

Holly Dunn performs passionately under soft stage lights with her guitar in hand, capturing the emotion behind her heartfelt classic “Daddy’s Hands.”

Holly Dunn Wrote “Daddy’s Hands” for Her Dad and Somehow Spoke for an Entire Generation

This is the kind of song that makes grown men stare out the truck window in silence and pretend it’s just the pollen getting to them. When Holly Dunn wrote ...