Zac Brown Band’s ‘Chicken Fried’ Seals Band’s First No. 1 Hit

Thanks to Zac Brown Band’s ‘Chicken Fried,’ they gained an incredible 6x Platinum sales. Besides that, the upbeat song peaked at No. 1 in the Billboard Hot Country Songs, a first for the band. More so, it has all these trivia that spark the interest of many fans.

‘Chicken Fried’ Beginnings

The song didn’t finish overnight heck, it didn’t end for a few weeks or months alone. Zac Brown wrote the song with Wyatt Durrette several years before its release. Many fans thought that since ‘Chicken Fried’ was their first single on the band’s debut studio album, The Foundation. But that wasn’t the case. Nevertheless, the duo clearly nailed it on this single.

During an interview tackling this song, the songwriters went back to memory lane. Brown and Durrette shared how they met at a tavern in Atlanta, Georgia. The former was a vocalist, while the latter was a bartender at the said bar. After a few drinks, Durrette reveals that he writes songs too, which helped Brown make progress.

Working on ‘Chicken Fried,’ they began listing off the south’s character and tradition. They brainstormed to which of these will be included in their lyrics. As it was a work in progress in 2003, Brown decided to have the 9/11 terrorist attack, making it more touching for listeners. More so, he also considers the song as a lifestyle of southern cuisine and a patriotic theme.

Zac Brown Band actually first recorded the song in 2003 for their 2004 Home Grown album. Later on, they added it on their first debut studio album, The Foundation, in 2009.

Conflicts Between Another Band

Zac Brown Band songs often gain the top spot on hit charts. It’s one of the reasons why another country music band, The Lost Trailers, had set their eyes on ‘Chicken Fried.’ After they heard it in 2004, they met up with Brown asking permission to cover the song. The talented vocalist of Zac Brown Band agreed but, he has a condition to never recreate it as their single. Of course, The Lost Trailers agreed.

However, in 2006, the said band broke their promise. The Lost Trailers made it one of their singles and played it on radios. As expected, Brown didn’t sit idly when he first heard it and asked his lawyer for advice. His party then concluded in issuing a cease-and-desist letter which pulled The Lost Trailers cover off the airwaves.

After that, Zac Brown Band’s ‘Chicken Fried’ dominated the United States with 4 million copies sold. This song also made the band the first country music group with a debut single to reach Number One.

Check out the song below.