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

Zach Top Honors George Strait with Amarillo by Morning at RodeoHouston

Zach Top honors George Strait at RodeoHouston with a powerful Amarillo by Morning performance, proving traditional country music is alive and well.
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

Zach Top had a full house at RodeoHouston hanging on every note as he delivered a stirring rendition of “Amarillo by Morning”—the first song he ever learned to play on guitar. Covering a song deeply tied to George Strait and the Houston Rodeo is no small task. However, Top didn’t just perform it—he owned it, proving that traditional country music still has a place on the genre’s biggest stages.

@corydevers

Zach Top covering “Amarillo By Morning” by George Strait at the Houston Rodeo 3/11/25. #houstonrodeo #zachtop #georgestrait #htx #tx #rodeo #concert #texas #amarillobymorning

♬ original sound – Cory Evers

His tribute to Strait was just one part of a night that felt like a throwback to country music’s golden era. With a voice steeped in the twang and tradition of the ’90s, Top turned the massive venue into a honky-tonk time machine. From his own original songs to covers of Merle Haggard and Strait himself, he delivered a set that made it clear—Zach Top isn’t just inspired by country’s greats, he’s carrying their legacy forward.

A Sound That Stands the Test of Time

Country music has gone through many evolutions over the years, but there’s something about the golden era of the late ’80s and ’90s that still resonates. It was the time of George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis—artists who built their careers on twangy guitars, fiddle-driven melodies, and lyrics about heartbreak, hard work, and small-town life.

Zach Top isn’t just inspired by that era—he lives and breathes it. His music stays true to the traditions that made country great, and at RodeoHouston, he proved that this sound isn’t just a relic of the past. From the opening chords of “Sounds Like the Radio,” a song that name-drops Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” it was clear that Top was here to pay homage to the classics while making them his own.

Unlike many of today’s rising stars, Top isn’t interested in chasing trends. There were no pop-infused beats, snap tracks, or flashy stage gimmicks—just pure, unfiltered country music. Dressed in a classic button-up and jeans, he looked every bit the part of a traditionalist, reinforcing the idea that sometimes, the best way to move forward is by honoring the past.

A Setlist Rooted in Tradition

RELATED: Mark Chesnutt Declares Zach Top the Future of Real Country Music

What set Zach Top’s RodeoHouston performance apart was how seamlessly his original songs fit alongside the classics. It takes a special kind of artist to cover Merle Haggard and George Strait without sounding out of place, but Top did just that. His rendition of “Amarillo by Morning” was a highlight, a full-circle moment, considering it was the first song he ever learned to play on guitar.

But it wasn’t just the covers that had the crowd two-stepping. Songs like “Beer for Breakfast,” “Dirt Turns to Gold,” and “Things to Do” felt like they could have been pulled from a George Strait or Randy Travis album. His songwriting is raw honesty and lacks pretense, making his music feel timeless.

When he closed the show with Cold Beer & Country Music, it felt less like a concert ending and more like a promise—traditional country isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving.

Keeping Country Music’s Roots Alive

Zach Top’s rise is a reminder that there will always be a place for real country music. In just two years, he went from selling a dozen tickets in Alabama to performing in front of tens of thousands at one of country music’s most iconic venues. That kind of journey isn’t just about luck—it’s proof that people still crave the authenticity and soul of traditional country.

For longtime fans of the genre, Top represents hope. He’s not here to reinvent the wheel but to keep it rolling. And if his RodeoHouston performance was any indication, he’s just getting started.

Latest Stories

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 ...

Oliver Anthony belts out raw heartbreak in a dimly lit studio session, his face scrunched in pain, strumming a resonator guitar with the kind of fury only divorce can fuel.

Oliver Anthony Poured His Divorce Hell Into “Scornful Woman” and It’s Flat-Out Devastating

You can smell the smoke coming off this one before the first note even hits. Oliver Anthony isn’t one for PR gloss or neatly packaged pain. He’s raw, gravel-throated, and ...

Brad Paisley strums his guitar under a spotlight—looking like he’s about to sing the song that breaks every stepdad’s heart wide open. Not the original performance, but you can feel the same lump in your throat.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is the Ultimate Tribute to Men Who Chose to Be Dad

It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, then hits like a freight train made of soft memories and old regrets. Before Brad Paisley was co-hosting the CMAs ...