There are moments in country music when you can feel the shift before anyone says it out loud. This is one of those moments. When Zach Top steps up as a headliner at the 2026 Pendleton Whisky Music Fest, it is not just another name added to a poster. A young artist taking hold of the moment fans have been waiting for.
Zach Top is no longer the guy people are discovering. He is the guy people are showing up for. In just a short stretch of time, he went from farm kid out of Sunnyside, Washington, to winning CMA New Artist of the Year with a beer in his hand and a grin that said he belongs here. Then came three Grammy nominations. Then came sold out homecoming nights in the Northwest.
Pendleton is known for honoring country tradition. That is why this headlining spot matters so much. Zach fits the soul of the festival, but he also changes its temperature. From crowd singalongs to guitar driven energy, the vibe shifts from good to unforgettable the moment he takes the stage.
This year also marks the festival’s tenth anniversary, which makes the timing feel perfect. A modern sound that still respects where country comes from. Fans are calling it a passing of the torch, and it is hard to argue.
The road to our 10-year anniversary begins today!
Before the festival posters, before the nonstop buzz, Zach Top had to deliver in front of the biggest crowd country music can offer. His live CMA Awards performance of “Guitar” is that moment. It is the exact point where a fast rising name turns into a certified contender.
Zach Top – “Guitar” | Live at CMA Awards 2025
Before Zach Top could lead a festival, he learned how to hold a crowd night after night on a major tour. His conversation with Dierks Bentley pulls back the curtain on that 2025 apprenticeship, from shared bluegrass roots to how Ain’t In It For My Health was shaped for the road. It explains the polish behind the grit. Then “Good Times & Tan Lines” captures the carefree hook he is bringing with him, loud and ready for summer.