Zach Bryan is not currently married. The country music singer was previously married to Rose Madden, whom he met while they were both serving in the U.S. Navy. The couple married in July 2020 but quietly divorced just a year later in the summer of 2021.
Because Bryan’s rise to massive fame happened shortly after his divorce, many fans are unfamiliar with his past marriage. Today, public interest in his relationship status usually centers around his high-profile girlfriends rather than his ex-wife.
Here is a complete breakdown of Zach Bryan’s marriage to Rose Madden and his subsequent relationship history.
Quick Facts: Zach Bryan’s Marriage & Relationships
- Current Marital Status: Single
Ex-Wife: Rose Madden
Marriage Duration: July 2020 – July 2021
How They Met: Serving together in the U.S. Navy
Recent Relationships: Deb Peifer (2022–2023), Brianna LaPaglia (2023–2024)
Children: None
Who is Zach Bryan’s Ex-Wife, Rose Madden?
Before Zach Bryan was selling out stadiums and winning Grammy Awards, he was an active-duty aviation ordnanceman in the United States Navy. During his service, he met and began dating Rose Madden, a fellow Navy service member.
The couple’s relationship developed entirely outside the public eye. At the time, Bryan was just beginning to build a following by posting raw, acoustic singing videos to YouTube and Twitter.
The 2020 Wedding in Washington State
Bryan and Madden married on July 16, 2020. The ceremony was intimate and took place at Colchuck Lake in Washington state, near where the couple was stationed for their military service.
During this era, Bryan recorded his second studio album, Elisabeth (2020). He famously recorded the project in a repurposed barn behind the Washington home he shared with Madden. While Madden has kept her life incredibly private, early fans of Bryan’s music heavily associate this album and its stripped-down, domestic origins with his time married to her.
A Quiet Divorce in 2021
The marriage was short-lived. By July 2021, exactly a year after their wedding, the couple divorced.
Neither Bryan nor Madden released a public statement regarding the split. Instead, the breakup was confirmed indirectly when both parties deleted all photos of each other from their respective social media accounts.
Madden has maintained a private life since the divorce and has never publicly spoken about her brief marriage to the country star. Eight months after the divorce, in late 2021, Bryan was honorably discharged from the Navy after eight years of service to pursue music full-time.
Zach Bryan’s Post-Divorce Relationships
Following his divorce and his rapid ascent to country music superstardom, Bryan’s dating life became a subject of heavy media and fan attention. He has had two major relationships since his marriage ended.
Deb Peifer (January 2022 – May 2023)
In early 2022, Bryan began dating Deb Peifer, an education coordinator based in Philadelphia. Peifer frequently appeared on Bryan’s social media, and the two often posted videos singing together on TikTok.
During this relationship, Bryan’s career skyrocketed with the release of his major-label debut album, American Heartbreak. Fans quickly embraced Peifer, and the relationship appeared highly supportive.
However, in May 2023, Bryan announced via X (formerly Twitter) that he and Peifer had ended their relationship. He described the split as mutual and asked fans to respect their privacy, writing, “Things are mutual between us, we’re leaving with plenty of memories and good times.”
Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia (July 2023 – October 2024)
Bryan’s most public relationship to date was with Brianna LaPaglia, widely known as Brianna Chickenfry, a popular podcaster for Barstool Sports.
The two first met at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2023, though both were in other relationships at the time. After both became single, they reconnected and officially began dating in July 2023.
The relationship was highly visible. LaPaglia frequently discussed Bryan on her PlanBri Uncut and BFFs podcasts, giving fans behind-the-scenes looks at his tours. In May 2024, the couple survived a severe side-by-side off-road vehicle crash, an event both credited with bringing them closer together. Bryan also confirmed that several tracks on his 2024 album, The Great American Bar Scene, including “Smaller Acts,” were inspired by LaPaglia.
Despite the public affection, the relationship ended abruptly in the fall of 2024. On October 22, 2024, Bryan posted a statement on his Instagram Story confirming the breakup. He wrote that he had had “an incredibly hard year personally” and needed to deal with personal issues alone. Shortly after, LaPaglia posted a video stating she felt “blindsided” by the public announcement.
How Relationships Influence His Songwriting
Zach Bryan is known for highly autobiographical, emotionally raw songwriting. Because of this, fans closely track his relationship timeline to decipher the meaning behind his lyrics.
- The Early Years (2019–2020): Songs from DeAnn and Elisabeth are often tied to his time in the Navy and his relationship with Rose Madden.
- The Breakout Era (2022): Much of American Heartbreak deals with the fallout of past relationships and the transient nature of life on the road.
- Recent Work (2023–2024): His self-titled 2023 album and 2024’s The Great American Bar Scene feature specific references to his life with Deb Peifer and Brianna LaPaglia.
While his relationship status frequently changes, Bryan remains unmarried following his 2021 divorce from Madden.
FAQs
Is Zach Bryan married right now?
No, Zach Bryan is currently single. He announced his split from his most recent girlfriend, podcaster Brianna LaPaglia, in October 2024.
Who is Zach Bryan’s ex-wife?
Zach Bryan’s ex-wife is Rose Madden. They met while serving together in the U.S. Navy and were married from July 2020 to July 2021.
Does Zach Bryan have any children?
No, Zach Bryan does not have any children from his previous marriage or any of his subsequent relationships.
Why did Zach Bryan and Rose Madden divorce?
The specific reasons for Zach Bryan and Rose Madden’s divorce have never been made public. Both parties handled the split privately in 2021 and have never discussed the details with the press.
Source list
- People Magazine: Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia’s Relationship Timeline, October 2024
- Us Weekly: Zach Bryan’s Dating History: Rose Madden, Brianna LaPaglia and More, October 2024
- Billboard: Zach Bryan Confirms Breakup With Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia, October 2024
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