Zach Bryan removes “Memphis; The Blues” track after public fallout with John Moreland

Zach Bryan pulls “Memphis; The Blues” after John Moreland mocks his $350M record and publishing deal.

Zach Bryan has removed the track “Memphis; The Blues” from his latest album The Great American Bar Scene following a public rift with co-writer and collaborator John Moreland.

The move came after Moreland appeared to criticise Bryan's reported $350 million music deal in a now-deleted Instagram post, calling him “the f—ing off-brand version of me.”

Bryan responded to the comments on Instagram, stating that he could not include someone on his record who had a problem with him, adding, “Not trying to be dramatic but refuse to have anyone with a problem with me on my records.”

The track, which featured both artists, has since been removed or greyed out on streaming platforms like Spotify and Tidal. However, Bryan clarified that he plans to re-release the song with Moreland’s vocals removed.

The social media exchange marked an unexpected turn, as Bryan and Moreland were thought to be friendly collaborators. The original version of “Memphis; The Blues” was part of Bryan’s No. 1 album, released in 2024.

Moreland, known for his strong presence in the Americana music scene, has previously drawn attention for outspoken remarks — including a 2024 bar altercation involving a member of the Turnpike Troubadours.

Despite the dispute, Moreland will continue to earn songwriting royalties if the track is re-released in a modified form.

Representatives for both artists have not publicly commented. Other guest artists on the album, including Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer, have not addressed the situation.