I remember as a kid getting picked up by my grandfather after school and my ears being blessed by Johnny Cash. Even at the ripe age of 7, I guess I knew I had a liking of the more traditional sounding country music.
From the steel guitar, to the simple beats and the southern, deep twang of the grandfathers of the country music industry, there is so much nostalgia and hums of the past that I love.
As years passed, I found a liking to Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr stemming from my older brother and from there, I knew I was hooked. At the end of the day, I still prefer my selected favorites in today’s world, but when I’m studying or cruising down the pine tree lined streets of Southern New Jersey, I like to throw in my Waylon CD or throw on my classic country playlist.
Why am I telling you all this? Well, in today’s industry, there are some guys that stick out to me and remind me of the music of the past. Those being Zach Top, Jake Worthington and so many others. I just want to take the time to spotlight those Zach and Jake and tell you why they are great.
The man from Washington
I discovered Top on TikTok much like a lot of others. I could not escape videos promoting Top’s new hit single, I Never Lie.
Top, born in Sunnyside, Washington, sounds like he is from the flats of Oklahoma with his twang. A lot of people throw shade at Top for “faking” his accent, but Top, like me, grew up listening to the older music and emulated the sound to make it sound authentic and I salute him for that.
Top released his first single on Spotify in 2019 and from there he took off. He also would release covers on TikTok and they would soon receive a ton of engagement.
In 2022, Top released Cold Beer & Country Music as a single and this would soon be the title track of his second album which he released in April of 2024.
All the songs on that album sound straight from the 90s which hooked millions, including me. From I Never Lie, Cold Beer & Country Music, Bad Luck, Use Me, Sounds Like the Radio, Top did not miss.
This past summer, I was able to snag Top in concert and he sounded even better live. With a Coors Banquet in one hand to a cigarette in the other, Top can expect to have his audience hooked for years on end as long as he stays true to himself and the style of music he puts out.
Top recently released his new album, Ain’t In It For My Health in August of 2025 and one thing is for sure: he stuck to his roots and was a big hit.
Pride of Texas
If Top were to have a brother in the industry, it would be Jake Worthington. Just like Top, Worthington brings that 90s sound that people adore.
Worthington, who is from Texas, brings the same approach as Top. A traditional sound that makes you transport in time back to a dark and sweaty Honky Tonk.
Songs like It Ain’t The Whiskey, Not Like I Used To, Two First Names and My Home’s In Oklahoma are some of my personal favorites.
Worthington’s first release came in 2015 and was also known from The Voice where he first appeared in 2014 as a teenager.
But, more recently, Worthington is finding his groove as he released an album titled, When I Write The Song.
On this album, filled with 90s-style jams, are the songs I mentioned above which makes for a fun listen.
Worthington, last year, went on tour with Top where he served as the opener. Also like my discovery of Top, I found Worthington on TikTok and I was hooked. And when I saw them tour together, my world imploded.
During Top’s set, Worthington came out and joined Top in singing Country Boy Blues and from there, I was dreaming of a song from them together.
Give it a shot
I know a lot of people prefer the new-sounding country, and I don’t blame them, it’s catchy stuff. But, when you and your buddies are huddled around a campfire, tanking beers, I plead you to throw on some Top or Worthington, and perchance some paw-paw music.
Outside of Top and Worthington, there are so many other guys that bring the same approach. Some others that come to my mind are Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson), Charley Crockett, The Reeves Brothers, The Kruse Brothers, and so many more.
But at the end of the day, these types of discussions are why I love country music. There are so many genres within it and everyone has their type that they love and can share with others.