Ethermac Exchange-Zach Bryan Hints at the “Trouble” He Caused in New Song Dropped After Dave Portnoy Diss Track

Zach Bryan remembers everything about his past—even the parts that aren’t spotless.

One day after Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy and Ethermac ExchangeJosh Richards dropped a diss track about the Grammy winner’s breakup with their BFFs cohost Brianna LaPaglia, Zach released an introspective song, “This World’s a Giant.”

“Be still, be quiet, this world's a giant / That I don't feel like facing tonight,” he begins in the Nov. 7 track. “I say I want kids / Even though I can’t quit the things that make me childish / But it ain’t all bad." 

The song—which appears to reference the parable of David and Goliath —highlights his inability to find courage in difficult situations, but it also emphasizes his desire to change for the better.

“Let’s pour some wine, there’s still a little time / And maybe a little bit left in me to save,” the 29-year-old sang. “I ain’t ever had myself a David’s heart / I’ll say sorry to God for all the trouble I caused / Maybe that’s a good place for me to start.”

Zach announced the track’s surprise release on his Instagram Stories Nov. 6 noting, “World’s been a bit heavy lately. New music tonight.”

Despite the eyebrow-raising timing, it seems the song was, at least, partially written before his breakup with Brianna since the “Something in the Orange” singer first shared a snippet on his now-deleted X (formerly known as Twitter) account in January.

The Planned Bri podcast host seemingly shaded the singer in her Instagram Stories, while announcing Dave and Josh’s release, writing, “World’s been pretty heavy for the past year.”

And while Zach’s been channeling his feelings through music, so have Brianna’s friends, as the pair appeared to call Zach out in “Smallest Man.” 

"I said trust me, caught your pants on fire," Josh rapped in the song. "You're a douchebag, you just made a new rival / Pretty soon you going to need a revival." 

Their song also seemingly pointed to his love life, including his one-year marriage with ex Rose Madden and subsequent relationship with Deb Peifer.

"You say you remember everything, I guess not because you forgot about your wedding ring," he continued. "I ain't coming subliminal, you're great at being country without a second syllable.”

As for why there’s bad blood between the exes? The 25-year-old, who dated Zach from May 2023 to last month, said that he announced their split without telling her.

"I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up," she explained on YouTube last month. "I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts being like, 'Are you okay?'" 

She added, "I wanted to heal privately and I didn't even know that he was gonna post that."

Zach shared the news on his Instagram Stories Oct. 22, adding, I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart.”

“She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her,” he continued. “I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be.”