Zach Top Hits No. 1 with “I Never Lie” – and River Rat Country Was There First

Zach Top’s throwback ballad “I Never Lie” is now the No. 1 song on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, officially dethroning some of the biggest names in the business—including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Kane Brown.

But here at River Rat Country, we’re not surprised.

We were spinning Zach Top’s music—including “I Never Lie”—well before the big FM stations caught on. That’s what we do: bring our listeners new, real country before it hits the mainstream.

A Neotraditional Breakthrough

Zach Top’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Just over a year ago, he was a new name to most listeners. But his brand of neotraditional country—evoking the sounds of legends like George Strait and Keith Whitley—struck a chord. He first went viral on TikTok, with “I Never Lie” appearing in over 25,000 videos, earning him a fast-growing fanbase and major streaming traction.

The track debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart and climbed to No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100—a rare feat for a traditional-sounding country tune in 2025.

Chart-Topping Stats

“I Never Lie” has now racked up:

• 154 million+ streams
• Over 573 million total career streams
• Gold certification from the RIAA
• The ACM New Male Artist of the Year award
• CMA nominations for Album and New Artist of the Year

And now, it’s officially the No. 1 song on country radio.

River Rat Country Knew Before Nashville Did

Long before major market FMs added Zach Top to their playlists, River Rat Country was playing “I Never Lie” and other tracks from his debut album Cold Beer & Country Music. We believed in his sound because it fits what we stand for: REAL country.

That’s why we always say:

Discover new real country on River Rat Country.

While the mainstream catches up, our listeners already know what’s good.

A Voice for the Future—and the Past

During Josh’s interview with Shenandoah frontman Marty Raybon, he put it best:

“A year and a half ago, no one knew who Zach Top was. Then TikTok blew him up.”

Top’s success proves that there’s still a huge audience for steel guitars, strong storytelling, and country music with soul. His Fallon performance in April only boosted his profile, and now, with a No. 1 hit under his belt, Zach Top’s just getting started.

Keep listening to River Rat Country—where new legends are made, and you hear them first.