Western Artist Zach Aaron and the True Meaning of Authenticity
What exactly “authenticity” is, and what role it plays or should play in country and Western music has always been a fiercely-debated topic; almost as fiercely debated as what country and Western music even is by definition.
But whatever “authenticity” means, or whatever possessing it endows upon a given musician, there is no question that songwriter and performer Zach Aaron has it in spades, and in a way that’s unquestionable. It helps that his songs are also stellar, as is his voice, his fingerpicking guitar style, and his demeanor on stage that finds that endearing nexus between naturally cocksure and unflinchingly self-deprecating.
Though it’s fair to characterize Zach Aaron as a full-time touring musician and songwriter, it’s really all the other stuff he’s done and is currently doing that lends to his songs coming with that “lived it” stroke of intrigue, appeal, and believability for the audience. There is no suspending disbelief here or corny hipster put-ons to have to power through. Zach Aaron lives what he sings and sings what he lives.
Originally from the small town of Cleveland, TX north and east of Houston, Zach Aaron did four years in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter aircraft mechanic. He also works as a horseshoe farrier when he has the time, and has a side hustle as a leatherworker. Zach Aaron even took up saddle bronc riding for a spell, as he explained on the May 3rd taping of The Hook.
“I just hung it up on October,” Zach Aaron explained. “But I did that for five years. I actually didn’t get on my first bronc until I was 32, which is stupid. But I loved it. I was not ready to quit, but it was time … It kind of saved my life in a way. I was in a really, really, really dark place. And I just decided to get on one. A friend of mine was going, and I said, ‘Hell, I’ll go and get on one.’ I always wanted to try it, and just got hooked.”
Country music has dozens of rodeo songs. And as Zach Aaron said sarcastically introducing his song “Damn Rodeo” on The Hook, “Real creative title.” But what Zach Aaron has that so many country rodeo songs don’t is the man who wrote and sang it also lived it. “I actually wrote that in the parking lot, waiting to get on a bronc,” Aaron explained.
Zach Aaron stimulated a great discussion about authenticity on The Hook between the panelists, including co-host Caitlin Cannon, and guest host Stacy Antonel who is originally from California—and like so many California artists, get unfairly criticized for not being “authentic,” even though California’s country music culture is as rich as any. You can see the performance and discussion below.
But just as much as “authenticity” can be an asset to those performers who possess it, it can also be a serious burden, and sometimes an insurmountable one. Unwilling and unable to be anything other than their true selves, it’s often puts genuine performers at a significant disadvantage in a business full of phonys with a “fake it ’till you make it” attitude. Often it’s the most authentic artists that fail to find the audience their music deserves, however niche that audience might be in the first place.
But perhaps not for much longer. As virtually everything else in life becomes increasingly fake and artificial, the contrast it draws with country music’s Western performers like Zach Aaron only becomes more stark, the perspectives they share become even more valuable, and the experiences they can deliver live are that much more sought-after.
Artists like Colter Wall, and of course the whole Yellowstone Effect have also opened more advantageous avenues for performers like Zach Aaron. There is now an appetite for this type of music. Zach Aaron’s music is nothing new. It’s been there via multiple self-released albums and singles dating back to 2014, and he’s a regular on the touring circuit. He showed up to The Hook in a Dusty Vaquero hat—a festival happening in Wyoming May 28-30 with a bunch of great Western artists.
“Authenticity” is not just about being a bronc rider in the rodeo, or being born in Texas of the deep south. It’s about being true to yourself, not matter what that true self is. AI music is here. The music industry pumps out art as product every single day. But in the honky tonks, songwriting rounds, and rodeo stables across the United States, artists like Zach Aaron are still out there keeping the true spirit of the music alive.
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May 10, 2026 @ 12:47 pm
Authenticity’s when the music sounds like country.
May 10, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
To strangley continue the thread from the last post… when you think of this genre, you think of Bakersfield, but you also think of names like Colter Wall or Ray Benson, neither of whom have real bonfide “street cred” upbringing, but it doesnt really matter, if its good music that moves you, who cares what conditions someones parents brought you into. This authenticity crap is overplayed.
May 10, 2026 @ 4:45 pm
But again, if your measurement for authenticity is someone is being true to themselves, it has nothing to do with their parents and upbringing. This is where the impasse and misunderstanding come into this issue.
May 10, 2026 @ 5:24 pm
What exactly does “authenticity” mean being authentic to? Is it being authentic to their own artistic vision and not comprising? Or does it mean having a congruency between their own upbringing and the music? I would argue it’s the former. Luke Bryan has country boy street cred but his music is crap. Kris Kristofferson came from wealth but is considered one of Country’s best songwriters. Jon Pardi came up thru the honkytonks in Nashville but started releasing terrible Pop Country songs – compare this to Midland who didn’t “pay their dues in the clubs” yet have always put out 90’s Country sounding music and haven’t deviated from that.
May 10, 2026 @ 7:38 pm
Luke Bryan definitely has the street cred, his Dad is a customer of mine. He owns Tri County Ag in Smithville, Georgia and owns a peanut, cotton and Pecan farm in SW Georgia. Salt of the earth dude as well.
May 10, 2026 @ 11:53 pm
and lots of the stars in the 90’s came from well-off suburban upbringings, even it was Oklahoma
May 10, 2026 @ 4:10 pm
The Dusty Vaquero YouTube channel and now podcast is a great place to meet more of these guys. Glad to see they’re doing an event.
May 11, 2026 @ 1:21 am
…he had me right from “…real creative title…”.
May 11, 2026 @ 1:44 pm
Authenticity depends on if someone likes the artist or not.
May 13, 2026 @ 1:33 pm
i wonder if there are any commenters that frequently comment negatively on someone’s authenticity in this forum…
May 11, 2026 @ 7:08 pm
The authenticity argument never ends. Here on SCM it always comes up and opinions are always very divided. Some are obsessed with geographical birthplace, others with was the artist truly rural or not, others judge by the stylistic and sonic characteristics. And some are obsessed with the notion that if the writer didn’t personally experience it, it cannot be valid.
So let’s take these ideas and look at books and movies for a minute.
Did Louis Lamour have gunfights with outlaws? Did Louis Lamour rob trains?
Did Edgar Rice Burroughs live in the African Jungle and fight savages and poachers? Did Jules Verne build submarines or rockets?
Did John Ford ride the open range as a working cowboy? Was John Wayne ever a real Gunfighter or war hero? Was Clint Eastwood ever a real cop?
I think the answers clear. Its called entertainment. Why is music supposed to be different?
Thats what I ask myself. It is true that we loved Chris Ledoux because he was the real deal, but how common is that?
Theres gotta be some room for talented writers and storytellers who can cleverly convey a story in a song despite not personally living it. Some of our greatest songwriters meet that description and some of our greatest vocalists sang about a life they never knew. Its called entertainment.
May 12, 2026 @ 5:04 am
i love country songwriting when is honest and stripped. That’s also why i started writing in my own language (italian) after yearsof writing and singing in english. Even if i write about something i didn’t personally experienced i don’t want any put ons
May 13, 2026 @ 6:27 am
Authenticity in country music is the same as in any other art form; your audience must believe you.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a cowhand or a paper pusher in the White House. If you can make me believe the story about herding cattle through a blizzard, you’re authentic, no matter your background.
But; if you’re rapping about screwing some chicks in your pickup truck behind the barn, backed by a computer program, it’s not country music, no matter if you spent your formative years watching a mule’s behind as you plowed the field.
May 13, 2026 @ 6:29 am
Authenticity in country music is the same as in any other art form; your audience must believe you.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a cowhand or a paper pusher in the White House. If you can make me believe the story about herding cattle through a blizzard, you’re authentic, no matter your background.
But; if you’re rapping about screwing some chicks in your pickup truck behind the barn, backed by a computer program, it’s not country music, no matter if you spent your formative years watching a mule’s behind as you plowed the field.
(Trigger, feel free to delete if I posted this twice, the connection fucked up for a second)
May 28, 2026 @ 11:47 am
In the uk i find it difficult to distinguish between country music and western music. I notice that Dave Stamey and Trinity Seely are on the Vaquero Acts list. I have music by both of these artists and they seem authentic to me, but believe they are considered “western” artists.If anyone can enlighten me as to why that should be so, it would be much appreciated.