Zach Bryan’s new song “High Road” may be topping charts, but the real noise is coming from his public split with ex-girlfriend Brianna Chickenfry. The dramatic breakup—complete with Brianna’s tell-all podcast and a barrage of pointed social media posts—has drawn country music fans into a whirlwind of gossip and speculation. But as the back-and-forth unfolds, it’s hard to ignore how these public spats reflect a deeper cultural issue that’s seeping into the fabric of American life.
This isn’t just another celebrity breakup; it’s a cautionary tale about the emptiness of hookup culture and our obsession with scandal and social media feuds. Many young people look up to public figures like Bryan, seeing his raw lyrics and lifestyle as aspirational. But what values are really being promoted? The Bible warns against gossip and division (Proverbs 16:28), yet today’s media celebrates it. This pattern of glamorizing fleeting relationships and petty conflict chips away at the importance of lasting love and commitment.
Whether this drama is real or a publicity stunt, it all plays into a system that uses relationships and heartbreak to sell records and keep celebrities in the headlines. Our culture has turned romance into a game, where people and their emotions become disposable for fame and followers.
Instead of looking to these fleeting, unstable relationships for inspiration, we should be refocusing on values that uplift our communities: faith, family, and the long-lasting commitment of marriage. In a world so caught up in scandal, it’s time to return to these ideals that have been the foundation of strong societies for centuries.
