Put him in a box and musician Zach Bryan will try to escape.

Despite winning multiple country music awards over the past two years, the 28-year-old rising star isn’t interested in being called a “country musician.”

In a candid conversation with Bruce Springsteen for Rolling Stone, Bryan explained why limiting himself to one music genre bothers him.

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Zach Bryan has skyrocketed to fame over the past two years. (Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Before his bold comments, Bryan compared his perception of his music to Springsteen’s perception of the world.

“When I listen to your music, I think, ‘If you put any other production on this, it’s a country song,’” Bryan told Springsteen, who agreed with the assessment.

“That’s why I don’t want to be a country musician,” he continued.

Zach Bryan says he doesn’t like being limited to the label of “country musician.” (Keith Griner/Getty Images)

“I don’t want to be a country musician. Everyone calls me that. I want to be a songwriter, and you’re essentially a songwriter,” he told the 20-time Grammy Award winner.

“No one calls Bruce Springsteen – I hate to use your name in your presence – but no one calls Bruce Springsteen a crazy rock musician, and so are you, but you’re also an indie musician, you’re also a country musician. You’re all these things encapsulated in one man, and that’s what songwriting is.”

This is how Bryan wants to be received: a musician who is at home in all markets.

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Zach Bryan told Bruce Springsteen that he was a “hero” for not being pigeonholed into a genre of music. (Mike Lewis Photography/Redferns/Getty Images)

“Nobody ever came up to you and said you were in line somehow,” Bryan told Springsteen, calling him his “hero.”

“I don’t want to be a country musician.”

–Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan is currently on ‘The Quittin Time Tour’. (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

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In 2022, he shared similar sentiments with The New York Times, naming Springsteen one of many artists whose career he wanted to reflect. “I think people understand that’s not me,” Bryan said of being a country singer. “I want to be in the beginning space of Springsteen, Kings of Leon and Ed Sheeran.”

He also confirmed how important songwriting is for success in the industry.

“Songwriting is such a big part of this. … If you’re missing it, what the hell are you doing? You’re just performing. You’re an actor.”

Zach Bryan and his girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia appear at the Grammy Awards. (John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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Bryan has been nominated four times at the Grammy Awards, for Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance, which he won this year with Kacey Musgraves.

He has also been nominated for three Academy of Country Music Awards, winning New Male Artist of the Year in 2023. As for the Billboard Music Awards – he has been nominated fourteen times – he has won three in the rock category.

Bryan is currently on his “Quittin Time Tour,” with his next scheduled performance in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday evening.