When Zach Bryan Spoke About His New Relationship, One Detail Had Everyone Thinking of Brianna LaPaglia. ML
Country star Zach Bryan is making headlines again — but this time, it’s not for his music. The 29-year-old Pink Skies singer has fans doing a double-take after introducing his new girlfriend, Samantha Leonard, whose resemblance to his ex, Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, is leaving the internet stunned.
Bryan and Leonard went public earlier this year following his public split from LaPaglia in late 2024. But after the Oklahoma-born artist shared a sweet birthday tribute to Leonard on Instagram — and turned comments off — fans couldn’t help but notice the uncanny similarities between the two women.
“Is this Brianna 2.0?” one fan joked on TikTok. Others called Leonard a “clone,” echoing LaPaglia’s own tongue-in-cheek comments.
The post, which featured romantic photos of Bryan and Leonard hiking, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors, was captioned with Bryan’s signature humor and affection:
💬 “From bull runs to all the bull**t, today is your birthday and I love you, Samantha Marie.”*
However, the singer’s new relationship comes amid controversy. In recent weeks, Bryan has faced backlash over lyrics from his upcoming track Bad News, which references U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the lyrics “disrespectful,” prompting Bryan to respond that his words were taken out of context and reflected “love for America, not hate.”
Meanwhile, LaPaglia addressed her ex’s love life on her Plan Bri Uncut podcast, saying, “I think that’s narcissism textbook 101 — finding another version of me to date.”
Her Barstool colleague Dave Portnoy also weighed in, calling Bryan a “psychopath” who “built a Brianna 2.0 in a lab.”
Despite the drama, Bryan’s fans remain split — some defending his right to move on, others claiming the resemblance between Leonard and LaPaglia is “too eerie to ignore.”
