Country star Bailey Zimmerman reveals how viral drunk performance ‘changed’ his life

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A performance by country singer Bailey Zimmerman in Mexico earlier this year gained attention online, but not in a good way.

He faced harsh ridicule after a shaky performance at the Crash My Playa festival in Cancun on January 18, where he sang out of tune and accidentally bumped into the microphone stand.

He later apologized to his fans on Instagram, admitting he had been drinking during the performance. He said he was ashamed and wanted to be honest with them.

He explained that he regretted drinking before the show. As a result, he went onstage unable to perform well, delivering a poor performance and letting down the audience who had paid to see him.

‘I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that this never happens again.’

A year after the 2025 incident, 25-year-old Zimmerman spoke with the Daily Mail about how it positively changed his life. He also shared the steps he’s taking to prevent a recurrence, particularly as he prepares for his upcoming tour.

He told the Daily Mail that the experience was incredibly positive and completely changed his life.

I’ve matured a lot and become much more focused since then, and that experience really helped me grow as a person. Overall, things are going really well for me now.

The singer, based in Nashville and recently having dental work done, said that everyone makes mistakes and learns from them. However, because he’s famous, his mistakes tend to be more public and have bigger consequences.

‘Unfortunately, I’m in the public eye so my mistakes are pretty public,’ he added.

Following the incident, Zimmerman stated he’s changed his drinking habits, now consuming alcohol in moderation and keeping work and social life separate.

He explained that he still enjoys socializing and having a beer with friends – he’s 25 and wants to have fun – but he prefers to do so in moderation.

As you get more mature, you realize you can still enjoy things like having a beer with friends, but you understand there’s a time and a place for it. You wouldn’t do that at work, for example.

‘You just become more mature and you learn from your mistakes.’

Zimmerman is getting ready for his ‘Different Night Same Rodeo’ tour, starting in Florida on January 30, 2026.

He stated he’s aiming to improve his performances compared to last year and is also focusing on getting in better shape by increasing his cardio workouts.

I’m heading out on my first arena tour next year, and everything is much bigger – the stage, the crowds, everything feels more important,” he said. “I’ve been focusing a lot on making sure this show is even better than the last one.

‘Last year’s show was really amazing, but I really am trying to lock more in this year. 

One of my goals for the new year is to really focus on fitness – I want to work hard at the gym, do a lot of cardio, and become the best version of myself for everyone who supports me.

On December 17th, Zimmerman partnered with a Nashville Raising Cane’s restaurant to support the local community. Together, they donated 100 bicycles to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.

He described his first experience with Raising Cane’s in Louisiana, at the original location, in 2021 or 2022, saying he was blown away by the sauce and thought the chicken fingers were the best he’d ever tasted.

I recently discovered Raising Cane’s and really love it! I even had the chance to meet the founder, Todd Graves, and we hit it off immediately.

I immediately looked up to him because we shared similar values and beliefs. He was a role model from the start, and I admired how he lived his life – everything from his family and career to how he treated people.

For his first tour, called The Religiously Tour, comedian Zimmerman partnered with Raising Cane’s. He playfully mentioned that he ate a lot of Raising Cane’s after each performance.

Originally from Louisville, Illinois, this artist became well-known in 2020 by sharing his own songs on TikTok. He’s recognized for his rough and distinctive voice, and his music combines modern country sounds with elements of rock.

His first album, ‘Religiously. The Album.’, released in 2023, had one of the largest streaming debuts ever for a country album.

He received nominations for New Male Artist of the Year at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards and for Male Video of the Year at the 2024 CMT Music Awards for his song, ‘Religiously’.

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2025-12-25 18:34