Bailey Zimmerman Teases 'Out Of This World' Collaborations Ahead Of CMA Fest

Bailey Zimmerman is just getting started.

Fresh off a powerhouse collaboration with Luke Combs, the country hitmaker made a special stop at Raising Cane'sflagship location in downtown Nashville, where he worked a surprise "shift" behind the counter, performed for fans, and chatted with press about everything that's coming next.

Ahead of his big CMA Fest performance this weekend, Bailey Zimmerman took the time to talk about his journey from gas line worker to chart-topping artist, the surprising story behind his new music, and why the next phase of his career is shaping up to be his boldest yet.

"It's crazy to think how far things have come," he said at the media event, which The Blast attended. "Just a few years ago, I was laying gas pipe, now I'm flipping chicken fingers and singing to fans in the middle of Nashville before CMA Fest. Life is wild, man."

One of the biggest highlights of his year so far? His dream collaboration with country megastar Luke Combs that almost didn't happen.

"I texted him thinking he wouldn't answer," Zimmerman admitted. "Because it's Luke Combs, you know? But a month later, he hit me back, and we just clicked. I went to the studio, we made a song together, and we started hanging out."

The two even filmed some rare content together, something Combs doesn't do often. "He was like, 'If I'm gonna do this, I better do it with the king,'" Bailey recalled with a laugh. "That was a freaking honor."

Their track is currently climbing the charts, and Zimmerman is soaking it all in. "It's a dream come true. I never thought it would happen, but I'm so glad it did."

And while his collab with Combs is still making waves, Zimmerman says more are on the way, including one he calls "out of this world."

"I've got some stuff coming up that I'm really pumped about," he teased. "One in particular is just… wild. Nobody would ever expect us to sound good together, but we do. I think it's gonna blow people's minds."

When asked about his dream collaborators, Bailey didn't hesitate to name two. Morgan Wallen and Kacey Musgraves.

"Everyone wants me to do something with Morgan, and I want to, of course," he said. "It's just about the right song and the right moment. But Kacey? Man, I've been a fan of hers since before I even sang. 'Follow Your Arrow,' all of that, she's just so herself. I love that about her."

Zimmerman is also embracing the evolving landscape of country music, noting that genre-blending collaborations, such as his recent track with rapper BigXthaPlug, are becoming increasingly common.

"I didn't even know he was working on a country project until I saw a text six months later," Bailey said. "He hit me up, said he loved my song, and I was like, 'Dude, let's do this.' And it worked. It felt like I was in the room when they wrote it, it just clicked with my voice and my story."

His willingness to take risks is part of what makes him so compelling. That same authenticity shows up in his new single, which strays from heartbreak and leans into personal growth.

"It's not like, 'F you, I'm sad,'" he said with a grin. "It's more like, 'Dang, I keep chasing red flags.' The song's about this girl who's everything I want but nothing I need. I don't need her, but I want her."

Bailey says the track reflects a more mature phase of his life. "I'm still chasing girls in bars, so maybe not too mature," he joked. "But it's definitely more about where I've been in the last few years, not just teenage heartbreak."

And while he's making it all look easy now, Zimmerman is quick to point out that his success didn't happen overnight, and it didn't happen alone.

"I didn't even start singing until 2020," he shared. "I was building gas pipelines. A guy I didn't even like at the time told me, 'Dude, you gotta sing.' And that changed everything."

He posted his first video, and it blew up.

Soon after, Zimmerman moved to Nashville and linked up with his now-managers, Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, who believed in him from the start. "They saw something in me I didn't even see in myself," he said. "Same with Warner Records, they gave me a deal that didn't screw me. That helped me grow."

He also credited Ben Vaughn, a publisher who took a chance on him early on. "He's not with us anymore, but man, he saw something in me when nobody else would."

From his team to his fans, Bailey says he owes everything to the people who've supported him. "There are folks who came into my life, helped me, and never got anything in return," he said. "That means something. I didn't do this alone. It took a massive team to get here."

Now, as he gears up for what promises to be a massive year of releases, collaborations, and continued tour dates, Zimmerman is all in. "I just want to make the craziest, best music I can," he said. "Try everything. Work with everybody. Just see what we can create."

With grit, gratitude, and plenty of talent, Bailey Zimmerman is proving he's not just one to watch. He's one who's here to stay.