When it is all said and done, the most important thing in life is family. Sometimes, it is the family you are born into; sometimes, it’s the one you make for yourself. What started as a fan club is now the roots of an amazing family tree, joined by music and bonded with love. With almost 20,000 members, the “Zamily,” short for the Zac Brown Family, has flourished into much more than a fan club, but truly a family that comes together to support their favorite musicians, Zac Brown Band, but also to support each other. 

Turn back the clock to the days when “A Little Bit of Chicken Fried” didn’t exist, and a band known today as Zac Brown Band was traveling America trying to make it in the music industry. With the help of Jennifer Gabriel (T Bird), the band packed up their van and traveled from bar to bar, creating a following they never dreamed of. 

It wasn’t until 2008, when the famous “Chicken Fried” was released, that their dreams became reality. As the song climbed the charts, the crew had to take a step back and realize what was happening and what was to come. It was then that Zac Brown turned to his close friend T Bird and asked her to create not only a fan club, but a family. Without hesitation, T Bird joined the tour full-time and made it her objective to take care of every single fan and shower them with love. 

“I stood at the very front of the entrance, and I greeted every human being that walked in the building and said ‘Thanks for coming, have a great time,’ just like mama standing at the door making sure everyone was good.” 

The band and T Bird took it upon themselves to truly get to know their fans and give them experiences that no other band offers. That’s when the team decided to host “Zamily Gatherings” before the shows, so that the band could get to know the fans, and more importantly, the fans were getting to know other fans and forming relationships. The Zamily decided to take this “pre-show tailgate” one step further and use the gathering to raise money for Zac’s Camp Southern Ground. 

Zac created the Camp Southern Ground to provide experiences for children to recognize and magnify the unique gifts within themselves. It has provided families with support and strength and has given the Zamily an amazing platform to help others in need. 

Zamily member, Deene Wiggins said, “We feel that we were being called there–God gave us our special daughter for a reason and if we can give back to a family like ours struggling to make it through the days, it would bless us as well as others!” 

The love and support within the Zamily doesn’t stop there! While the Zamily is all about fun time, they really show up during the hard times. Whether it’s the death of a member, a recent illness, a tragedy, or a time of darkness, the Zamily offers support and encouragement. 

“The prayers, support, random acts of kindness, and love–the generosity of people is astounding,” John Snoad, a Zamily member, said. “The kindness that Zac Brown has shown us leaves me speechless. We have learned that there is so much good in this world, and we have become better people because of Zamily.” 

After Hurricane Sandy, the Zamily decided to take it upon themselves to help the families affected by the tragedy. It had nothing to do with going to a show or the music at all; it was solely a group of people wanting to shower others with love.

The members came for the music, but stayed for the people. Zamily is truly more than just a fan club, but a family from all over the world who have connected and flourished into lifelong relationships through music. 

Zamily member Jessica Morriseey explains it best: “The memories and laughter are countless. These experiences are what life is all about! Meeting people, connecting (especially through music), sharing experiences, and creating lifelong memories make life complete. The palpable emotion and natural high felt at a concert are made even better when you’re in the pit with great friends and fans. There is nothing else like it.”