Bailey Zimmerman just gave fans the ultimate summer anthem — and he brought Luke Combs along for the ride.
The multi-platinum, chart-smashing country heartthrob surprised fans last weekend by popping up during Combs’ headlining set at Stagecoach 2025 to debut their brand-new collab, “Backup Plan,” and honestly? We still haven’t recovered.
“I always thought Luke would crush the song, but I hadn’t met him yet,” Bailey told Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder backstage at the 2025 iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas last Saturday (May 3), just days after the desert surprise. “Then he invited me to play Concert for Carolina, gave me his number… and I didn’t send the song for a while. But eventually I was like, ‘You know what? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’”
So, he hit send… and crickets.
“He didn’t reply for like a month, but he never said no,” Bailey said with a grin. “Then one day he said he was in and I was like, holy freaking crap — it’s Luke Combs!”
“Backup Plan” (out now via Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville) is the perfect blend of Bailey’s gritty soul and Combs’ signature powerhouse sound. Written by Tucker Beathard, Jimi Bell, and Jon Sherwood, the track is an empowering ode to self-worth and shaking off the haters — something Bailey relates to hard.
When we asked which lyric he’d tattoo on himself, Bailey didn’t hesitate: “’Tune out the doubters and all the close minders,’” he said. “That don’t really matter with where you’re going.”
Let’s be real—Bailey is going everywhere. He had the crowd on their feet during the 2025 iHeartCountry Festival at the Moody Center, performing a high-energy set of fan favorites including “Religiously,” “Where It Ends,” “Rock and a Hard Place,” and, of course, “Backup Plan” where Nate Smith filled in for Combs. With country legends like Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, and Thomas Rhett also on the lineup, it’s clear that Bailey’s star is shining brighter than ever.
· PHOTO CREDIT: Misha Vladimirskiy/@mishavladimirskiy
The performance came hot on the heels of his iconic Stagecoach moment—when he shocked fans during Luke Combs’ set on day three of the fest on April 27. The duo debuted “Backup Plan” under the California stars, and the video of the performance (which also dropped on May 2) captures all the magic. If you haven’t watched it yet… what are you doing??
Not to mention, earlier in the weekend, Bailey made his way to the Von Dutch Ranch presented by Tequila Don Julio for another surprise appearance that set the vibe for invite-only shindig.
Just a few weeks prior, Bailey made waves again when he released “All The Way” with BigXthaPlug — a genre-bending banger that debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped both the Hot Country Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts.
And the best part? This is only the beginning of Bailey’s hot country summer.
Next up: the New To Country Tour, kicking off June 6 in Indianapolis. After wrapping his sold-out, 30+ city RELIGIOUSLY. THE TOUR, Bailey’s keeping the momentum alive with 16 U.S. amphitheater stops (and yes, many are already sold out). He’s also set to headline major fests like RODEOHOUSTON, Country Thunder, and Boots & Hearts.
Hailing from Louisville, Illinois, Bailey first captured hearts with “Fall In Love” and hasn’t slowed down since. With four No. 1s, a record-breaking debut album, viral collabs, and performances on everything from The Tonight Show to the ACMs, he’s more than just the new kid on the block — he’s the future of country music.
From surprise appearances to tattoo-worthy lyrics and genre-crossing hits, Bailey Zimmerman is living proof that trusting your gut and shooting your shot (literally) can lead to something legendary.
So Gen-Z country lovers, make sure “Backup Plan” is at the top of your playlist. Because Bailey Zimmerman isn’t just our plan A—he’s the only plan.
For more on “Backup Plan,” make sure to watch our full interview from the 2025 iHeartCountry Festival below, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the track by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
