How Brianna ‘Chickenfry’ LaPaglia’s Really Feels About Ex Zach Bryan’s Wedding: ‘Checkmate, I Couldn’t Lose’

Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia is entering 2026 on her own terms — and she’s not exactly staying quiet after her ex Zach Bryan tied the knot.

Just days after the country singer married Samantha Leonard in a romantic New Year’s Eve ceremony in Spain, Brianna appeared to offer a reaction of her own, sending fans into a frenzy with what many interpreted as a subtle — but pointed — response.

When Did Zach Bryan Get Married?

Zach, 29, confirmed the news of his wedding on Thursday, sharing a two-slide Instagram carousel featuring himself and Leonard, 28. Beneath a photo of him holding his bride, the Grammy winner wrote the caption, “tougher than the rest,” a nod to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. In the second slide, Zach shared a short clip of himself covering the track.

Elsewhere on social media, videos quickly circulated showing the newlyweds soaking up the moment. In one clip, Zach is seen carrying Leonard into a vintage green convertible adorned with a “Just Married” banner and cans tied to the bumper — a classic send-off that only added to the fairytale feel.

While it’s unclear exactly when the couple began dating or got engaged, rumors about their relationship first surfaced in August, when Leonard posted a photo of herself and Zach embracing on a boat to her Instagram account.

A few months later, Zach appeared to publicly confirm their romance with a heartfelt birthday tribute. In October, he wrote, “Today is your birthday and I love you, Samantha Marie. To the only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats, skydive over the alps and catch a bigger fish than me all in the same day,” adding, “Hope your day was as graceful as you are.”

What Was Brianna’s Reaction?

Shortly after news of the wedding broke, Brianna, 26, appeared to respond — without saying a word.

On January 2, the Barstool Sports personality shared a TikTok video of herself mouthing lyrics to Taylor Swift’s 2022 song “Mastermind.” Flashing a knowing smirk at the camera, she recited the line, “Checkmate, I couldn’t lose.”

While Brianna didn’t elaborate on the meaning behind the post, fans were quick to draw their own conclusions. The comments section quickly filled with supportive messages — many of them celebrating Brianna’s apparent glow-up following the very public end of her relationship with Zach.

“Bri thriving is deff on my 2026 bingo card,” one user wrote. Another added, “They can copy the recipe but the sauce still won’t taste the same !!”

Brianna and Zach dated from July 2023 to October 2024, and their breakup played out dramatically online. After Zach announced their split, Brianna told her followers she felt “blindsided,” later accusing him of emotional abuse during their relationship.

Zach Bryan’s Dating History

Before his relationship with Brianna, Zach was married to Rose Madden from 2020 to 2021. The former spouses tied the knot in July 2020, but by July 2021, they had gone their separate ways.

Following that split, Zach moved on with Deb Peifer. The two frequently shared glimpses of their life together — including moments with their dog — before Zach announced their breakup in May 2023.

“For transparency and with respect I am letting everyone know Debra and me went our separate ways about a week and a half ago. Things are mutual between us, we’re leaving with plenty memories and good times,” he tweeted at the time. “I beg so much that everyone respects her and my privacy through a hard time.”

While Zach has now moved forward with Leonard — whom some fans have pointed out bears a resemblance to Brianna — the fallout from his split with the Barstool star continued to spark debate online well into 2025.

In January 2025, months after confirming his breakup with Brianna, Zach broke his silence amid ongoing backlash, urging fans to leave the people in his life out of the controversy. “No matter how bad of a person you think I am, go ahead and come for me,” he wrote in an Instagram Stories post. “I can take all the hatred because I’m not a child. But do not come for my friends who do nothing but love and care for me.”