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Zach Bryan Reportedly Purchases Jack Kerouac’s Original ‘On The Road’ Scroll For $12.1 Million
Collecting a piece of history from one of his favorite authors.
Zach Bryan apparently just made a very large purchase in honor of Jack Kerouac, marking Bryan’s second purchase of history related to the famed author.
It’s no secret that the “With Heaven on Top” singer is a big fan of Jack Kerouac’s work. He’s often cited the author’s writing as inspiration for his music, and the Kerouac estate has even posted some of his music to their social platforms, notably “Burn, Burn, Burn,” which was partially, if not wholly, inspired by Kerouac’s novel On The Road.
The novel includes the following passage, which ZB used as a muse for the track.
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or saw a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”
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Last year, Bryan made a huge purchase in honor of one of his favorite writers, buying the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Massachusetts.
“Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning artist Zach Bryan has purchased the historic former Saint Jean Baptiste Church building in Lowell, Massachusetts, ensuring its transformation into the previously announced Jack Kerouac Center. The project was initially announced in November 2022, but stalled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and funding issues.
The collaboration between Bryan and the Jack Kerouac Estate marks a significant step toward honoring the legacy of one of America’s most iconic writers while fostering creativity in the heart of Kerouac’s hometown. The former church, a beloved Lowell landmark where Kerouac served as an altar boy, and mourners gathered for his 1969 funeral mass, will be converted into a vibrant cultural hub where two creative forces meet.
Bryan’s involvement marks a turning point, bringing essential funding and renewed energy. His commitment has provided the momentum needed to turn years of planning into a tangible reality, paving the way for the Center to become a cornerstone of creativity and inspiration in Lowell.
The Center will feature exhibits, live music, public readings, and community events.”
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The sale was announced right after ZB re-signed his $350 million record deal; however, according to Sylvia Cunha of the Jack Kerouac Estate, he had been eyeing this building for many months, and it was far from an impulse purchase.
“We’ve been working on this deal with Zach and his team for several months. Zach reached out in October, and right from the start, it was clear he shared our passion for honoring Jack’s legacy while also creating a dynamic, creative space. He stepped up and delivered in a big way, showing incredible generosity.”
And apparently, Bryan just bought something else that is near and dear to Kerouac.
Simon Warner, co-editor of Kerouac on Record: A Literary Soundtrack, reported on his Substack that Bryan bought the original scroll of On the Road during a New York auction for an astonishing $12.1 million.
“JACK KEROUAC’s Original Scroll of his most famous novel has been purchased for over $12m by leading country artist Zach Bryan at an auction in New York City staged yesterday.”
Shortly after, other sources began sharing the same news of ZB’s purchase:
BREAKING: It appears as if singer @zachlanebryan is the buyer of the “On the Road” scrolls for $12.1 million tonight.
His Instagram story wished Kerouac HBD and said its coming to Lowell.
Bryan purchased Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell, where Kerouac was an alter boy. pic.twitter.com/oTNFcETIl8
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 13, 2026
The famed novel was written on a continuous roll of teletype paper, allowing Kerouac to maintain a seamless flow of thoughts as he wrote, without having to pause to begin a new sheet of paper as he would with traditional print paper. The scroll was previously owned by billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who passed away last year, leading the piece of art/history to go to auction.
Warner’s Substack reveals plans to display the scroll at the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Massachusetts.
Bryan is doing his part to honor the life and legacy of the famed novelist and poet. Given he called his purchase of the church “life’s greatest honor,” I wonder what ZB considers the purchase of this scroll…The post Zach Bryan Reportedly Purchases Jack Kerouac’s Original ‘On The Road’ Scroll For $12.1 Million first appeared on Whiskey Riff.