Just two cousins (well, sort of) who were both nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year. Zach Top might as well be related to the whole industry at this point, eh? At the start of the year, a wild conspiracy theory was born after a Canadian radio host shared his theory that the ’90s country revivalist could be related to the country music legend Alan Jackson. The internet took the theory and ran with it… so much so that people even updated Top’s Wikipedia page to indicate that he was Alan Jackson’s son. “Zach Top was born on September 26, 1997, and grew up on his father Alan Jackson’s ranch in Sunnyside, Washington. He got his musical start performing as part of a bluegrass band with his siblings called Top String.” After the theory gained numerous headlines, Zach Top finally responded to the allegations. When speaking with The Rob and Holly Show!, the two co-hosts asked Top if the rumor was true, and Zach Top gave us a golden answer. “Hell, it’s more than a rumor. I’ve been trying to figure out what the answer is. My parents won’t answer me straight, and nobody will.”  Top joked that he’d have to ask Jackson about it when he was touring with the “Chattahoochee” singer as a part of his Last Call: One More For The Road final tour. @robandhollyshow @Zach Top responds to the rumors that #alanjackson is his father #zachtop #alanjackson #areyoumydaddy #daddy #robandhollyshow @robstoneradio @giddyupholly ♬ original sound – Rob and Holly Show! But that is not the only country artist that Zach Top (might) have family ties to. Last year, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top took the stage together during the K92.3 All-Star Jam and dropped some crazy news to the Florida audience.  “I don’t know if you all know, and Tucker probably doesn’t want you to know this, but we’re one divorce away from being cousins. Step half-cousins or something. Dude, I didn’t know we were cousins at one point. So we are cousins. We’re ex-cousins then.” Wetmore then responded to Top on stage, joking that he didn’t call Zach Top’s cousin for no reason. Top laughs, replying that he knew their family was closely related, but did not realize they were cousins (still or at one point, that’s still up for debate). Top then settles on what their official title is, saying to the audience: “Alright, we’re like ex-half-step cousins or something.” The clip went slightly viral, with fans drawing comparisons to the two mustachioed men who hail from Washington. I mean, the fact that they are from the same state does make you think, because how many country stars come out of the Pacific Northwest like that? Just saying… @zachtopfanclub Aint nothing more country than having an Ex Step Half Cousin #zachtop #tuckerwetmore #realcountrymusic #livecountrymusic ♬ original sound – Zach Top’s Top Fans After the hilarious clip went viral, many other country music colleagues asked the two about the rumor, including Tracy Lawrence during Tucker Wetmore’s appearance on TL’s Roadhouse. While he cleared up the rumor there, Wetmore is again setting the record straight about his relationship to Zach Top and family. While co-hosting an episode on the Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton, Wetmore set the record straight once and for all, noting that they are not technically related, but they do have some family connection to each other. “There’s been speculation that we’re related. In a way we are. My dad was married to someone else, and they had two girls. One of them is sisters with his mom. It’s not really related, but we joke about it.” Wetmore also added that the two keep the joke running by saying “what’s up, cuz?” every time they run into each other. So there you have it: they are, in a way, related, but their connection is much easier to digest than Top calling them ex-half-step cousins. No matter how they are related, it’s evident that country music runs deep in their families’ veins, as both men were nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year, with Top taking home the honor at this year’s CMA Awards. Check out both of their CMA Award performances before you go: “Guitar”  “Wind Up Missin’ You” The post “In A Way We Are” – Tucker Wetmore Sets The Record Straight On How He & Zach Top Are (Kind Of) Related first appeared on Whiskey Riff.