Zac Brown Band's 'Give It Away' Chosen as 2026 March Madness Anthem

The country group's song will energize fans during the NCAA basketball tournament.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Zac Brown Band's song "Give It Away" has been selected as the official anthem for the 2026 NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. The track, from the band's album "Love & Fear", was co-written by Zac Brown and Needtobreathe's Bear Rinehart. Zac Brown says the song is "about just living in the moment and just bringing the best of what you've got every single second", which aligns with the competitive spirit of the tournament. The NCAA basketball tournament runs from March 17 to April 6, and Zac Brown Band is also set to perform at the March Madness Music Festival on April 4 in Indianapolis.

Why it matters

The selection of a Zac Brown Band song as the March Madness anthem continues the tradition of high-profile musical acts providing the soundtrack for one of the most watched sporting events of the year. This helps build excitement and energy around the tournament, which is a major revenue driver for the NCAA and its broadcast partners.

The details

Zac Brown Band's song "Give It Away" was chosen as the official anthem for the 2026 NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. The upbeat country track was co-written by Zac Brown and Needtobreathe's Bear Rinehart, and appears on ZBB's album "Love & Fear". Zac Brown says the song's message of "just living in the moment and just bringing the best of what you've got every single second" resonates with the competitive spirit of the tournament.

  • The NCAA basketball tournament runs from March 17 to April 6, 2026.
  • Zac Brown Band is set to perform at the March Madness Music Festival on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis.

The players

Zac Brown Band

A popular American country music group known for hits like "Chicken Fried" and "Toes".

Bear Rinehart

The lead singer of the rock band Needtobreathe, who co-wrote the song "Give It Away" with Zac Brown.

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What they’re saying

“This song's about just living in the moment and just bringing the best of what you've got every single second.”

— Zac Brown (TNT Sports)

What’s next

Zac Brown Band is set to perform the song "Give It Away" live during the March Madness Music Festival on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

The selection of a Zac Brown Band song as the official anthem for the 2026 NCAA March Madness tournament continues the tradition of high-profile musical acts providing the soundtrack for one of the biggest sporting events of the year, helping to build excitement and energy around the tournament.