Zac Brown Brings Music, Spearfishing, and Cooking to 'Survivor' Set

The country star flies to Fiji to catch fish, cook for the cast, and perform for the 50th season of the reality show

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:30am

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Zac Brown, the lead singer of the Zac Brown Band, flew to Fiji to participate in the 50th season of the reality TV show "Survivor." Brown, an avid fan of the show, went free-diving to spear tuna, which he then filleted and cooked for the castaways. He also brought his guitar and performed songs, including an emotional cover of Jason Isbell's "Cover Me Up." In an interview, Brown opened up about his challenging upbringing and how it has shaped his empathetic nature and desire to help others through initiatives like his Camp Southern Ground.

Why it matters

Zac Brown's appearance on "Survivor" highlights the show's ability to attract high-profile celebrity fans and participants, adding star power and excitement to the landmark 50th season. Brown's hands-on approach, from fishing to cooking to performing, provided a unique and memorable experience for the castaways, showcasing his passion for the show and his desire to fully immerse himself in the "Survivor" experience.

The details

During his time on the "Survivor" set, Brown went free-diving in the waters off Fiji's Mana Island, spearing two large dogtooth tuna that he then filleted and cooked for the castaways. He accommodated the tribe's vegan members by preparing wood-fired tofu and veggie skewers. Brown also brought his guitar and performed songs, including an emotional rendition of Jason Isbell's "Cover Me Up" that moved one of the castaways to tears. In an interview, Brown opened up about his challenging upbringing, including his mother's mental health struggles and the abusive household he grew up in, and how those experiences have shaped his empathetic nature and led him to create initiatives like Camp Southern Ground to support at-risk youth and veterans.

  • Brown flew to Fiji to participate in the 50th season of "Survivor".
  • The filming of the 50th season took place over 9 days, with Brown arriving on the set during the 9th day of shooting.

The players

Zac Brown

The lead singer of the Zac Brown Band, a multi-platinum country music act. Brown is an avid fan of "Survivor" and flew to Fiji to participate in the show's 50th season, where he went free-diving, cooked for the castaways, and performed music.

Jeff Probst

The host and executive producer of "Survivor" who invited Brown to participate in the 50th season after meeting him at a barbecue in Hawaii.

Benjamin "Coach" Wade

A four-time "Survivor" contestant who was one of the castaways to greet Brown on the set and witness his emotional performance.

Colby Donaldson

A "Survivor" contestant from Season 2 who was part of the group that greeted Brown on the set.

Joe Hunter

A "Survivor" contestant from Season 48 who was moved to tears by Brown's performance of "The Man Who Loves You the Most."

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What they’re saying

“I've seen all of you before. I feel like I know a lot of you. I'm tripping out as much as y'all are right now.”

— Zac Brown

“I saw his hands shaking. That's when I knew he wasn't here to be a star. He was here to be one of us.”

— Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Four-time "Survivor" contestant

“They're going to give me so much shit at the station.”

— Joe Hunter, "Survivor" contestant from Season 48

“Twenty years from now, we won't talk about who got voted out or who won immunity. We're gonna talk about the night we spent with each other and Zac.”

— Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Four-time "Survivor" contestant

“He flew out here to fucking Fiji. I can't imagine asking someone to do everything he did and then sit for an interview. This only happened because he wanted it to happen.”

— Jeff Probst, Host and executive producer of "Survivor"

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Zac Brown's appearance on "Survivor" showcased his passion for the show and his desire to fully immerse himself in the experience, from free-diving and cooking for the castaways to performing emotional songs that touched the contestants. His openness about his challenging upbringing and his commitment to initiatives like Camp Southern Ground highlight his empathetic nature and his belief in the power of service to others.