Zach Bryan buys Jack Kerouac’s On the Road scroll for $12.1 million

Country singer Zach Bryan has purchased author Jack Kerouac's original, 120-foot manuscript scroll of the novel On the Road for $12.1 million. The literary artifact, a cornerstone of the Beat Generation, was sold as part of the Jim Irsay Collection auction at Christie's on March 13.

Kerouac typed the manuscript over three weeks in April 1951. A key feature of the original scroll is the inclusion of the real names of Kerouac's friends and fellow Beat luminaries, such as Neal Cassady, William S. Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg. These names were changed for the novel's 1957 publication.

Jack Kerouac On The Road scroll

Bryan, has often cited Kerouac as a major influence. Last year Bryan also bought the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Kerouac's hometown, with the intention of converting it into a museum honouring the writer.

The 29-year-old musician has achieved significant commercial success, with his self-titled 2023 album debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and his single 'I Remember Everything' topping multiple charts and earning a Grammy Award. His latest album, The Great American Bar Scene, peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.

Bryan's With Heaven On Tour is scheduled for Ireland in June 2026. He will be performing in Cork on June 20 and 21, followed by shows in Belfast on June 23 and 24.