“We go to Europe, and they think we're totally prejudiced 'cause we hang the bars and stripes. But for us, the bars and stripes doesn't mean we want to see anybody in slavery or anything like that. It's just our heritage. To us, the bars and stripes means grits, 'y'all,' and the beauty of the South. There's no prejudice at all in that with us.”

American singer, current lead vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Johnny Van Zant is an American singer and the current lead vocalist of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Born John Roy Van Zant, he has long been associated with one of the best-known names in Southern rock, and he is the younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant and Donnie Van Zant. He is known for fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd and for carrying forward the family connection to Southern rock that links him to his brothers. His public identity is tied to the band’s enduring presence, and to a musical legacy shaped by rock, performance, and the history of the Van Zant family.