Parker McCollum had something to celebrate last week, attending his inaugural No. 1 party at Nashville’s Star Rover Sound put on by BMI. The celebratory event highlighted McCollum’s three consecutive chart-toppers, his debut single “Pretty Heart,” follow-up “To Be Loved By You” and latest chart-topping hit, “Handle On You.”
Celebrate First Three No. 1 Hits In Nashville
The party was hosted by BMI’s Mason Hunter and allowed Parker McCollum, producer Jon Randall and songwriters involved in the Texas native’s three hits to give remarks. McCollum co-wrote all three of his No. 1s, and Randy Montana was highlighted for “Pretty Heart,” Rhett Akins for “To Be Loved By You” and Monty Roswell for “Handle on You.”
In addition to the No. 1 celebration, McCollum was also presented with certification plaques highlighting his recent accolades including additional Gold certifications for “Young Man’s Blues” and his album Gold Chain Cowboy. There was also a donation presentation made by Kari Barnart on behalf of McCollum and the songwriters in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
McCollum Admits It’s “Kind Of Wild”
Speaking to Music Mayhem and other outlets at the celebration, McCollum called his three No. 1s “kind of wild,” explaining that growing up, he idolized Texas country stars like Pat Green, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen and Robert Earl Keen, many of whom he can call “personal friends” at this point in his career.
He credits Rogers with giving him the push to move to Nashville. “I think had I never come here I probably would’ve been fine, probably would’ve done okay and had a decent career,” McCollum mused. “But Randy Rogers was the one that was like, ‘You can be a star. You need to go here.’”
“He was the one that really pushed me to come here and write songs and build relationships here and sign a record deal,” McCollum continued. “And that was the biggest and best decision that I could have made for my career because the difference in the growth is exponential compared to I think what it would’ve been without it. Nowadays it’s a little different with the internet and all that stuff, people are truly blowing up in an hour online. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
McCollum further noted that he built his career “100% the hard way.” “Started in my pickup truck with a U-Haul trailer, got a van, got a trailer, got a nicer van, got a bus. Now we got five tour buses and four 18 wheelers and three No. 1 songs and did it the hard way. But that was the only option that there ever was for me.”
Recently Relocated Back Home To Texas
The 31-year-old also revealed that he relocated back to his home state of Texas. “Texas is home,” he said, revealing that the pandemic was “really the only reason” he moved to Nashville as a permanent resident.
“I just had to get out of town,” he explained. “You have a number one double platinum song and you don’t play a show the whole time, that kind of messes you up a little bit. I was kind of going down the wrong path and so I just kind of packed up all my stuff one day. I had already had a condo here that I would stay in when I was here and I just moved into it and that was home for a little while and then I bought a house.”
McCollum added that he “did enjoy” living in Nashville “but just knew if I wanted to really stick to my guns as a songwriter, when I come off the road, I need to be home in Texas. Good for my soul, good for my heart, good for my mind. And that’s real stuff. Moving here showed me that that’s very real – when you’re living here and you come off the road, you’re home but you’re not home. And so now when I come off the road, I’m actually home and it’s good for me.”
CMA Awards Nomination: New Artist Of The Year
At the event, Parker McCollum also discussed his CMA Awards nod. The Texas native is currently up for one nomination for New Artist Of The Year alongside Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, Megan Moroney and Hailey Whitters.
“When you grow up watching the award shows and you think about being on ’em one day or luckily for me, I’ve won a couple already… Just being nominated is an honor,” McCollum said, sharing what the nomination means to him. “I don’t think that will ever lighten up. I think it’ll always carry just as much weight each year and you never know when it’s the last one, you’ll be nominated for the last one you’ll get to go to. So I just try to be grateful for it.”
He then went on to credit his team for helping his dreams come true. “I know the team I have behind me is probably the main reason why I got that nomination. So for their sake and all their hard work, I hope that makes them feel good and feel like that they’re doing a good job. They really are. But you watch the CMAs, I’ve watched ’em since I was a little bitty kid, so to get to see my face on the things, it’s pretty special,” he added.
Additionally, McCollum’s current single “Burn It Down” is climbing the charts and is destined to become his fourth chart-topper very soon.
For more information on Parker McCollum, visit his official website HERE.
