Parker McCollum is deeply saddened by the passing of his childhood friend, Haley Odlozil, who bravely battled Stage IIIC Ovarian Cancer for eight years before her passing.
The country superstar took to social media on Friday evening (July 14) to mourn the loss of Haley, his “sweet sweet friend” whom he had known since 7th grade.
“Woke up to the worst news yesterday,” McCollum began. “My long time friend Haley [Odlozil] has passed away. She had been battling cancer for almost a decade now.”
Haley Houston Odlozil Was A Longtime Friend Of McCollum
He went on to share some of Haley’s story and detail that she was a cherished friend of his since childhood.
“So many people have followed her journey through social media and I want them all to know that the girl they knew from TikTok and Instagram really was already an Angel here on earth,” the “Burn It Down” singer continued. “Such a wonderful human being even during the hardest days anyone could ever endure. We had known each other since 7th grade. She was one of the first friends I made when I moved to The Woodlands and didn’t know a single person.”
Parker McCollum then asked fans to keep Haley’s husband, Taylor Odlozil, their 4-year-old son, Weston, and the entire Odlozil family in their prayers during this difficult time.
“She was on my mind the entire show last night in Alabama,” McCollum concluded. “I know she is pain free now and she will be missed dearly! Please pray for her family in the coming months! I know I will be! RIP my sweet sweet friend!”
McCollum Previously Offered The Odlozil Family An Unforgettable Experience
Earlier this year, Parker McCollum gave Haley and her family the experience of a lifetime during his Houston Rodeo performance. The Texas native made sure to take good care of his childhood friend to give her and her family a memorable experience together.
After greeting Haley and her family in the dressing room, McCollum gave Haley, Taylor and their 4-year-old son the best seats in the house right on the Houston Rodeo stage.
“Thank you for everything, this has been amazing. This has been so special because I really didn’t think I’d be able to take him to his first concert or his first rodeo and knocked out both,” Haley graciously told McCollum in a clip shared to TikTok. “And it’s with someone I know, so it’s perfect.”
Following the event, Taylor shared a video that documented their day with the “Handle On You” singer.
“We are extremely grateful for our former classmate @parkermccollum. He made sure Haley could have an amazing Houston Rodeo concert experience. It truly was incredible. It will definitely be something we will never forget,” he captioned the clip.
The beloved TikTok couple also attended McCollum and his wife Hallie Ray’s wedding in March of 2022.
Millions Are Mourning The Loss Of Haley
In addition to Parker McCollum, there are millions of others mourning the loss of Haley. Since being diagnosed with Ovarian cancer in 2015, Haley’s husband Taylor has been documenting their family of three’s life and sharing Haley’s journey on TikTok.
On Friday (July 14), Taylor Odlozil share the sad news of Haley’s passing via Instagram.
“It is with unbelievable sadness that I tell all of you my sweet Haley has passed away. I cannot begin to describe the amount of heartache & grief myself & our entire family is experiencing,” Haley’s husband Taylor wrote alongside a family photo. “I never knew my heart could physically hurt. I’ve never seen someone fight so hard to live. Her love for me, Weston, her family, & her friends is what has kept her going for so many years, especially the last 8 months. I’m so blessed to have had Haley a part of my life for 16 years. It has been my true honor to take care of her.”
He continued, “I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned from Haley. As the husband I have seen every moment. The happy ones & the sad ones. One thing I can tell you, she suffered greatly fighting this disease that slowly tore her body apart for the last 8 years. The thought of her being completely healed in a body with no pain & no scars in heaven makes me so incredibly happy for her but so overwhelmingly sad I’m not there to see it. My fear of death is so much less knowing I will get to see her one day completely healed. I cannot wait for that day.”
“My Heart Breaks For Weston”
Expressing deep gratitude, Taylor went on to reflect on watching Haley as a mother.
“I’m so thankful I got to see Haley fulfill her life purpose of becoming a mom. She was an incredible mother. My heart breaks most for Weston. I don’t think he will ever fully understand what he meant to Haley. He was everything to her. I love you Haley. More than I can put into words. You are a part of who I am and I will never stop loving you. I can’t wait to see you again.”
He then thanked the millions of people who followed Haley’s journey and for the prayers they sent.
“Because of who Haley is, her story has exploded across the world. I’ve received emails & messages from people from just about every country. She has changed so many people & brought awareness to this terrible disease. I’m so proud of that. She always said she didn’t want her suffering to be wasted. Haley wanted people to learn from her. I would say she accomplished that!”
Taylor announced that he will not be publicly sharing Haley’s funeral arrangement due to the “large following Haley has developed” online and concluded by letting followers know that he will be taking an indefinite hiatus from social media.
“I have also decided I will not be posting on social media for a while. I need some time to process with my son,” Taylor concluded.
Music Mayhem sends our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Taylor and Weston Odlozil and the entire Odlozil family.
