Parker McCollum

When you first see Parker McCollum emerge onto the stage, donning a white t-shirt, a thin gold chain and his trusty snapback, you might assume that he’s attempting to instigate a Bro-Country revival.

But scratch beneath this glossy exterior, and you'll find a traditionalist crooner with a penchant for George Strait. This is best exhibited on McCollum's first two independently released records, 2015’s The Limestone Kid and 2017’s Probably Wrong, both of which blended folk and alt-country with a classic Texas twist.

The Limestone Kid, a record that he funded off his own back after a chance meeting with Ryan Bingham’s former band-member, Corby Schaub, began to build McCollum a burgeoning regional following.

On Probably Wrong, McCollum introduced hints of the radio-friendly sound that he has become known for. The album landed at No. 6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, with the project’s forlorn closing track, ‘Hell Of A Year’, quickly becoming a fan-favourite.

Somewhere between the burning agony of ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and the cool blues of ‘South of the City Lights’ is where Parker McCollum’s sonic sweet-spot lies - and after signing with Universal in 2019, his debut single hit it on the screws. ‘Pretty Heart’ surged to the top of Billboard’s US Country Airplay charts and broke into the upper half of the Billboard Hot 100.

The anthem remains McCollum’s most recognisable song to date, and it paved the way for his 2021 album, Gold Chain Cowboy. Despite being a more polished offering with slick, Nashvillian production, the project made a point of holding fast to McCollum’s Texas country roots. The record spawned ‘Pretty Heart’’s moody follow-up hit, ‘To Be Loved By You’.

In 2022, Parker McCollum won the ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year. In the same year, McCollum went on to release ‘Handle On You’ and ‘Stoned’, two singles that once again zeroed in on his hypnotic, brooding brand of country.