Here to Stay: Parker McCollum Sets the Record Straight on Distancing Himself From Country Music

While growing up in Texas, Parker McCollum found a love for country music when listening to stars like Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, Porter Wagoner, and George Strait. That love eventually turned into passion as McCollum sought to leave his own mark in country music. And over the last decade, he released albums like The Limestone Kid, Gold Chain Cowboy, and Never Enough. While exploring a career as a country singer, McCollum recently set the record straight over past comments about him not being a country singer. 

Spending time promoting his newest album, Parker McCollum, the singer sat down with a Mississippi news station to discuss his career and inspiration. At the time, he stated, “I wanted to be a country singer for as long as I remember, and the longer I do this, the more I kind of realize I may just not be one. The more I try to write country songs and make country records, the further I get away from what really has always made me, me.”

[RELATED: Parker McCollum Joins Brooks & Dunn Onstage for “The Duo We Didn’t Know We Needed”]

Parker McCollum Admitted “I Don’t Really Sound” Like Country Music

With stars like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Post Malone exploring different genres of music, fans wondered if McCollum would exit country music for another style. When speaking with Kiss Country 99.9, McCollum made sure to pick his words wisely. “I was thinking too much about it. But no, (not leaving country) at least until this new record comes out. So at least one more.” He continued, “Nah, I’m not going anywhere, man. At the end of the year, I’m like, man, how long do I want to do this? And then once I have a month off, I’m like, ‘I’m good.’ I want to keep doing this.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIMWDQSRgJZ

Diving deeper into his past comments, McCollum recalled writing “The Limestone Kid” and how he didn’t know anything at the time. “I always was like trying to be what I thought I should be to be a country singer. And there’s been a couple of times in my career, like when I wrote ‘The Limestone Kid,’ my very first record, like I didn’t know anything. I was just writing songs and just becoming whatever it was that I was in the moment.”

While McCollum continued to explore himself and country music, he believed he sounded nothing like the genre. “When I think about country music and especially what country music is nowadays, I’m just like I don’t really sound like either of those.”

Although unsure of his own style, fans can rest easy knowing that, for now, McCollum had no plans on leaving the genre that helped kickstart his career.

(Photo by Jason Davis/WireImage)