Parker McCollum Admires George Strait On & The Off Stage: “Long Marriage, Great Dad, Great Family Man”

Hoping to have a career AND a family like the King of Country Music.

Parker McCollum is on a high after the recent release of his fifth studio record, PARKER MCCOLLUM. The Limestone Kid is officially back as McCollum tapped into some of his most vulnerable songwriting of his career for this record, while reverting back to the gritty, Texas sound that hooked fans early on in his career. However, while making this record, McCollum admitted to Billboard Magazine that there were times when he worried that it might not be as well-received by fans:

“I’d freak out, like, ‘What have I done? This is career suicide.’ Then I’d go back to the studio the next day and keep recording. You’re forced to sit there and live with the album for several days in a row, so you’re on this journey of ‘All right, this is who I am.’ But I just never enjoyed making a record as much as I enjoyed this one.”

However, many of those moments of doubt, McCollum had to believe in himself and lean into the support of his wife, and muse, Hallie Ray Light. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, McCollum noted that his wife was one of his biggest inspirations on the record, and the two are already talking about having more children after welcoming their first child, a son named Major, into the world last year.

But McCollum isn’t too proud to also share some of his musical inspirations from the record, and one of those is the King, George Strait. McCollum had the chance to play with Strait at last summer’s record-breaking show at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. But outside of his musical influence, the King has inspired McCollum to be a better man.

Although you can still hear some references to partying and hooking up with women in his lyrics, McCollum has moved on from that chapter of life and admires the family man that George Strait is.

“I’d be completely lying to you if I told you there wasn’t still the part of me that’s like, ‘Yeah, George Strait.’ With George, I would love to be the next George Strait off the stage: long marriage, great dad, great family man, great businessman, a spotless reputation, never been in trouble, never embarrassed his family on the news. I just think that’s so baller. I think there’s not going to be a lot of people in 50 years who still got it all together like that man does.”

McCollum hopes to have a career that is as long and plentiful as Strait’s, and I think it’s safe to say he’s going in that direction.

Parker McCollum also shared before the birth of his son that he was hoping to get “Tim McGraw” shredded, so it appears he’s influenced by that family man as well. And to McGraw and Strait’s credit, they have aged like fine wine, so I think it’s safe to assume that Parker McCollum hopes he follows in their footsteps with that as well.

“Lost 20 pounds since this time last year. Just to see how thin I could get. Now I’m bored. Bout to see how Tim McGraw shredded I can get. Will take insane discipline, but it ain’t no thing.”

Parker McCollum has virtually grown up in front of our eyes, and now being married with a son at 33, you can hear him maturing in his lyrical content. This statement about admiring George Strait as a person is also a testament to how he’s growing up and shifting his priorities.

However, through each chapter of his career, McCollum has remained humble.

“I say all the time, ‘I’m still trying to make it.’ I think that will always be the mentality.”

Check out a few songs from The Limestone Kid’s new record before you go.

“Sunny Days”

“Solid Country Gold”

The post Parker McCollum Admires George Strait On & The Off Stage: “Long Marriage, Great Dad, Great Family Man” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.