Parker McCollum has been very vocal about his admiration for George Strait. In a new interview, McCollum opens up about how the Country Music Hall of Fame member has influenced him and his career, especially behind the scenes.
“What influenced me as a kid, and still does to this day, more than George’s music, is the way that he carries himself behind the scenes, off-stage, as a family man, as a husband,” McCollum tells CMT. “That’s really the part that I try to pay the most attention to when I get the chance to be around him. And I just think that’s so impressive. With 60 No. 1s, the King of Country Music, and as big as an artist and a talent could ever be in this business, and he still carries himself just like a great man. I pay a lot of attention to that.”
McCollum has, not unfairly, been compared many times to Strait. While the rising star takes it as a big compliment, McCollum also makes it clear that he doesn’t consider himself anywhere close to the country music legend.
“I haven’t done anything musically that’s blown me away,” McCollum tells Everything Nash. “I haven’t written any songs that I thought were just unbelievable. I don’t have an ‘Amarillo by Morning’ yet. I don’t have a ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ yet, or anything like that, or even remotely close. So hopefully one of those will pop out … I really want to do this for a long time and hopefully be in the Country Music Hal of Fame one day.”
McCollum was on hand last year when Strait set a new record in the United States, for the highest concert attendance, with 110,905 tickets sold for his show at A&M’s Kyle Field. Strait honored McCollum for his part in setting the new record.
“I’ve always said I’ve got the best fans in the world and Saturday night at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas says it all,” Strait said at the time. “Thanks to Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman who were both a huge part of that night and thanks to all of you Aggies out there who made this happen. What a special place!! I will always remember you.”
McCollum is back at radio with “What Kinda Man.” The song, from his next album, was written by McCollum, along with Natalie Hemby and Jeremy Spillman. The track, like so many of his others, was written with his heroes in mind.
“The only thing I ever think about when I write songs is, ‘Would Rodney Crowell think this is good? Would Steve Earle think this is good? Would James McMurtry or Robert Earl Keen think this is good for country music?'” McCollum tells Billboard. “And I think they would think this song was good for country music.”
McCollum will kick off his What Kinda Man Tour in June. Find all of his music and upcoming shows at ParkerMcCollum.com.