Parker McCollum: What Kinda Man Tour 2025

Parker McCollum won't be pigeonholed, and that's by design -- the Texas native is all about paving his own road. He spent his summers working on a cattle ranch for his blue-collar grandfather, who also introduced him to country music. Hearing George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning" for the first time, McCollum was struck. "That is still, to this day, one of my favorite songs, favorite melodies of all time," he told Billboard in 2020. By 13, McCollum began writing songs; by 16, he began playing clubs. For inspiration, he turned to Texas troubadours like Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and James McMurtry, lyrical writers who built rich worlds and characters in the confines of a single song. After graduating from high school, McCollum headed to Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed "Music Capital of the World." A stint in college didn't last -- McCollum spent more time in class writing songs than paying attention. Dropping out, he made a promise to his father: One day, I'll sign a major record deal.