Always count on Miranda to tell it like it is.
The modern Texas country scene has been nothing short of phenomenal over the past decade in particular. Whether it’s names like Koe Wetzel, Flatland Cavalry, Whiskey Myers, Charley Crockett, Dylan Gossett or Treaty Oak Revival (among many others), Texas has been producing some of the hottest names in the alternative country sphere lately. From a mainstream perspective, however, save for Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum has arguably been the biggest success story for the state.
After scoring an incredible amount of buzz in the Texas scene off of his debut album, The Limestone Kid, and his subsequent release, Probably Wrong, in 2017, McCollum was primed to become the next superstar flying out of the Lone Star State. This notion was ultimately proven correct when he signed to Universal Music Group in 2019 and made the transition to Nashville.
Since then, he’s scored four #1s, 10 gold and platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America, constant headlining spots on some of the biggest festivals in the country and has cemented himself as a mainstay on both country radio and award shows alike.
Of course, making the transition from Texas to Nashville wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Particularly, the “Pretty Heart” singer felt himself getting pulled in each and every direction at the start of his career. As a young artist just trying to make it, he always felt like he had to say yes to every request and favor asked of him. While you truly can’t fault him, given the fact that it’s one of the ways you have to make it in this industry, it became clear that it was taking a toll on him.
In a recent interview on Troy Cartwright’s Ten Year Town Podcast, McCollum revealed that the best piece of advice he received to combat the constant pressure was simply saying no.
As McCollum explained, it was actually fellow Texas superstar, Miranda Lambert, who helped him “fall in love” with the word “no.” He’d also joke that he thinks it’s the “House That Built Me” singer’s favorite word in the business.
“It took me a long time to fall in love with the word no. Shout out Miranda Lambert. She was the one who really taught me a lot about that. I think she loves that word. That’s her favorite word in the business, I think, and it’s mine too.”
The “Handle On You” singer would then go on to explain that he had to learn to give himself breaks from the grind. Noting how his first instinct as a young artist was to keep going, he had to teach himself to take two-week breaks to “forget” that he was a part of the industry and reset.
“As a young artist, you’re so hungry, and you want to go, go, go, go, go. And that’s really the only way to make it happen in this business is to do it that way – is to just grind, And you got to want it. You have a day; I think everybody probably has a day at some point where you just kind of had enough.
And you’re like, ‘Hey, I need to not do the thing.’ — just do something else for a small amount of time. Two weeks, give me 14 days to completely forget that I am a part of this thing and I exist in this world. At that point, you kind of find a balance, you know? You still have that work ethic, and you still have that desire to write and create and tour and perform and do the deal. You get better at getting better at it.”
At this point, it’s not a very well-kept secret that the music and entertainment industry truly never stops. Whether you’re an artist, manager or even part of a publication like we are here at Whiskey Riff, there’s always something going down in the business.
It’s one of the most overwhelming aspects of it and can undoubtedly be difficult to navigate. With that being said, however, it looks like Lambert gave McCollum one of the best pieces of advice an artist can give to another — just say no.
Watch the full podcast here:
Parker McCollum Tour Dates
March 26 – Estero, Florida – Hertz Arena x+
March 27-28 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheater x+
June 4 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – BMO Pavilion x/
June 5 – Sterling Heights, Michigan – Michigan Lottery Amphitheater x/
June 6 – Grand Rapids, Michigan – Acrisure Amphitheater x/
June 18 – San Diego, California – Viejas Arena ~$
June 19 – Los Angeles, California- Greek Theatre ~$
June 20 – Sacramento, California – Golden 1 Center ~$
June 25 – Nampa, Idaho – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater ~$
June 26 – Bend, Oregon – Hayden Homes Amphitheater ~$
June 27 – Kent, Washington – Accesso Showare Center ~$
July 16 – Brandon, Mississippi – Brandon Amphitheater ~>
July 17 – Orange Beach, Alabama – The Wharf Amphitheater ~>
July 18 – Alpharetta, Georgia – Ameris Bank Amphitheater ~>
July 24 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – Blossom Music Center z/
July 25 – Fairborn, Ohio – Wright State University – Nutter Center z/
July 29 – Morrison, Colorado – Red Rocks Amphitheater +0
July 31 – Kansas City, Missouri – Morton Amphitheater +0
August 1 – Omaha, Nebraska – Chi Health Center Omaha +0
August 6 – Bridgeport, Connecticut – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater z/
August 8 – Burgettstown, Pennsylvania – The Pavilion at Star Lake z/
August 21 – Simpsonville, South Carolina – CCNB Amphitheater at Heritage Park x%
August 22 – Huntsville, Alabama – The Orion Amphitheater x%
September 3 – Bangor, Maine – Maine Savings Amphitheater x@
September 4 – Gilford, New Hampshire – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion x@
September 5 – Saratoga Springs, New York – Saratoga Performing Arts Center x@
September 17 – Jonesboro, Arkansas – First National Bank Arena x!
September 18 – Rogers, Arkansas – Walmart Amp x!
September 19 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center x!
September 24 – Stephenville, Texas – EECU Center x>
September 25 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Paycom Center x>
September 26 – Beaumont, Texas – Doggett Ford Park x>
x Max McNown
° Jake Worthington
= William Beckmann
> Jackson Wendell
# Tyler Halverson
? Mike Ryan
+ Laci Kaye Booth
0 Josh Abbott Band
/ Kassi Ashton
% Annie Bosko
@ Owen Reigling
! Logan Ryan Band
$ Aubrie Sellers
+ Gary Allan
z Gabby Barrett
~ Vincent Mason
