It’s finally here.
It’s safe to say that 2025 was a pretty huge year for Parker McCollum. In addition to performing at President Donald Trump’s inaugural ball in January and co-hosting Better Together Texas and raising over $8.5 million for flood relief with Miranda Lambert in August, the Texas native dropped what he called his most personal record to date, his self-titled, fifth studio album, back on June 27th.
Ultimately, the self-titled release felt like a return to form for McCollum. Though it didn’t quite have the feel of the highly lauded Limestone Kid that many were expecting, it was a record filled with a plethora of quality tracks. From the sprawling murder ballad, “My Blue,” and the Cody Johnson collaboration, “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues,” to high-energy tracks like his #1 hit, “What Kinda Man,” and “Big Sky,” he delivered a rock-solid effort.
Despite there still being rumblings from fans about the album not being Limestone Kid, it was clear that McCollum was through the roof with the record upon its completion, and it ended up paying dividends for the Texas native. Back in May, he scored his first Album of the Year win at the 61st annual ACM Awards, beating out the likes of Zach Top’s Grammy-winning Ain’t In It For My Health, Morgan Wallen’s record-breaking I’m The Problem and more.
Though the ACM win was nothing short of a career-defining moment, it became clear that McCollum was far from finished from a release-perspective in 2026. Back in July, he announced via an Instagram story that he’s flying to Los Angeles for a four-day recording session for his next project: an acoustic album, admitting he has no idea where it’s going to go at this point.
“LA bound. 4 days recording an acoustic album for you guys. No idea where this is about to go. We will find the edge.”
Since then, however, McCollum has been radio-silent regarding how the album was shaping out, not providing any further updates or an expected release date. Given the fact that fans have been waiting a long time for an acoustic album, with the “To Be Loved By You” singer first teasing one all the way back in 2022 on X (formerly Twitter), there was a growing amount of concern that there might be another incredibly lengthy delay on the release.
That all changed last night when he announced the album, titled Live From Sound City, would finally be dropping at midnight.
What results is an incredibly interesting tracklist from McCollum. Coming in at 15 tracks, Live From Sound City contains a mix of the Texan’s biggest hits over the year, a pair of covers and seven brand new tracks.
As for the hits and previously-released tracks, McCollum puts a brand new, stripped-back spin on the likes of “To Be Loved By You,” “Handle On You,” “Solid Country Gold,” “Hope That I’m Enough” and “Permanent Headphones.” Additionally, he provides admittedly stellar covers of the legendary Turnpike Troubadours’ 2010 breakout hit, “Diamonds And Gasoline,” and Steve Earle’s 1996 track, “Ellis Unit One,” which was featured in the film Dead Man Walking.
As for the new tracks, fans will recognize that “Jet Plane to GA,” which was teased last November, made the cut here on the acoustic album. Sounding incredibly similar to the teaser, it’s backed by nothing more than a piano and a bit of harmonica in between verses.
At first, it seems as if he’s begging the girl to come join him using the titular jet plane leaving Georgia. However, it’s revealed later in the song that she has already made up her mind, making his pleas even more desperate in the heartbreaking ballad.
“Why the hell did I think that I wasn’t gonna fall in love?
I don’t know what to say when you ask me what I’m running from
‘Cause the way that I’ve been ain’t the way that I wanna be
But you just can’t help what your heart wants to love”
“There’s a jet plane leaving Georgia late tonight
Guess my heart needs yours more than yours needed mine
If the sun goes down and makes you change your mind
There’s a jet plane leaving Georgia late tonight”
Additionally, you get some stellar songwriting moments on the likes of “‘Til the End,” which sees McCollum reminisce on life back home in Montgomery County, “Things Are Looking Up,” which takes a look at the early struggles faced on the road, and “South of the City Lights,” which centers on him waiting hopelessly for a toxic love.
Overall, Live From Sound City is nothing short of a gem from the Gold Chain Cowboy. While there has been a vocal minority of fans begging for the “Old Parker” to return over the past few years, McCollum proves that he never truly left. If you were a fan of the raw production and authentic storytelling on his early records, such as Limestone Kid and Probably Wrong, this acoustic album is a return to form and a must-listen.
“Jet Plane To GA”
“Better Alone”
“Diamonds And Gasoline”
The Naughty or Nice Tour Dates (With Koe Wetzel)
December 2 — Helotes, TX — Floore’s Country Store
December 3 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
December 4 — Corpus Christi, TX — Concrete Street Amphitheater
December 5 — Round Rock, TX — Round Rock Amp
December 10 — Fort Worth, TX — Billy Bob’s Texas
