Still cannot believe that he was a part of this historic night.
Last year, on June 15th at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, George Strait and Parker McCollum made history, setting the record in the United States for the largest ticketed event in our nation’s history. Kyle Field’s reported capacity is 102,733; the stadium was more than 8,000 people over capacity with 110,905 people packed to see The King and Parker McCollum in the round.
Leading up to the event, which was held on Parker McCollum’s birthday, the “Solid Country Gold” singer knew that the event was going to break history. While McCollum was honored to be a part of the event, he noted that the event was more about George Strait taking the stage and performing in his home state than it was about him.
“It ain’t about me, man; it’s about The King making history and playing Kyle Field. We are just honored to get to be a small part of it. That’s as Texan as you can get right there. Kyle Field with George Strait setting a national record.
Like I said, you know, just to be a small part of it, and that’s a crazy blessing, and I’m sure it will go by in the blink of an eye. But just got to soak it all in.”
@y100sanantonio Y100 getting you in to see #georgestrait #parkermccollum #catieofferman set a concert attendance record!! And it’s @parkermccollum bday!! Have us on to win tickets for this Saturday! – @brodyonair #kylefield #collegestation #sanantonio #texas #countrymusic ♬ original sound – Y100
A year later, during CMA Fest, ESPN’s Marty Smith and Ryan McGee asked McCollum, now that the dust has settled, about being a part of that historic night.
“I don’t know, I really still have never thought much about it. Processed it really. I mean, growing up in Texas, and you want to be a country singer, the bar is George Strait. It’s dangerous because it’s untouchable. You can’t…There ain’t another one of those. God only gives us one of those, but that is the bar, and he is the standard.
So you know, to think about being a kid and being like, ‘Man, I wonder if I’ll ever get to play with George Strait?’ And then to end up playing the largest, most ticketed show in U.S. history with the King of Country Music, you know?
I try not to think about it just because you go down this rabbit hole in your head of just, ‘Why me? And how in the heck?’ I don’t know, man… when I say I’m blessed, I mean it.”
The hosts of the interview then asked how McCollum was asked to play the show, to which he replied that George Strait’s team had contacted his team. He recalls his team ringing him to ask if he was a go for the show, and McCollum’s only response, other than “yes,” was for his team to keep it a secret that the show was on his birthday. He was worried that George Strait would try to move the day or find a different supporting act so he didn’t have to work on his birthday. Of course, this was a birthday wish come true to sing next to George at Kyle Field.
But even with McCollum saying that he has yet to process the show a year later fully, he can still acknowledge it’s undoubtedly a high point in his career.
“I hate to sit here and act like it’s not the damn coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but I just don’t… I think I’ll be an old man before I really realize how special and how cool that was to do with him.
…
That’s just The King, man. I would never take the time to get all gushy and tell him how much it means to play those shows with him, and Kyle Field particularly. It’s just crazy. I don’t know, any dream I’ve ever had, anything I’ve ever wanted to do in this business, I’ve gotten to do it. And I’m getting to do it.”
McCollum then closes the segment hilariously, asking Marty & McGee:
“So how have you been?”
HA. That’s a tough segment to follow.
Parker McCollum admires George Strait on and off the stage, once saying he hopes to become the family man Strait is as well, so it’s cool to see that he still admires and takes everything Strait invites him to do as a high honor. It showcases McCollum’s humility and drive to persevere as an artist, aiming for a career that spans as long as George Strait’s.
Check out the entire interview while you’re here.
