Tim O’Keefe
Audio By Carbonatix
On Friday, June 27, Conroe-based country star Parker McCollum released his fifth studio album, titled Parker McCollum. It’s been a decade since McCollum released his first, The Limestone Kid, and he has made one thing very clear in his most recent album: A lot has changed since then.
The upbeat, rhythmic tunes of The Limestone Kid burst McCollum onto the scene, as people couldn’t get enough of the heartbroken, regretful young man who wore his shirts tight, his chains long and sang like a man with 50 years more experience than he had.
He was a star in the making, and since then, we’ve watched the story of McCollum unfold through his music. His second album showed us he was adjusting to life on the road and his newfound stardom, which was portrayed through songs like “Misunderstood,” “Hell of a Year” and “I Can’t Breathe.” He next released an EP called Hollywood Gold in 2020, which continued the theme of hardships and a boy with the blues, but also introduced a shift for Parker with the song “Hallie Rae Light,” the name of his then-girlfriend and now wife.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the heartbreak from McCollum, and though he found love, the sorrowful tunes didn’t stop in his third or fourth albums. He got married, opened for George Strait in front of over 100,000 people at Kyle Field, had a baby, played at the Governors Ball and much more.
So that brings us here to his fifth studio album, Parker McCollum.
“This album is another boot-stomper for his newer fans and a nostalgic one for his day ones,” Daniels writes.
Courtesy of True Public Relations
For McCollum, a lot has changed in 10 years, and this new album takes a look back and reminisces on the old days and acknowledges the changes that have happened in his life, meaning he isn’t the young, reckless, wild kid he used to be.
Multiple lines and lyrics throughout the album let us know he’s changed, that sometimes he misses the good old days and that it’s okay to reflect on them.
A few standouts:
“I think of all the love I found and lost along the road” – “Solid Country Gold”
“Forget the man I am, what kind of man do you need?” – “What Kinda Man”
“Mister, do you mind if I just stand here and remember all my sunny days?” – “Sunny Days”
“Well, I’m thankful for the things I have and all the things I don’t, and I got dreams that will come true, I got some that won’t” – “Enough Rope”
The messages address the hardships of getting older, and though we may miss the good old days, we’re all going to have to move on at some point. Everyone experiences a change in life and attitude. Texas soul and grit permeate McCollum’s lyrics throughout this album, giving everyone a chance to sit back and think about love, loss, good times, and bad times along their journey.
One of the biggest motivators for this new album and its message was McCollum becoming a father in August 2024. In a recent interview, he told Music Mayhem magazine that becoming a father was the craziest thing that’s ever happened to him.
“The first six months, I was like, I don’t know about this… It’s pretty life changing,” he said, but added, “it’s just the greatest thing ever, he lights up when I walk in the room.”
Being a father can be no easy task for musicians, which he acknowledged, saying that he’s on the road a lot and his wife does everything for him.
And speaking of his wife, Hallie Ray Light McCollum, he’s praised her endlessly for her handling of raising a child while he’s on the road. He said in an interview at the CMA Awards that while he’s essentially winging fatherhood, she’s handling everything perfectly.
@countrynow.com @parkermccollum talks to @Katie Austin about life as a first-time dad and performing on the #CMAAwards stage as part of the iconic tribute to @George Strait ♬ original sound – CountryNow.com
McCollum is a family man, and this family was part of the inspiration for this album. It’s what makes this album so pure, that he understands that to be the best father and husband he can that it’s time for a new chapter. The song “What Kinda Man” is the perfect example of that, which expresses his willingness to change to be the best man he can be for his woman.
He sings on “What Kinda Man,” “I’ve been runnin’ so damn long there ain’t a women who could setlle me down / Wilder than a bat out of hell, off the rails and blazin’ through town / But then you walk in floatin’ on air and you look across the room at me / Forget the man I am, what kind of man do you need?”
Now, day one Parker McCollum fans have noticed through the years that the music has changed. It’s gone from acoustic and raw, seen in albums like The Limestone Kid and Probably Wrong, to more audio-enhanced and studio-edited. Does that mean it’s not good? No, fans have still packed venues year after year. This new album is a masterful blend of both styles. The desperation in McCollum’s voice, the sorrow and reflection of his former self and life, mesh with the beautifully crafted sounds of the band, guitars and beats. It makes this album another boot-stomper for his newer fans and a nostalgic one for his day ones.
It’s not old Parker McCollum sound or new; it’s just him singing from the heart.
It’s easy to see how proud McCollum is of this album as well. Leading up to the release, he said in a statement, “It is the best thing I’ve ever done. This record is honest, this record is raw, this record is one thousand percent authentic, Parker.”
He also said in an Instagram caption regarding the new album, “This is the best I got. Hope y’all love it as much as I do.”
The love for the album is pouring in, with country superstar Miranda Lambert commenting on his Instagram post, “It’s the best I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait for the world to hear it. I love this album, friend! Congrats.”
The social media reactions have been a fun read as well.
Parker McCollum came out swinging with “My Blue”. Good lord have mercy. pic.twitter.com/PtLXUjGr96
— ruben (@rubensantillano) June 27, 2025
I cannot remember many albums where you get a vivid glimpse into the artist’s soul quite like this new Parker McCollum album. Fantastic listen
— Gabe Collura (@gabecollura) June 27, 2025
The new Parker McCollum album might put on a bender that I may never recover from
— V N (@RocksVintage) June 27, 2025
Parker McCollum reaches the soul with this album. It’s authentically him, which is all we can ask for when listening to any country artist. It’s impossible to debate whether it’s his best or not, but it’s damn good, and it reminds us all that time marches on, and to enjoy being where we are and who we are every day.
