Can you believe it’s only been two years since Parker McCollum took the stage as a newcomer at the ACM Awards? Although he released his first single and EP in 2013, followed by his debut album The Limestone Kid in 2015, it wasn’t until 2022 that he was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards.
By then, McCollum had already spent several years in the industry and on stage, but this nomination was still a pretty significant milestone in his career. In a recent interview with the Academy of Country Music, McCollum reflected on his first performance at the show — and shared some funny insights into the night.
Dressed in his signature style — jeans, a plain black t-shirt, snakeskin Luccheses, and a pack of Zyns in his back pocket — McCollum took the stage at the 57th ACM Awards to perform his 2020 single, Pretty Heart, from his Gold Chain Cowboy album. He poked fun at the far-from formal look: “Really dressed out for this one,” and added, “Zyns in the back pocket on live TV, you gotta love that.”
Both the outfit and performance were certainly a learning lesson for McCollum. Despite being nervous, he patted himself on the back for his surprisingly solid vocals on live TV (proving once again that no autotune was needed). He also reflected on how fast time had passed since that performance: “It’s so good and so terrible at the same time. It feels like it was 10 years ago, I can’t believe that was only two years ago.”
Standing on a platform stage, high above the audience and surrounded by massive cameras it’s pretty hard not to have what McCollum dubbed as “the stage presence of a popsicle stick.” But he added, “If that’s the worst it can get I can live with that.”
Since that 2022 performance, McCollum went on to win Best Music Video and Best Single of the Year in 2024. Still, he voiced his imposter syndrome, admitting, “I just don’t feel talented enough to be in these rooms that they let me go in.”
However, with 4.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and insane hits like Handle On You, What Kinda Man, and Hell of a Year, McCollum’s success says otherwise. He’s certainly come a long way in just two years.
In his closing remarks, McCollum shared, “I was willing to do whatever it took to prove to everyone back home that I made the right decision not to go to college and chase my dream.” I reckon it’s clear that he’s achieved that goal.
His latest track, Paper Umbrellas, featuring Tim McGraw, dropped on March 7, and he’s currently on the road for his 2025 What Kinda’ Man Tour with Kameron Marlowe.
Check Out The Tour Dates Below:
| 1.23.25 | Athens, GA | Akins Ford Arena |
| 1.24.25 | Charleston, WV | Charleston Civic Center Coliseum |
| 1.30.25 | Kingston, RI | The Ryan Center |
| 1.31.25 | Portland, ME | Cross Insurance Arena |
| 2.1.25 | Amherst, MA | Mullins Center |
| 2.6.25 | Duluth, MN | AMSOIL Arena |
| 2.7.25 | Minneapolis, MN | Target Center |
| 2.8.25 | Champaign, IL | State Farm Center |
| 2.13.25 | Tupelo, MS | Cadence Bank Arena |
| 2.14.25 | St. Louis, MO | Chaifetz Arena |
| 2.15.25 | Louisville, KY | KFC Yum Arena |
| 2.20.25 | Wichita, KS | Park City Arena |
| 2.21.25 | Lincoln, NE | Pinnacle Bank Arena |
| 2.22.25 | Cedar Rapids, IA | Alliant Energy PowerHouse |
| 4.24.25 | Portsmouth, VA | Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion |
| 4.25.25 | Charleston, SC | Credit One Stadium |
| 4.26.25 | Gainesville, FL | Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center |