Parker McCollum Puts a Jazzy Spin on ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’ During His ‘CMA Country Christmas’ Debut
The country star says having the chance to perform on ‘CMA Country Christmas’ is “pretty special.”
Parker McCollum; Photo by Disney/Connie Chornuk
Parker McCollum showcased a playful side of his personality with a fun-filled performance of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” on CMA Country Christmas.
The Texas native took the stage at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by a full jazz band that gave the beloved holiday classic a fresh twist.
Fans first heard McCollum’s take on this Christmas classic with the release of the song via Apple Music.
McCollum sported his usual stagewear, jeans, a button-up shirt, and a ball cap, keeping things true to his signature style.
This marked his first-ever appearance on CMA Country Christmas.
“I think it means everything that the holiday spirit embodies,” he shared. “I think when you’re a kid and you grow up watching Christmas shows, you kind of look forward in show business to being a part of one of ’em one day. So to do it, I think it’s pretty special.”
As a father to his son, Major, McCollum says he’s excited to experience the holidays from a new perspective.
“My son’s right on the cusp of being old enough to really enjoy Christmas. I think we may be a little bit early. That’s not going to stop my wife from acting like he’s 10 and fully aware of what’s going on. So I’ll be looking forward to just playing along and acting like she’s right,” he explained.
He also shared the tradition he’s most excited to pass down.
“Probably the tradition I look forward most to showing my son one day is taking off to the ranch to go hunting as soon as Christmas day’s over.”
McCollum was one of several artists featured on this year’s CMA Country Christmas lineup, joining Lady A, Little Big Town, Riley Green, Megan Moroney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and BeBe Winans. Jordan Davis and Lauren Daigle hosted the special and also performed.
CMA Country Christmas aired Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9/8c on ABC, with streaming available the following day on Hulu and Disney+.
Parker McColllum will close out the year with a performance at Dickies Arena on December 31. Next year, he will continue his tour into 2026 with dates planned through late September.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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