Parker McCollum’s Late Grandfather Inspired Him To Cut ‘Like a Cowboy’

Parker McCollum may not have had a hand in writing his brand new song “Like a Cowboy,” but that doesn’t…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

April 16, 2020

Parker McCollum may not have had a hand in writing his brand new song “Like a Cowboy,” but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a strong connection to it. The buzzed-about Texas native says the Chris Stapleton and Al Anderson penned song reminds him of his late grandfather, Bobby Yancey.

“When I first heard ‘Like A Cowboy’ I probably listened to it 15 times in a row,” McCollum shares. “It made me think of my Grandpa who would have loved this song. He was one of my best friends and he believed in me so much that I know he’d be happy to see everything that’s happened in my career.”

The song marks McCollum’s first outside cut for the rising star, who believes the soaring ballad encompasses his personality and upbringing.

“And I’d ride like a thief on the run/ And I’d hide from the things that I’ve done/ And I’d fly like the wind to the sunset/ Just like a cowboy should do,” McCollum croons throughout the chorus.

Click above to listen to “Like a Cowboy.”

A native of Austin, Texas, Parker McCollum built a massive fanbase in the Red Dirt scene before moving to Music City where he signed a record deal with MCA Nashville. His debut radio single, “Pretty Heart.” has already raked in over 25 million streams and cracked the Top 40 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The song officially goes for adds at country radio on April 27.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

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.