It was an early morning arrival for Parker McCollum's team of tour busses at NRG Stadium for the second Saturday of RodeoHouston. It was his first time waking up on the tour bus, looking out the window and seeing NRG Stadium. Parker came backstage in a brown hoodie and his signature Paradigm Bull Company trucker hat riding on cloud nine.
"I've been workin' toward this night for 18 years." Parker said as he greeted George, Mo & Erik from the Morning Bullpen. The young crooner went on to talk about his first rodeo concert with Pat Green and how the words "Texas Singer-Songwriter" under Pat's name led him to decide on the path he wanted his life to take.
With every passing moment, McCollum's polite and respectful demeanor shone through but he did take a second to address the lady on Twitter who called him a one hit wonder.
This was not only Parker McCollum's RodeoHouston debut, it was also the end of a week where he'd been named the Academy of Country Music's Best New Male Artist and reached the #1 spot on the Country Charts with his single "To Be Loved By You." And if that wasn't enough, he is tying the knot with his fiance, Halie Ray at the end of the month!
The Limestone Kid brought his gold chain swagger to RodeoHouston but before the strut came the humility that he's becoming known for as he visited the kids in the livestock show. Cameras were there for all of the excitement and awe as Parker stopped in to sign autographs, take pictures and shake hands!
Parker McCollum would go on to set the RodeoHouston Country Music paid attendance record with 73,243, slightly edging out Jon Pardi who had 72,857. The city stopped for the kid from Conroe, Texas on March 12, 2022 with a day none of us will ever forget at the biggest rodeo in the world!