Parker McCollum has a new album coming out this year. The Texan, whose debut Gold Chain Cowboy record came out in 2021, announces the release of Never Enough, out on May 12. The record includes “I Ain’t Going Nowhere,” an uptempo tune penned by McCollum, along with Lori McKenna, Lee Miller, Jon Randall and Liz Rose. The song is a reflection of McCollum’s perhaps-surprising contentment at being married, almost one year after tying the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Hallie Ray Light.
“’I Ain’t Going Nowhere’ really is kind of a testament to where I’m at in my life right now,” McCollum says. “I’ve spent so much time on the road and touring and living on a tour bus and in a van since I was basically a kid and never thought I would settle down or slow down at all. And not to say I’m really slowing down, but, certainly have settled down and found that person that makes it worth it when you have a place to come home to that is not a tour bus or a highway. That was kind of the idea we were going with behind ‘I Ain’t Going Nowhere.'”
McCollum celebrated two back-to-back No. 1 songs, with “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved By You,” and is currently enjoying a Top 10 hit with “Handle on You.” While hit singles are nice, the 30-year-old is far more concerned with putting out songs that he likes, which also resonate with others, than any chart success.
“I don’t really ever think about what could be a single or not,” McCollum previously told Everything Nash. “It never really crosses my mind. I just try to write the best songs I can. And then if a label thinks one’s a hit and should go to radio, then hopefully it does.”
McCollum has often received what would be considered the highest compliment to some: comparisons between his music and the legendary George Strait. While nice, McCollum would far rather be known for being authentic than like one of his musical heroes.
“I just wanna be known as a good songwriter,” McCollum maintained. “I don’t necessarily think about writing hit songs. I just try to write the best songs I can. I’ve been lucky enough to have ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Hell Of a Year’ and ‘Pretty Heart’ and ‘To Be Loved By You’ all be big songs. ‘Like a Cowboy’ was a big song, but it was never on the radio. It was on The Highway [SiriusXM radio station]. That was it, and that’s one of the biggest songs of our show. So I just try to write good songs, the best I can, and hopefully people like them.”
McCollum is headlining several of his own shows this year, as well as joining both Morgan Wallen and Eric Church on the road. Find “I Ain’t Going Nowhere” and all of McCollum’s music, at ParkerMcCollum.com.
