Parker McCollum: Who Should Win New Artist CMA

Parker McCollum is nominated for his second CMA Award at the 2023 CMA Awards, which will be handed out in November. It's actually the second year in a row that Parker has been nominated in the New Artist category. In 2022, Lainey Wilson won the award.

We talked with McCollum before he celebrated three number-one songs at his first number-one party in Nashville yesterday (9/13), and he told us Lainey winning the honor last year was the right choice. He said, "Last year, I didn't win, and it didn't bother me one bit. I'd already done the deal and seen the show, and Lainey deserved that big time. When you grow up watching the award shows, and you think about being on them one day... luckily for me, I've won a couple of them already." Parker won the 2022 ACM Award for New Artist and the CMT Music Award in 2022 for Breakthrough Video for his "I'd Be Loved By You" video.

McCollum added that he doesn't think he will win this year either. He told us, "This year is really the same way; Zach (Bryan) or Jelly Roll really are the ones that should win it. They really deserve it and have had monster years."

Nominees for the CMA's New Artist for this year (2023) are Zach Bryan, McCollum, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, and Hailey Whitters.

Parker did say how he feels about being in the category, saying, "Just being nominated is an honor, and I don't think that will ever lighten up. I think that will always carry just as much weight each year. You never know when it's the last one you'll be nominated for or the last one you'll get to go to, so I just try to be grateful for it."

McCollum also knows that the award isn't just for his hard work as an artist. He noted, "I know the team I have behind is probably the main reason why I got that nomination, so for their sake and all that hard work, I hope that makes 'em feel good and feel like they're doing a great job because they really are."

Parker smiled, "I've watched the CMAs since I was a little bitty kid, so to be able to see my face on the thing is pretty special."

The 57th Annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC at 8 PM ET on November 8, 2023.

Parker McCollum released a new song today (3/10) from his forthcoming studio album, Never Enough. The new song is called "Speed."

Parker said of the song in a statement, "My song 'Speed' is about my obsession with living fast. Life is always going a hundred miles an hour, and it's important to try and be aware of that and slow things down every now and then."

He adds, "As you get a little further along in life, you start to enjoy the slow and easy life. It takes a little reflection and a little step back from everything to realize how important it is."

Never Enough will be released everywhere on May 12, 2023, and will also feature the lead single "Handle On You," as well as recent releases "Stoned" and "I Ain't Going Nowhere." Fans can pre-order Never Enough on CD and vinyl, with a special signed white vinyl and signed CD exclusively available at ParkerMcCollum.com.

Earlier this week, McCollum participated in the Country Music Hall of Fame's American Currents: State of Music exhibition. The exhibit highlighted the country music landscape over the past year. The exhibit explores musical developments, artist achievements, and notable events determined by the Museum's curators and editorial staff.

Featured artists of the exhibit include McCollum, Wynonna Judd, Elvis Presley, Luke Combs, HARDY, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, and more. It is open to the public now through February 2024.

As his country music career continues to rise, we look at his last few years in country music.