Parker McCollum Speaks On His Friendship With Peyton Manning

Parker McCollum made a new friend on the golf course earlier this year and it's one that I'm sure he didn't see coming. The country star and former NFL quarterback / CMA Awards host Peyton Manning have even spent some time on stage together.

"He's a buddy of mine. We got to know each other playing some golf earlier this year back in March. We're going hunting together in about a month or two down in south Texas. So he's just a normal dude, such a good dude," McCollum told host Justin Franiak.

McCollum's friendship with Manning led Franiak to ask one very pressing question. Was he or is he a fan of the Indianapolis Colts or the Denver Broncos?

"No, I'm actually a Houston Texans fan. They're in the AFC South and beat us every single time he played us for about 12 years. So I didn't really like him that much back then but he's a really good friend of mine now. He's a good guy," McCollum said.

McCollum was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 57th Annual CMA Awards which was held just last Wednesday (November 8). The "Burn It Down" singer also opened up to Franiak about being honored for the award following the release of his new album, Never Enough.

"It is like a crazy honor to get to be recognized in this business. This town's so talented. There's so many freaking good artists. The bar is very high. And so to get, you know, to be and be considered, you know, at any point in time, I just really don't take it for granted. And glad to, to get you to know you don't know and may all be gone next year so you know," McCollum exclaimed.

McCollum will embark on his headling Burn It Down Tour 2024 with special guests Corey Kent, Larry Fleet, George Birge, and Catie Offerman on select dates. The run of this tour is scheduled with 41 dates and is kicking off on January 18 in Spokane, Washington.

Watch our full interview from CMA Awards week with Parker McCollum below.

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.