WATCH: Parker McCollum Questions If He’s Really a Country Singer – “Maybe I’m Not One”

In a conversation with WTVA 9 News in Tupelo, Mississippi, Parker was asked whether he ever considered crossing into other genres—like Taylor Swift did—or if he planned to stick strictly to country music.

His response? No need to worry about a pop pivot anytime soon:

“There is absolutely no chance of anything Parker McCollum doing anything pop music at any point in time.”

But what came next had fans talking.

Parker admitted that while country music has always been his goal, he’s starting to feel like he might not fit the traditional mold:

“I wanted to be a country singer for as long as I can remember, and the longer I do this, the more I kind of realize I may just not be one. The more I try to write country songs and make country records, the further I get away from what really has always made me, me.”

He went on to explain that today’s country music is more open-ended than ever:

“Country music used to be such a narrow genre, there was very strict criteria. Nowadays, it’s just not. The criteria is as loose as it’s ever been for something to be called country music… and once everybody starts to do something, I want to do something else.”

Parker’s next album could lean into Americana, folk rock, or even blues—like his recent cover of John Mayer’s “Perfectly Lonely.”

What’s Next for Parker McCollum?

While he might not define himself strictly as a country singer anymore, Parker is staying true to his roots:

“I’ve always wanted to be a country singer, and the longer I do it… maybe I’m not one. And that’s okay!”

At the end of the day, he’s focused on making music that feels authentic. Whether it leans country, Americana, or something entirely different, fans can count on one thing—it’ll still sound like Parker McCollum.