Parker McCollum Shoots His Shot At Taylor Swift While Teasing Secret Collab

Parker McCollum may be a household name in country music now, but his heart still beats with the raw ambition of a small-town kid chasing a dream, and a box combo from Raising Cane's.

In a recent sit-down, the Texas native opened up about what keeps his passion alive after nearly two decades in the industry and how a fast food chain became a full-circle moment in his career.

In addition to chatting about Cane's, Parker McCollum wasn't shy about his dream collab, calling one pop icon the "easy answer" all while teasing a secret project that's still under wraps.

When The Blast asked about dream collaborators, McCollum didn't hesitate.

"Taylor Swift," he said before we even finished the question. In addition to Swift, there are a few other icons he would love to work with. "George Strait, Dolly Parton. I got to do a song with Tim McGraw earlier this year, which is really cool. I've been a fan of him forever," McCollum added.

He even teased a secret collab in the works, telling The Blast, "There's one coming out. I can't say, but I don't think it's announced yet."

But behind the star-studded aspirations lies an artist who still questions whether "the buzz" is still within him.

"I had to prove to myself that the buzz is still attainable," he said. "I feel like I've been looking for it really hard, and as soon as I quit looking for it, I found it. It's crazy."

That rediscovery came during a 70-day recording stint in New York City, a process that reminded him why he started in the first place. "I left there like, 'This is why I wanted to do this when I was a kid.' I found the buzz again. And maybe now it's gone. But it's good for now."

Despite entering a new chapter in life (fatherhood) McCollum says his songwriting hasn't changed just yet.

"Not at all," he admitted. "Maybe in the future. But when I create, I still feel like 19-year-old Parker who had no idea if he was ever going to make it."

His humility extends beyond the stage. McCollum's longtime bond with Raising Cane's started long before they became a brand partner.

"I've been eating Cane's since I was a freshman in high school," he said. "We'd ride our bikes there before we could drive, $10 for a box combo, no slaw, extra toast, extra sauce."

Now, that same chain features promotions for his album in over 200 Texas locations. "It's surreal. I've seen other artists featured at the Cane's by my house, and now I'm one of them."

His appreciation for the brand goes deeper than nostalgia. "Cane's never lost touch with what makes a business great. Quality and people. I respect that. It's how I built my career, too."

During a promotional shift at a local Cane's, McCollum stepped behind the counter and quickly realized it's not as easy as it looks.

"I worked the register, and it was very apparent I'd never done that before," he laughed. "It's a crazy, demanding job, and people don't realize that."

As he reflects on his journey, from hauling gear in a pickup truck to touring in tour buses and earning gold records, McCollum remains grounded by gratitude and grit. "I was just talking to my keys player the other night. We started with nothing. We just did it the old-school way. And I wouldn't change a thing."

Even the smallest memories stick with him, like the time he watched a drunk fan repeatedly wipe out on icy pavement after a show in Rhode Island.

"It was hysterical," he said. "I probably spent an hour just watching that guy try to figure out his next move. I've been there."

With nearly 20 years of singing under his belt and a career that continues to evolve, McCollum remains a student of the craft.

"I've probably been singing longer than I've done anything else in my life," he said at the event. "It's wild to think about two decades of guitar, vocals, and writing songs. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Now, McCollum is getting ready to release his upcoming album, something that he wants fans "to listen to it top to bottom and really take it in."

"It's interesting because this is the first album that I don't really care if people like it or not, because I love it so much. I want them to like it," he continued. "But I'm totally OK if they aren't connected to it because this album represents so much for me."

Parker McCollum's self-titled album is scheduled for release on June 27, 2025.