Parker McCollum will become a dad in a matter of hours.
The award-winning country star shared photos from recent shows in Minnesota and Wisconsin on Instagram on Monday evening (August 5), noting that those were “the last two shows I’ll ever play before I’m a dad.” He and his wife, Hallie Ray Light McCollum, are getting ready to welcome Baby No. 1, a son named Major Yancey McCollum. The “Burn It Down” artist said he’s taking time off to be home for the birth of his firstborn child.
“I’ve got two weeks off to welcome little man into the world this week and I am so grateful to God for a healthy Hallie Ray, a healthy baby, the best fans in the world, the best band and crew in the world and the best friends and family ever,” McCollum wrote in his caption on Instagram. “Going to enjoy this much needed time off and HAVE A FREAKING KID. 48 hours till I’m forever known as dad. Love yall! See you soon!”
Hallie wrote in a comment: “I love you!!!!! Let’s have a baby!!!!!”
The Texas-born singer-songwriter announced earlier this year that he and his wife were expecting their first baby. McCollum revealed during a recent interview on The Spencer Graves Show that the first-time parents selected the name Major Yancey while he “was watching Rose Bowl highlights, and I saw Major Applewhite, [current South Alabama Football head coach and former Texas quarterback]. I was like, ‘damn, Major McCollum would be sick.’”
Hallie recently shared a glimpse of Major’s nursery with a video set to her husband’s heartfelt ballad, “Things I Never Told You.” She wrote in her caption at that time: “now we are just waiting on you, baby boy 🤎”
The McCollums are one of many families in the country community welcoming a baby into the family this year. Others — including other first-time parents and artists welcoming Babies No. 2, 3 and 4 — include Kane Brown and wife Katelyn Brown, Jon Pardi, Gabby Barrett, Jessie James Decker, Adam Doleac and more. Some artists, including Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney, Chase Bryant, Sarahbeth Taite and others, also shared recent pregnancy announcements. See a list of baby announcements from country artists here.