As Warner Music Nashville recording artist Drew Parker notches six years in Music City this week, he is taking a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication that has led to several major milestones in his budding career. From scoring two No.1s as a songwriter, to signing his record deal, to his Grand Ole Opry debut and his first ever CMA Awards nomination, the Georgia native has plenty to celebrate as he continues to put in the time and effort to achieve his dreams.
“If you had told me then that in six years I’d be a dad to the sweetest little girl, husband to the best woman in the world, on a major tour, touring the country with some of my best friends, have two number ones as a songwriter, sign a record deal, have my first single at radio, play the Grand Ole Opry and actually be living my dream I would’ve called you crazy,” expressed Parker on social media. “I’ve learned that if you want something bad enough and you’re willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice, ANYTHING is possible!”
Parker’s single “While You’re Gone” recently impacted radio and was the most-added debut single upon impact, tying for second overall (LISTEN HERE). Co-written by Parker alongside Jameson Rodgers, the track charted on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after just two weeks, making Parker one of the fastest debut artists to hit the Billboard chart this year. Already a No.1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway, the “BR PBR” song has garnered more than 40 million global streams and helped land Parker on SiriusXM’s “Future Five For 2021” list. MusicRow raved about the song, stating, “I dig this guy. He has a powerful singing voice, and the production is epic…heartache on the hoof.” Check out the official music video for “While You’re Gone” HERE.
The Georgia native recently got the opportunity to share the single on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage for his Opry debut. He brought the audience to their feet with his moving performance, shedding a few tears after dedicating “The Runway” to his daughter in the crowd, marking the first time she had seen Parker play a show. The singer / songwriter was surprised with the news of his Opry debut by close friend Luke Combs (WATCH HERE). A recent collaboration with the superstar, “Forever After All,” landed Parker his first ever CMA Awards nomination for Song of the Year. Written by Parker alongside Combs and Robert Williford, the multi-week No.1 is among many of Parker’s major publishing credits such as Combs’ fan favorite “1, 2 Many” and Jake Owen’s No.1 single “Homemade.”
“I try to see the good in everything," he recently told PEOPLE. "But at the end of the day, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. And it's totally out of my control. And when you feel so confident in that, you start seeing things in a better light and things start going your way. That's what I feel like is happening in my life right now."
Fans can catch Parker on the road now with Combs on his What You See Is What You Get tour alongside labelmate Ashley McBryde, followed by Jameson Rodgers’ Cold Beer Calling My Name tour in the fall. For a full list of upcoming shows, click HERE.
About Drew Parker:
Drew Parker knows exactly what he’s about – and country fans already love it. Some just don’t know it yet. Now, after joining Warner Music Nashville to supercharge his artistic ambition, they’ll soon learn. A native of Covington, Georgia, schooled on ‘90s country giants like Ronnie Dunn, Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson, Parker’s led a recent resurgence in organic country hits – they’ve just been for other artists. Tracks like Luke Combs’ “Forever After All” and Jake Owen’s “Homemade” have established his signature style, using whip-smart lyricism and actual country instruments to pen quality-driven Number Ones – a new-school-meets-old-school vision that’s proven itself at each turn. It’s that same wordplay that drives Parker’s solo work, too, and it’s all steeped in his love of the ‘90s. With a standalone single released in 2016 and a four-song collection following in 2018, Parker reached a creative high-water mark last year: The While You’re Gone EP – seven twangy, energy-filled lyrical masterstrokes that were too “him” for anyone else to sing. The title track recently became Parker’s first single at country radio, the most-added debut single upon impact. Co-written with Jameson Rodgers, the clever power ballad shows off everything that makes Parker stand out, from his powerhouse vocal to that unteachable Shakespearean spark – the ability to make people laugh while they cry. It’s the first true look at an artist who’s already developed a sound and style all his own, but it won’t be the last, as there’s much more in Parker’s tank, with unrecorded music waiting in the wings. But for now, the Georgia native is excited to have this batch of work out in the world. And his original dreams are coming true. In true Drew Parker double meaning, the tank is gassed up, and he’s finally ready to roll…both literally and metaphorically.
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