In case you missed it...
Less than two months ago it was country legend Lee Greenwood announcing his retirement. Yesterday another country icon said he was hanging it up. John Michael Montgomery, who was one of the leading male country voices throughout the 90's and into the new millenium, announced on Facebook yesterday that he was calling it a career. "It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song Life’s A Dance was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape, CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy. I've been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last 3 decades, it’s meant so much me." He also announced that a farewell tour would run through 2024 and 2025. As of now he only has a handful of dates scheduled, but expect that to change with the news that he's riding off into the sunset.
Parker McCollum knows he's got a long way to go before he can compete with the likes of George Strait. They don't call him "King George" for nothing. But apparently it's not just in the number of country hits where George comes out way ahead. Parker recently talked about the personal high points of 2023. "A sold-out Red Rock show, singing on stage there with Peyton Manning was pretty good. That's going to be hard to beat "I played nine holes of golf with George Strait a couple weeks ago. That topped it. John Mayer signed my guitar the other night at his show in Austin. Don't pick up those names I just dropped, but it's been a terrific year." When asked how he did going toe-to-toe with Strait, McCollum had to admit, "He whooped our a**. Yeah, he won by a lot."