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Parker McCollum Recalls Getting Special Message From George Strait Ahead Of Kyle Field Show: “I Didn’t Even Know He Texted”
The King of country music is easier to get in touch with than Dolly Parton or Vince Gill.
We all know the stories (or maybe you don't, which is truly a shame) of how Dolly Parton is hard to reach. Her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, once said that to get in touch with her, you have to fax her. Reba seconded that statement on Watch What Happens Live!, with Andy Cohen noting that the "Jolene" singer does not text.
“Dolly does not text. I don’t have her telephone number. And I asked Kenny Rogers one time, I said, 'Do you have Dolly’s number?' He said no. You know what…maybe he said that because he doesn’t want to give it to me…I don’t know.”
But Dolly isn't the only one who keeps it old school and has not adapted to modern forms of communication because Vince Gill has also disclosed that he does not text. But for Gill, it's not just that he doesn't text; he's genuinely NEVER sent a text.
“I’ve never sent a text. I’m the most non-tech guy that ever walked earth."
So, given that these two icons don't communicate via blue or green messages on your phone screen, you can blame Parker McCollum for being surprised that George Strait DOES text.
Ahead of the CMA Awards, Parker McCollum chatted on the red carpet about getting close to George Strait. The interview segment begins with how Mr. Strait likes to be addressed. Given that McCollum is a properly raised Southern gentleman, he shared that the first time he met The King, he addressed him as "Mr. Strait." But he was quickly corrected.
"I just call him George. The first time I ever hung out with him, it was Mr. Strait, and he looked at me and was like, 'Not again.' I'm like, 'Yes sir, George.'"
Haagar then tells Parker that is when he knows he has really made it, but Parker said that wasn't even the craziest "I've made it moment" since getting to know George Strait.
"The craziest thing was before the show at Kyle Field. I was sitting on my bus by myself, and my phone lit up. It had a text message that said, 'Hey, this is George; I just wanted to say thank you..' You know this long message. Well, it wasn't long, but it was a short message about thanks for being a part of this tonight, and that was pretty surreal. I didn't even know he texted."
Haggar then asked if the message was blue or green, and Parker said it was blue. Okay, George, getting down with an iPhone.
I must admit hearing Parker say that George texted kind of surprised me, too. Not to say that you can't be tech-savvy as you age, but I mean, I can hardly get a text back from my father that isn't just an emoji, and he's a bit younger than George Strait.
Some folks just like a good old-fashioned phone call, and I could 100% see George Strait being that kind of person.
Parker's got a lot he can brag about now. He's got Geroge's number, a text from him, and is on a first-name basis. He's living the dream.
@adisonhaager #parkermccollum ? #georgestrait ♬ original sound - AdisonHaager