Parker McCollum Wrote ‘Hell of Year’ While Waiting in Whataburger Drive-Thru

Parker McCollum is as Texas as they come! During a concert earlier this year, he gave us the story behind the song "Hell of a Year." Which happens to be my favorite Parker song of all time. We learn that he wrote the song while waiting at a drive-thru at an Austin Whataburger.

You might be waiting a hot minute at the Whataburger drive-thru. 

He jokingly says, "If you do know Whataburger, you know the drive-thru takes long enough for you to write a whole song." I have never heard something more relatable as a Texan.

@yesimtexan Only in Texas does a heartbreak hit song get written in a @Whataburger drive-thru. At @Cattle Country Fest this year, @parkermccollum intro’d “Hell of a Year” saying he wrote it at 2am in the Whataburger drive-thru in Austin, TX. A late-night heartbreak song about her leaving, feeling nothing but emptiness, and having to burn every last feeling to ashes just to survive what had truly been a "hell of a year” for him. His exact words: “Worth It Every Time Though!” #ParkerMcCollum#Whataburger#CattleCountryFest#TexasCountry#HellOfAYear♬ original sound - Yes I’m Texan™

Parker McCollum has performed multiple times in Victoria.

Parker McCollum has performed many times at Schroeder Hall! However, he still owes us a show. He was scheduled to perform in 2020, but the show got cancelled due to COVID, and he never came back! We are waiting!

Parker returns to South Texas in January 2026! 

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