The Wacky Name Parker McCollum Wanted to Give His First Child - Before His Wife, Hallie Ray, Stepped In

A few eyebrows were raised when Parker and Hallie revealed the name of their first child, Major Yancey McCollum. But, despite not being a very common name, it holds a special meaning, with Major's first-name seemingly inspired by legendary Texas Longhorns quarterback, Major Applewhite, while his second is Parker's middle-name.

But it turns out that, if Parker McCollum had his way, Major would've been given a different name altogether, as he explains to Cody Alan for SiriusXM’s The Highway.

With Parker and Hallie preparing to welcome their second child at some point in 2026, after announcing the pregnancy to fans on Christmas Day, there are sure to be a number of potential baby names being considered by the couple. McCollum hilariously jokes about the decision process, “You know, if Hallie Ray would just...let go and let me [choose], his name would be baller. Not literally actually baller, but it would be a really cool name. Baller McCollum. That's actually not bad...”

B“aller McCollum” is pretty crazy...but just crazy enough that it could work. The ‘Burn It Down’ hitmaker then reveals his ideal name for Major, “The first, you know, Major - I originally wanted his name to be Keaton Cadillac McCollum and call him Cadillac Mack”.

It's definitely bold and a tad unusual, but there's no question that “Cadillac Mack” has a pretty awesome ring to it. Then again, we're fans of out-there names, and we also like Major Yancey, particularly given the deeper meaning it holds for Parker.

When it came down to the final decision, Cadillac Mack was categorically ruled out by Hallie, “She just wouldn't go for it. But what a strong name that is. I'm still holding out hope”.

Could we ultimately see “Cadillac Mack” returning as a leading candidate if Parker and Hallie's second baby is a boy, as well? We think it's unlikely - but hey, you never know...

Parker is currently gearing up to give his longstanding fan-favourite, ‘Big Ol’ Fancy House’ - which he performed especially for Holler back in February 2024 - an official release at long last, with the forlorn, stripped-back ode arriving on January 23rd. It comes hot on the heels of the Texas native's lauded 2025 self-titled album, which saw the ‘Pretty Heart’ crooner returning to his roots and eschewing a more polished sound in favour of the raw feel of his debut album, The Limestone Kid.

It was one of the most impressive projects of 2025, and the only country record to make it onto Apple Music's Favorite Albums of the Year. It highlights why - despite being a household name in country music - Parker still feels grossly underrated.

With Hallie Ray and Major continuing to serve as two of the biggest muses for Parker's songwriting, we're excited to see how they continue to inspire new material from the country music titan, as he turns his attention towards his next body of work.

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