Yesterday (January 20) saw Washington DC come to life with celebratory gatherings. The Presidential Inauguration was only the beginning of celebrations for the incoming president. Later in the evening, several balls were held in his honor including the Commander in Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Country singer Parker McCollum headlined the event and closed it out with a cover of a Toby Keith classic.
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Each of the balls was geared toward different groups. The Commander in Chief Ball, for instance, was geared toward military service members and veterans. As a result, McCollum picked the perfect Keith cover to close out his set and the event. Watch him perform “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” below.
Before McCollum kicked off the song, he shared his gratitude for being on the stage. “It is no small deal to be here tonight. We do not take this for granted,” he said. “I hope this song finds you well,” he added. Then, he sang the opening lines of the 2002 hit without accompaniment, showcasing his vocal prowess.
Parker McCollum Proves He Doesn’t Need Auto-Tune
In December, independent singer/songwriter Oliver Anthony of “Rich Men North of Richmond” fame called out Parker McCollum in a vlog. In the video, Anthony laid out his long line of complaints about the music industry. While doing so, he said, “The band who played after us, the dude had six Auto-Tune modulators on a pedalboard onstage just to help him with vocal pitch live.” Fans dug into his statements and found that he was laying that accusation at McCollum’s feet.
McCollum took to social media to refute the claims calling them a “100% fabricated lie.” Additionally, several artists who had performed with the Limestone Kid in the past spoke on his behalf. However, McCollum and his supporters didn’t need to say a word. His performances speak for themselves.
The opening lines of his Toby Keith cover are a great example of the quality of McCollum’s voice without help from modulators or other pitch-correcting devices.
Featured Image by Katherine Bomboy/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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