Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Turning Memories into Ashes on Parker McCollum’s “Hell of A Year”

Parker McCollum - Hell of a Year
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

There is almost certainly no song by Parker McCollum that can be described as awful. And country fans went berserk when he released another gem, “Hell of a Year,” under his album Probably Wrong in 2017.

This is one of those songs perfect for playing on New Year’s Eve while we reminisce on the previous year. It was a tremendous hit for many people, including Parker McCollum fans.

That is why it is considered one of the most popular country songs of the twenty-first century. But, if you’re wondering, what is the song’s true meaning? So here it is.

Meaning Behind the Song 

Have you ever heard the adage that great songs are composed in the most unexpected places? Parker McCollum describes his experience creating his song “Hell of a Year,” and that’s precisely what occurred.

In an interview with country music influencer and talk show presenter Bobby Bones, he confessed that he penned one of his best-known songs while driving through the Whataburger drive-thru.

But the message behind the song is what made it so famous, not where he composed it. The song is about having a hell of a year. The song’s narrator recounted his grief when his sweetheart abandoned him, leaving him with no love to feel.

And the only way for him to truly move on is to burn all his feelings away and turn them to ashes. It’ll be painful, but it’s the only way he’ll get through the hell of a year.

As a result, you should absolutely watch Parker McCollum’s music video for “Hell of a Year” by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8utfXo41Qg

Latest Stories

John Schneider’s ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ tribute honors Rick Hurst, pictured here as Deputy Cletus Hogg with the cast smiling.

‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Star John Schneider Honors Rick Hurst With Heartbreaking Tribute

Sometimes, the characters you remember best weren’t the heroes behind the wheel but the guys you’d see rolling their eyes and shaking their heads when the dust settled. Rick Hurst ...

Taylor Swift smiles while strumming a guitar onstage in Nashville, sparking rumors about a possible country music return.

Taylor Swift Crashes Kane Brown’s Nashville Set and Now Everyone’s Wondering if She’s Going Country Again

Taylor Swift showed up in Nashville like a pop comet trying to burn her way back into country music’s atmosphere. It all went down at Tight End University’s charity concert ...

Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton burst into laughter during a playful, no-holds-barred roast session on her talk show set.

Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton Bicker Like Siblings in a New Interview and It’s TV Gold

Two country megastars walk into a studio. One has 30 number ones and a new album, while the other is hosting the show but not having it. Cue the fireworks. ...

Josh Ross onstage at the Grand Ole Opry before his "best country" comment set social media ablaze north of the border.

Canadian Country Star Slammed for Saying America Is “The Best Country” Then Forced to Apologize

Well, that didn’t take long to blow up. Canadian country artist Josh Ross found himself in a hot mess this week after declaring America “the best f***ing country in the ...

Luke Bryan worked the stage like a champ here, but after this week's illness, Eric Church is the one holding the mic now.

Luke Bryan Cancels More Shows Over Illness and Eric Church Just Took the Wheel Like a Boss

Sometimes the show goes on, just not with the guy printed on the damn ticket. Luke Bryan announced this week that he’s canceling three major festival appearances due to an ...

Ronnie McDowell looked strong in 2022. And after that mid-show stroke this week, he's proving he still won't back down.

Country Music Veteran Ronnie McDowell Suffers Stroke Mid-Show and Gets Rushed to the Hospital

Country music veteran Ronnie McDowell suffered a mini-stroke on stage Saturday night while performing at the Summer Solstice Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, prompting an immediate halt to the show and ...

Loretta Lynn smiles beside husband Doo Lynn in a warm throwback. Two legends in one frame, both tougher than they look.

Loretta Lynn’s Husband to Receive Long-Overdue Military Honor After His Passing

Some honors come too late, but they still hit like freight trains when they finally land. Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn Jr., better known as Doo, has long been a name etched ...

Dolly Parton beams in rhinestone gold, guitar in hand, proving once again she's the only Vegas act who breaks the internet.

Dolly Parton’s Vegas Residency Sold Out in Minutes and Fans Are Begging for More

Only Dolly Parton can blow up the internet with six shows in Sin City and leave hundreds of thousands of fans empty-handed and seething before noon. On June 25, the ...

Gretchen Wilson flashes a smirk that says, “Y’all really thought I was gone?” The Redneck Woman might just be revving back up.

Whatever Happened to Gretchen Wilson? The “Redneck Woman” Star’s Shocking Comeback

You don’t sell millions of records, torch the charts, and redefine what it means to be a badass woman in country music only to fade quietly into the background. But ...

Zach Bryan smiles like a man who just tipped $7,000 after a pint—and made someone’s college dreams come true in Dublin.

Zach Bryan Drops $7,000 Tip in Dublin to Help a Young Staffer Pay for College

Only Zach Bryan could waltz into an Irish pub, knock back a pint, and casually throw down a college scholarship on the way out. While some artists kick off their ...