Canadian country singer Callie McCullough lets it rip on her jaunty new single, “What If I Don’t?” When I first heard it I thought, “Oh my GOD this RULES.” So now here’s a chance to listen to it and learn more about McCullough, whose 2020 album After Midnight is a picker’s delight. We talk about process and stuff — but also about the CD collection that’s still in McCullough’s car.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
I grew up with parents that were touring musicians – so I spent a good chunk of my childhood backstage, driving in the van and at shows…but I definitely remember the first big concert I went to — my grandparents took me to see Willie Nelson and The Nitty Gritty Dirt band! The Dirt Band is still one of my all time favorite bands! I remember loving Willie’s band and thinking his sister Bobbie Nelson was an absolute force of nature behind that piano!
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
Oh yes — definitely. I’ve got my sights set on making my Grand Old Opry Debut…
How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
I think I’ve gotten to be a nice balance between total health nut and ratchet go with the flow tour musician… I’ve never been much of a drinker — I’ll have one to celebrate but not as a regular habit. I try to get a long walk in everyday before the show, which is an awesome way to see the places I’m traveling to; and I’ll stop at the grocery and pick up fruit and veggie trays while traveling instead of eating at a truck stop, but I’m definitely not above a dirty drive through moment when the mood is right!
Do you have any go-to albums to listen to in the van?
You know, I still have about 40 cds in my car. It broke my heart a little when I purged my 1000s of CDs so I left a few goodies in the car! I’ve got a ton — lately I’ve been playing the Greatest Hits of The Rankin Family (which was an epic Canadian Celtic band), I’ve got What Mattered Most by Ty Herndon in there which is one of my faves — his singing is unbelievable — Sweetheart’s Dance by Pam Tillis is a long drive classic for sure — top to bottom fantastic album. Of course, a couple random burned CDs from the days of old, and naturally Greatest Hits of Don Williams.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
I think each song is sort of its own movie. Sometimes the idea comes to me as a melody or a guitar lick, other times a lyric pops into my head first. “What If I Don’t” was one of those rare ones that fell out all at once — I was feeling a bit rangy from all the dialogue about running out of time to get married and have babies from people around me — so I was sitting by the lake, picked up my guitar, hit a chord and the first 3 lines just spilled out instantly with that chord in an accappella way. I guess the words were just screaming to come out of me on this one!