Parker McCollum Takes Home New Male Artist of the Year in 2022 ACM Awards Early Win

Parker McCollum has been announced as the winner of New Male Artist of the Year in the 2022 ACM Awards.

The Academy of Country Music announced McCollum's win in advance of the 2022 ceremony in a press release on Friday morning (March 4), at the same time the ACM revealed Lainey Wilson had won New Female Artist of the Year.

Miranda Lambert surprised her fellow Texan in a video call to give him the news, which he reacted to with a shocked face.

"Are you serious?" he demanded, adding, "I'm, like, getting blurry vision right now."

McCollum faced tough competition in the category; he beat out Hardy, Walker Hayes, Ryan Hurd and Elvie Shane for New Male Artist of the Year in 2022.

McCollum has been on a major run of success over the course of the last several years. He scored a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Country Airplay chart with "Pretty Heart," which he subsequently included on his 2021 debut album for MCA Nashville, Gold Chain Cowboy. His current single, "To Be Loved by You," also sits inside the Top 5.

The Austin-based singer-songwriter was also among the highlights of the 2022 New Faces of Country Music show during the recent Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. The annual showcase highlights the most up-and-coming performers in country music, and it's considered a rite of passage for almost every major-name future star in country music.

The 2022 ACM Awards are set to air on March 7 at 8PM ET from Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium. The show is streaming on Amazon Prime instead of airing on a broadcast TV network for the first time in its history. The two-hour show will air with no commercial breaks, but follow its usual pattern of performances and awards.

Chris Young leads the nominations with seven, including Album of the Year and Single of the Year. Miranda Lambert tied a record set by Reba McEntire with her 16th Female Artist of the Year nomination, and she also earned four other nominations, while first-time nominee Walker Hayes received five nominations.

Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett will join Dolly Parton as hosts of the ACMs in 2022.

Remember: The best way to watch the 2022 ACMs is on TV, with ToC on your phone!