Drew Parker on His Fiery New Single 'Love the Leavin'' — and Why He Thinks It's a 'Career Song' (Exclusive)

Drew Parker is on fire these days, in more ways than one.

"The air conditioning at my house is out," Parker, 32, explains during a recent interview with PEOPLE from his home in Nashville. "A guy just showed up to fix it. My wife Mallory is eight months pregnant, so it’s got to get fixed."

A broken air conditioner and the pending arrival of his second daughter are just two of the many things that the Grammy and CMA Award-nominated country hitmaker and artist is juggling at the moment. But if that wasn’t enough, Parker also finds himself at the point of his career where everything seems to be bubbling over at just the right time.

"I just played CMA Fest, and I mean, to watch those diehard fans that come out in the heat to see their favorite artist is super special," explains the Georgia native, who is out on the road as an opener on Luke Combs’ Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour. "There are a million other places they could be. It becomes one of those moments where you realize that if they are coming to see you, you are doing what you're supposed to be doing."

Granted, there was a time not so long ago when Parker was unsure where his career was headed, especially following the 2021 release of his debut single "While You're Gone," which went on to reach the top spot on SiriusXM’s The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown only to stall on the Billboard country music charts.

"It's been a while since I went to radio with a single," says Parker, who is now basking in the bliss that is his current single "Love the Leavin'." "You never know if you're going to get that chance at radio again, and so three years later to get that chance again is amazing."

And yes, Parker still appreciates the importance and power of country radio. "I grew up a fan of country radio," he says. "That's what me and my dad listened to in the truck. Getting these opportunities to hear your song on the radio means your career is progressing, which is exciting for me and my family." He pauses, adding, "My goal has always just to be able to pay to repair my air conditioner when the guy shows up, you know?"

Certainly, 2024 is turning into Parker's perfect storm in many ways, like what has happened in the past.

"I signed a record deal and wrote my first No. 1 at country radio as a songwriter [on Jake Owen's 2020 smash "Homemade’"] the week my daughter was born," recalls Parker, whose daughter Harley is now 4. "Nine months later, I put out 'While You're Gone.' And now, 'Love the Leavin'' is out and doing what it's doing. I mean, we're going to have to pop out a baby every little while."

Parker is the first to admit, though, that "Love the Leavin'" always felt like a magical one, right from the very start. 

"This sounds so not humble, but I have never been more confident of a hit song than when we wrote 'Love the Leavin','" says Parker, who wrote the fiery song alongside Matt Rogers and Lindsay Rimes. "When I wrote it, I immediately sent it to Luke and then I sent it to other people, and within a matter of two hours, a handful of bigger artists had put this song on hold to cut it themselves. And to be honest with you, I thought that this song was bigger than me. Fortunately, I have a great team who shook some sense into me and was like, 'Are you crazy? This is a career song.'"

It's a song that will soon forever live on Parker’s debut full length album Camouflage Cowboy, set for release on July 12. "The cut [of 'Love the Leavin''] that is on the record is nearly identical to the demo that we created in the room that day," he says. "We just added some steel guitar basically to the record. It felt too magical in that moment to change anything and try to make it more perfect, if you get what I'm saying."

And yes, the album release date is awfully close to his wife’s due date. "She’s due soon, but our first kid was early," admits Parker, who is also booked to play the Grand Ole Opry on July 13, with a laugh. "I'll be honest, I haven't quite thought of how chaotic that week might be."