Summary

  • Parker McCown has shifted from a career in the yachting industry to focus on his music career as a Bluegrass musician.
  • He proposed to his ex-girlfriend, Katie, while scuba diving in Greece, but there is no evidence of their engagement on his social media anymore.
  • Parker's life has changed significantly since his time on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and it is unlikely that he will return to the yachting industry.

Parker McCown, who appeared on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 1, has moved on from his career in the yachting industry to a different life on land. After quitting his job as the deckhand on Parsifal III in Greece, Parker decided to spend the rest of his time in the country with his ex-girlfriend, Katie. Parker proposed to her while the couple went scuba diving during his time there.

Before Parker decided to quit, there was a lot of back and forth between him and first mate Paget Berry regarding his attitude on board. Paget felt that Parker didn't respect the hierarchy on the yacht and didn't care to listen to Paget's constructive criticism. Parker realized he wasn't in the right headspace to continue his role as a deckhand. He ended up leaving the yacht and his whole career in the yachting industry behind in the middle of the season.

Parker McCown's New Career Post-Below Deck

Parker's life has completely changed since he left Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 1. He seems to have left the yachting industry behind him and is now focusing on his music career. The Bluegrass musician recently played shows in Wisconsin, Baltimore, and Asheville. While he started his career as part of a group called Hickabee, he now appears to be making music and performing under his name Parker Zelter McCown or Parker Zelter McCown & Friends. He has consistently toured since the music industry was reinvigorated post-COVID.

Parker & Katie Broke Off Their Engagement

parker mccown below deck

Parker also had significant changes in his personal life. After he left Parsifal III, Parker traveled through Greece with his ex, Katie, for a few weeks. At some point in the trip, he proposed to Katie underwater while the two were scuba diving. As of the reunion in the summer of 2020, the pair were still happily engaged. Today, there's no trace of Katie on Parker's Instagram page, and he doesn't even follow Katie on social media anymore. The pair likely decided to break off their engagement as the couple was supposed to get married sometime during the summer of 2021, according to BravoTV.

Parker's life has changed significantly since joining the yacht on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 1. Instead of focusing on the work of a deckhand, he's succeeding as a musician. While he's likely no longer engaged, his professional life as a Bluegrass musician thrives. The ship for Parker to ever return to yachting life appears to have sailed.

Sources: Parker McCown/Instagram, BravoTV