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Parson James on Growing Up In A Small Town, Finding Himself & Lady Gaga

The Pieces with Bimini

Tuesday, 13 October 2026 - 41 minutes

Parson James is a singer-songwriter from South Carolina who has become one of music’s most distinctive and authentic voices.

Born Ashton Parson in a town of 5,000 people, he created an iconic visual identity — a high fashion cowboy priest aesthetic complete with cross earrings and boots — that reflects his unique blend of Southern roots, queer spirituality and artistic rebellion. His music has passed over a billion streams (including a collaboration with the producer Kygo) and he has a new single "Love Right Here" with Emeli Sande, out now.

On this episode of The Pieces, Bimini and Parson James dive into the formative moment that shaped his entire life and how it gave him a feeling of "rightness" that has guided him ever since.

They discuss growing up in a hostile environment where Parson learned to mould himself to make everyone around him feel safe, and the journey of finally protecting himself by moving to New York at 17.

Parson also shares the vulnerability of coming out to his mom, the magic of working underage at burlesque venues, meeting Lady Gaga and the miraculous chain of events that followed - including stories from his time on American Idol and his performance at the Nobel Peace Prize concert.

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