Introduction
Many remember Scotty McCreery from his debut on American Idol in early 2011. His performance of Josh Turner’s “Your Man” instantly captured audiences with his remarkably deep voice for a teenager. He went on to win the show’s 10th season, but as Scotty himself will tell you, winning Idol was just the beginning. The real work involved dedicating himself to the country music scene, honing his unique sound, and maturing into the artist he is today.
Now 30 years old, married, and a father, McCreery has built an impressive career. His accomplishments include five studio albums, multiple number one country hits, and recent induction into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry. He’s also a proud new dad to his son, Avery.
On Tour and New Music
Scotty is currently on tour and will be making a stop at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta this Friday, February 2nd. Tickets are still available through LiveNation.com, with prices starting at $48.
For McCreery, American Idol was a launchpad, not the pinnacle of his career. “People are more likely to come up to me and tell me how ‘Five More Minutes’ was their wedding song than talk about Idol,” McCreery shared in an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “That means the world to me. I didn’t go on the show to be a TV guy. At the same time, I have nothing negative to say about Idol. I appreciate that they gave me my start.”
With a strong catalog of successful original songs, Scotty’s live shows now focus on his own material, with just a short medley of covers as a nod to his musical influences. “We’ve got a little story time built in to talk about my musical journey and we’ll play snippets from folks who influenced me a lot,” he said. Fans at the Atlanta show will also be among the first to hear new songs from his upcoming album, which doesn’t have an official release date yet.
His latest single, “Cab in a Solo,” is a top 20 hit on the Billboard Country AirPlay chart. This mid-tempo breakup track has a distinct 1990s country feel, a style McCreery says he loved growing up. The recently released music video features Scotty in a truck with a red Solo cup, alongside heartwarming clips with his 15-month-old son, Avery, and footage from a massive Nebraska volleyball tournament where he played for an astonishing 98,000 people—his largest live audience to date.
Grand Ole Opry and Staying Grounded
A highlight of McCreery’s career came in early December when Garth Brooks surprised him by presenting his official induction into the Grand Ole Opry. McCreery, a longtime admirer of Brooks, was deeply touched. “He’s such a busy man,” McCreery recounted. “The night before he was in Vegas. He flew to Nashville just to be there for me. That meant the world to me.” At just 30 years old, becoming an Opry member feels surreal to him. “All my heroes have played that stage,” he said. “But I do feel like an old soul. I have a deep appreciation and respect for what the Opry means to country music. It really changed the course of history back in the day.”
Despite his success, McCreery remains grounded, choosing to stay in his hometown of Garner, North Carolina, just five miles south of Raleigh. His wife, Gabby, is the same woman he was dating during his American Idol days. “I enjoy stepping outside of the business and craziness of it all,” McCreery shared. “People here for the most part just treat me as their neighbor, and Gabby has been a rock for me. I wouldn’t be here without her. She’s been here for all the ups and downs and has always been my biggest cheerleader.”
Becoming a father has been particularly fulfilling for Scotty. “It’s the coolest thing,” he said. “Way cooler than Idol or anything, just being a parent, seeing Avery grow up and develop his own personality. I can’t wait to see him grow up.” He even shared that Avery recognizes his voice on the radio: “When we play ‘Cab in a Solo,’ he starts dancing and saying ‘Dada!'”