American Idol winner Scotty McCreery heads to Bay City for the Labadie Pig GigPublished: Monday, July 30, 2012, 7:15 AMBAY CITY, MI — Scotty McCreery is living the dream. After winning the 10th season of American Idol, the 18-year-old's life has become a whirlwind of tours and recordings. In a voice reminiscent of Elvis, McCreery expresses awe at how his life has changed in two short years.Winning the title on May 25, he was in the studio recording his first album May 26. Released in October of 2011, the album, “Clear as Day,” has been certified platinum, selling more than 3 million copies. “I'm still trying to catch up with everything,” he said. “It's been a crazy year, well, two years since I tried out (for Idol). It's been a wild ride ever since. I've been on tour with Brad Paisley, I had the chance to sing at the World Series. It's a dream a lot of little kids have, and it never comes true.” When he hits the stage of the Labadie Pig Gig on Saturday, Aug. 4, McCreery will be singing all those songs and a few others. “When you're a new guy like me and have one album, you don't have a lot to choose from,” he laughs. “I'm also going to do a little George Strait, Elvis and some Garth Brooks. It's going to be a fun-packed show. We're going to enjoy it, and I'm hoping the audience will, too.” In addition to touring, McCreery is back in the studio working on a new release that may contain tunes he's written. “I'm starting to write more,” he said. “That first album, there wasn't much time for me to write. Guys are sending me songs that are off the charts, a lot of good material. If I write a song I love, but a better song comes along, I'm going to record the best song.” Although fast becoming a star, the teenager credits his small-town upbringing to keeping him grounded. “I try to do my schedule so I'm out for a week or two,” he said. “I like to keep one foot back in my home life. It keeps me grounded, humbled and keeps me fairly normal. I'm your average teenager.” When McCreery hit the screen on American Idol, he had the entire town of Garner behind him. Bay City native Kurtis Pake, who now makes his home in Raleigh, N.C., and was McCreery's varsity pitching coach, says about 1,500 people gathered each evening at the high school to cheer McCreery on. “Garner is a very small, tight-knit community,” he said. “There is only one high school. A lot of students and parents came out to see one of their own. It was a good community family event.” On the final evening, Pake said, the event had to move to a bigger venue to accommodate everyone. Taking over PNC Arena, thousands of people showed up for the big night. “When he won, the place erupted like the Stanley Cup finals,” he said. “It was incredibly loud in there.” While it seems things happened overnight for the young singer, McCreery's rise to stardom started at his 1-year-old check up. “My mom hummed me a nursery rhyme, and I hummed it back to the doctor,” he laughs. “It's something in my blood. I grew up singing in church. I worked my way up to the youth worship band.” He also sang in choirs at Garner Magnet High School in North Carolina, becoming part of Die Meistersingers, a group that performs across the United States. Branching out, McCreery won the Clayton Idol contest at the Clayton Harvest Festival before trying out for American Idol in Milwaukee. Now in the thick of his dream, McCreery is in it for the long haul. “I'm hoping I can do this for the rest of my life,” he said. “I'm passionate about it. It's not one of those things I want to do for five years and go do something else. I want to put my stamp on country music. I'm up for the challenge. It's all about the songs. We have to have those good tunes people will enjoy.” Enjoyment is what McCreery is bringing to Pig Gig. “I just want to say thanks to the fans for supporting me and being with me this last year,” he said, “it means the world to me. Get ready for a fun show. It's going to be a blast — good country music and a little rock and roll.” And, if the singing career doesn't work out, there is always baseball, McCreery's second love. “He's got a great curve ball and mixes in a good little fast ball,” says Pake. “He finished the year with below a 1.00 ERA. That's really good.” If you go Who: Scotty McCreery What: Labadie Pig Gig When: 8:15 p.m. Aug. 4 Where: Veterans Memorial Park Tickets: $25 general admission, $49 platinum ticket, includes festival admission Info: 989-684-0254, Labadie Pig Gig |
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Monday, July 30, 2012
Scotty McCreery heads to Bay City for the Labadie Pig Gig
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Yay!! Another awesome media release!!! I sure like that Elvis comparison. People continue to discover what us McCreerians have known all along. Wish I could go to a solo concert. Will settle for opener for Brad in October.
ReplyDeleteYay!! Another awesome media release!!! I sure like that Elvis comparison. People continue to discover what us McCreerians have known all along. Wish I could go to a solo concert. Will settle for opener for Brad in October.
ReplyDeleteGO GO GO SCOTTY ALL YOUR FANATIC FANS ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOUR SUCCESS
ReplyDeleteLOVE YOU SO MUCH................................
PHILIPPINES
A young Elvis for sure. That picture shows how hard he works. That was from LP Field in Nashville and it was hot. Vote on GAC to keep him at No. 1. Pontoon is a hot song right now. Lots of hot songs on the top 20. So he needs our votes.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS FROM FANATIC FANS OF SCOTTY McCREERY IN THE PHILIPPINES
ReplyDeleteALL YOUR CONCERTS FROM JANUARY 2012 UP TO THE PRESENT, WAS SO AMAZING
YOU HAVE A VERY BIG IMPROVEMENT, YOU LEARNED A LOT FROM YOUR BIG BUDDIES
"MR. BRAD PAISLEY"
THANKS A LOT TO MR. BRAD PAISLEY FOR GETTING SCOTTY AS YOUR FRONT ACT ON YOUR
CONCERT. SCOTTY NOW A SUPERSTAR AND A CONCERT KING
SSOTTY MY IDOL DON'T CHANGE I ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS
Love this picture of Scotty performing, putting so much into the song, and looking smashing in that shirt! A voice reminiscent of Elvis, Yes! Scotty tends to be very modest, when he talks about his baseball pitching, but this person says he finished with a 1:00 ERA... and thats very good. So there Scotty! This article was fun to read!
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, give it your all and do your very best........that must be Scotty's motto. Sure fits!! McCreerians love you Scotty \ / This Big!!! Kait,Or
ReplyDeleteI have my calender marked for something Scotty doing tonight July 31 but I don't know what it is . I thought it was a internet thing like those questions we had to ask him . does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteHe's going to be on Cody Allen's radio show, is what I have written on my calendar (CMT Live). I hope I get to listen in. You can do it on your computer at www.cmt.com (radio).
ReplyDeletethank you
ReplyDeleteI looked at the CMT Radio website, and I see it is going to be a "web chat" with Scotty tonight at 8:00 and 11:00 PM ET.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful article on Scotty, he never ceases to amaze me! I am so looking
ReplyDeleteforward to seeing him perform live in my hometown of Bay City MI at the
Labadie Pig Gig! God has truly blessed this young man!
WTT was #5 last night on WPOC Baltimore's most wanted ,help Scotty stay on the top 5 song list as long as we can, please vote and request WTT !
ReplyDeleteScotty fix for the day. Thanks, Karee.
ReplyDeletehahahaha - exactly! ;) me too!
DeleteWhy is it called the Labadie "Pig Gig?" I really want to know since I have never heard of this event.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the nations largest rib cook-off competitions. Lots of fun activities for family and good food! It even has a pig racing competition!lol
DeleteI've been going there for years, hope Scotty and his family enjoy it! Can't wait to see him in concert!
Oh, thank you! Sounds like fun! :)
DeleteLove the article, even though they got the number of albums sold wrong.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that, too!..Wish it were true!..Next one!!!!
DeleteWhere oh where has scotty. Fans gone. He needs votes on wpoc most wanted
ReplyDeleteScotty fans need to vote on GAC to keep him at no.1. There are alot of good songs, not for me, but for others. I just don't see WTT at no. 1 as long as TTWG. I still think YMTLG would have been a better release. Loyal fans of Scotty love everything he does, but not everyone appreciates WTT unless you live in a water tower town or a small down. T wish he would make a video of YMTLG. Right he needs something new and he really needs the votes. Pontoon is the song of the summer.
ReplyDeleteLabadie is a car dealership/s sponsoring the event. Not sure if there is a limit to the seats or attendance, as it seems other than the platinum, people set up lawn chairs wherever. Pray that it doesn't rain!
ReplyDeleteMore people are hearing Scotty at all these concerts. Radio has not given him the support he deserves. CAD clearly has a number of potential hit songs. I will be curious to see if radio will play songs off his Christmas album!
ReplyDelete