GARNER -- When Scotty McCreery was in Hollywood
to crown his “American Idol” successor in late May, he had a bit of
advice: Don’t get too cocky. McCreery, who won Season 10 of the
popular TV singing competition, told Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips
that even though the “Idol” victory marks the end of that competition,
it’s just the beginning if you want a career in music.
“There’s a
whole ’nother world out there – a huge business that I’m still learning
about,” said McCreery, an 18-year-old Garner resident. “So I told him,
just go out there looking to learn and looking for people who can help
you out.” “Looking to learn” has been something of a mantra for McCreery since his “Idol” win last year. It’s
why the country singer with the deep-beyond-his-years voice has reached
out to others in Nashville for guidance and is now touring with one of
his idols, country singer Brad Paisley. It’s why he returned for
his senior year at Garner High School last fall, even though he could
have picked up the few credits he needed to graduate from a private tutor.
And it’s why McCreery – at a time when
others in his position might put career above all else – will enroll as a
freshman at N.C. State University in a few weeks. He’s looking for a
major – maybe communications or public relations – that will help make
him a more well-rounded performer.
“I love what I do,” McCreery
said. “As long as that’s the case and as long as I’m having a good ole
time, I’ll keep on doing it, keep on trying to balance this life.”
‘A jam-packed year’
Winning
“American Idol” brings instant fame and a rush of offers, but that
celebrity can die down just as quickly as it arises. Sure, some previous
winners – particularly Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson – have gone
on to become music superstars. But some other past “Idol” champs are
hardly household names these days. Lee DeWyze, who won Season 9, had
minimal music success and did not appear on the live show the night
McCreery succeeded him. McCreery – the show’s first male country
winner – won bigger acclaim out of the gate than other recent winners.
His first album, “Clear As Day,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top
200 chart in October. It has since gone platinum, with sales of more
than 1 million, and spawned two gold singles – “I Love You This Big” and
“The Trouble With Girls.” Lisa McKay, station manager of
Raleigh’s WQDR, said the country radio station has seen a “phenomenal”
response to McCreery’s music that transcends just local pride.
“I think America’s speaking pretty clearly, and Scotty’s a winner,” McKay said. McCreery has been named best new artist at three different country
music award shows in the past six months, has appeared on most every TV
talk show, has performed atop a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade. “We’ve had a jam-packed year,” McCreery said. McCreery,
who pitched for his high school baseball team this year, particularly
recalled his performance of the national anthem before Game 1 of last
year’s World Series. “Me being a baseball nut, that was big for me.” At
least one family member – mother Judy, father Mike or sister Ashley –
is usually with McCreery on the road; sometimes all three when they can
make it work. At awards shows, they rotate who gets to sit beside him on
camera when he’s nominated. (Ashley, a college student, had the choice
spot last month when her brother was honored at the CMT Music Awards.) Each
member of the family has seen collateral fame, too. They all have
Twitter accounts with thousands of followers. Some rabid young fans
worldwide even want to know about the comings and goings of the family
dogs, Becky and Junior.
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