Bio via Wikipedia Official site HERE
Scotty McCreery (born October 9, 1993) is an American country singer. He rose to fame after winning the tenth season of American Idol in May 2011.
His debut studio album, Clear as Day, was released in October 2011 and was certified platinum in the United States. The album includes the top 20 country songs, “I Love You This Big” and “The Trouble with Girls“. McCreery released a Christmas album, Christmas with Scotty McCreery, in October 2012 and it has been certified gold. He released his third album, See You Tonight, in October 2013. Its title track became his first single to reach the top ten on Billboard‘s Country charts. Setting a new record in July 2017 with his single “Five More Minutes“, McCreery became the only country music artist in Country Aircheck/Media base history to chart a song without the backing of a record label; it topped Billboard in February 2018. His fourth album, Seasons Change, was released in March 2018 and became McCreery’s fourth top 10 album in the United States. His fifth album, Same Truck, was released on September 17, 2021.
McCreery was born on October 9, 1993, in Garner, North Carolina, the son of Judy (née Cooke) and Michael McCreery. His parents originally planned on naming him Evan, but changed their minds on their way to the hospital. McCreery is of one quarter Puerto Rican descent; his father, a manufacturing systems analyst for Schneider Electric, was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, to a military father and a Puerto Rican mother from San Juan, both of whom later moved to Aberdeen, North Carolina. McCreery’s mother is a real estate agent for Fonville Morisey. She also owns a tanning salon in Clayton, North Carolina. McCreery’s older sister, Ashley, attended UNC Charlotte. Both were raised in Garner.
Around the age of five or six, McCreery received a book about Elvis Presley from his grandmother, and Elvis became McCreery’s earliest musical influence. He began learning guitar when he was around nine or ten years old.
McCreery attended Timber Drive Elementary School in Garner, West Lake Middle School in Apex, and Garner Magnet High School. He participated in all three schools’ choruses, and he also sang at his middle school graduation.He sang tenor as a freshman in high school, where he was named Rookie of the Year. In his second year, he switched to singing bass and began singing in his church.He also starred in a school production of Bye Bye Birdie that year, playing the role of Conrad Birdie. McCreery went on to join a vocal ensemble called Die Meistersingers that was formed by his high school chorus teacher, Meredith Clayton, and with which he performed across the United States.
In 2009, McCreery won a singing contest called “Clayton Idol”, which was held by WQDR-FM at the Clayton Harvest Festival in Clayton, North Carolina. After winning, he held several local shows with the radio station, raising money for sick children.Later the same year, he was one of thirty-six finalists in a contest called Rip the Hallways, which featured teenage vocalists from across North Carolina. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, 2010, McCreery performed in a variety show called Gift 4, which was held by the town of Garner. In April of that year, he performed at the second annual Boots, Bands, and Bulls benefit concert. Funds from the concert went to Brittany’s Battle, a Garner-based nonprofit that supports those affected by cancer. The concert was held in Raleigh, and country singer Jason Michael Carroll also performed.
Growing up, McCreery attended First Baptist Church in Garner. He led the church’s youth praise band, Audience of One. In addition to his musical pursuits, McCreery was a member of his high school baseball team. His coach, Derik Goffena said of him, “He doesn’t throw terribly hard. His best pitch is a curveball as far as getting people out. If he had to start he probably wouldn’t walk more than one or two in a game.”[24] McCreery was working as a bagger at Lowes Foods when he auditioned for American Idol.
West Virginia native Makenzie Phipps has been making her way through the country music scene. We sat down with the 21-year-old singer in Nashville to discuss her debut single, her background, and how she helps adoptable animals.
If you haven’t heard Phipps’ debut single “Maybe,” be sure to listen to it below. The entire song drew us in, from the lyrics to the melody. The Josie Awards named it “Female Song of the Year” last year and it was well-deserved. “It was an amazing feeling,” she said of the accolade.
Attending the awards show for the second time, this was the first year she was nominated, which is a great accomplishment, since it’s a global show. “Being nominated, that is just an accomplishment in itself,” she remarked.
Phipps added, “Getting to meet all of these talented songwriters and singers from everywhere, it’s just an amazing experience.” She noted that although winning is a fantastic experience, she always tries to stay humble and kind. “We could not believe it, we’re so happy with how it came out and we’re so glad that it was enough to win the award.”
Phipps started singing at just four years old at church with her grandmother. At home, she had a pink Cinderella boombox kit and Loretta Lynn’s cd was the only one she owned at the time. She’d run around the house singing her songs. “I just love her so much,” she said.
She began piano lessons at ten and went on to attend a music school in West Virginia when she was a teenager. After receiving her first guitar at fourteen, she began performing.
Phipps explained that she took what she learned in music school and made it work for her. The guidance they provided talked about the advantages of not consuming dairy an hour before singing and refraining from eating 1-2 hours before performing.
She attempted to take both pieces of advice, but ended up fainting while performing at a baseball stadium when it was really hot out. Now she takes her health more into consideration and prioritizes her needs in that area.
Another aspect of Phipps’ story that stood out is her love for animals. Every week, she features a “Take Me Home Thursday” segment on social media where she features an adoptable dog. Each dog is selected for a particular reason, either she’s worked with him in training or perhaps they’ve been there much longer than the others.
With her busy schedule, this was the perfect way to get involved. She’s excited to continue the initiative and said, “Putting it on my platform and being able to share with my audience, my passion and love that I have for animals, I think it’s really made a difference.”