Scotty McCreery brings country sounds and stage swagger to Macon

Don’t let his sultry voice and serious stage swagger fool you, Scotty McCreery is a humble young man with a sincere tenacity for life and a self-awareness far beyond his years.

McCreey hails from Garner, North Carolina, and is most known for his big win on season 10 of “American Idol.” The commercial success from a television competition may have catapulted his career, but with a certified platinum and gold record under his belt — along with high-climbing songs on Billboard’s country charts — it’s McCreery’s talent that has kept him at the table.

McCreery is currently in the midst of a North American tour, which stops in Macon on Sunday at the Grand Opera House. Opening the show will be local favorite Maggie Renfroe.

“Every stop or place we go is different, but I’m a bit of an introvert, so I stay pretty low key and try to get in a round of golf whenever I can,” McCreery said in an interview. “I’ve never gotten used to being recognized. I’m still the same guy, so it’s not really something I’m thinking about when I’m out in public.”

On May 5, McCreery released his first single since 2015, entitled “Five More Minutes.”

“Releasing this song felt sweeter than other singles I’ve released in the past. It took a long time — longer than usual to make it happen — almost two years since it was written,” he said. “It’s definitely my favorite song I’ve ever written and has always had this awesome special reaction whenever I’ve performed it live.”

In fact, “Five More Minutes” garnered so much attention that it even won McCreery a Rare Country Awards trophy for “Grand Ole Opry Moment of the Year,” for his performance of the song.

Just about a year ago, McCreery added author to his resume with the book “Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream.” The title came from the saying having always served as a personal mantra for the singer. The book chronicles McCreery’s life before his big win on television, growing up in front of millions, and the trials and tribulations of the music industry.

Most importantly, the book touches on what McCreery sees when looking to the future.

“Right now I’m in a fun place, a creative space where I’m writing all the time. We’re hoping to put a new album out later this year if everything goes right,” said McCreery.

When asked what music he’s currently listening to, McCreery states without skipping a beat, “I’ve really started to gravitate back to ‘90s country, the real heyday of country music. My favorite song to cover is ‘Ain’t Goin’ Down’ by Garth Brooks. It’s the most fun, but dang hard. There’s no room to breathe in that song, so it takes a lot out of you.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Scotty McCreery brings country sounds and stage swagger to Macon."