North Carolina Native Scotty McCreery On The Inspiration Behind His New Album

About Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery burst onto the country music scene when he became the youngest male singer
to ever win American Idol back in 2011, when he was just 17 years old. He grew up in Garner,
North Carolina, just outside of Raleigh, where he developed his talent by singing and playing
music at the local Baptist Church. Scotty talks with Sid about his new album, Rise & Fall, which showcases some different sides of his personality, from being a man of faith and family to being a man who occasionally likes a cold drink and a good time. He also talks about his Puerto Rican heritage, the ups and downs of his career, and what it meant to be inducted recently into the Grand Ole Opry.

What Scotty McCreery Talks About In This Episode

• Growing up in Garner, North Carolina
• Started singing and playing at the local Baptist church
• New album Rise & Fall
• His Puerto Rican heritage
• The ups and downs of his career
• Being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
• Winning a CMT
• Growing up in a small town
• His grandmother's cooking
• On North Carolina BBQ
• His love for Banner Elk

Quotes From Scotty McCreery

"I do love to cook. I keep the cast iron out in the kitchen, and we try all sorts of meals. It's something that used to intimidate me, probably even just five years ago, but I've started to belike, "You know, what the heck, let me try this and try that." And my wife's family is all fromLouisiana, too, so they've got a whole nother style of cooking down there that I like to try as well." - Scotty McCreery

"North Carolina to me, it just represents so much. Yes, it's home, it's where I grew up. My family is still there. It's where my wife's family is and grew up. And all my friends that I have today were my friends at two years old when I was growing up and just starting to get around, who I played baseball with, all that stuff. But there's a comfort level to NorthCarolina, too. And, you know, I travel the world, and I've played shows in all 50 states, and around the globe really, but when I get home to North Carolina, I just think it puts me in a different frame of mind." - Scotty McCreery

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road.Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Craig Melvin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or everywhere podcasts are available.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.