Scotty McCreery and wife Gabi Dugal McCreery are asking fans to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital rather than send him gifts to celebrate the birth of their son, Merrick Avery McCreery.
On Wednesday (Nov. 2), the North Carolina native took to social media to graciously thank fans for their generosity since the birth of their week-old son.
“Gabi and I are so grateful for all the gifts that we have received for Avery,” McCreery wrote on Facebook. “Presents have arrived at our home and our family members’ homes on a daily basis, and the Fan Club continues to ship everything to us that they receive as well. Y’all know how to make a family feel loved. You have been so generous to us and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
While McCreery and his wife Gabi are very appreciative of the gifts that fans and followers have sent for their first child, the couple admit that they have everything they need for their son and would love if fans could instead donate to a cause that they hold close to their hearts.
“We can honestly say we have everything we need and more at this point,” McCreery continued. “We ask that if you are still inclined to send a gift for Avery, that you consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It would thrill us to know that Avery’s birth helped other kids receive the care they need. The link to St Jude is below. If you want to make the donation in Avery’s honor, there is a section that allows you to do that. You can have St Jude send an e-card about the donation to my Fan Club at support@fan-clubhouse.com if you want to make us aware.”
“Thank y’all again for your overwhelming generosity, as well as all the love you send our way,” the “Damn Strait” singer added. “Please know that we are thankful for all of you and we send our love back to you.”
The kind gesture comes just weeks after McCreery was presented the Randy Owen Angels Among Us award at the annual Country Cares Seminar. The Randy Owen Angels Among Us award is an honor that is presented to a country artist each year for their outstanding commitment and service to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mission: Finding cures. Saving children.
“I am proud to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” McCreery shared of receiving the honor. “The work they do is amazing and they never charge their patients — plus they share their research with hospitals around the world! If you are looking for a worthy organization to support, St Jude is at the top of the list of organizations you should consider. Receiving the Randy Owen Angel Among Us Award from Randy Owen himself is an honor I will never forget.”
McCreery and his wife Gabi welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Merrick Avery McCreery, last month on Monday, October 24.
The couple shared the news of Merrick Avery’s birth with fans via a joint Instagram post on Tuesday (Oct. 25).
Baby McCrreery arrived 11 days earlier than expected on Monday, October 24 at 4:34 AM and weighed 7 lbs 13 oz at birth.
“Never known a love like this,” McCreery captioned his post. “Merrick Avery McCreery joined us 11 days early on October 24th at 4:34am! 7 lbs 13 oz of nothin but love!”
McCreery concluded his post by saying, “Thank y’all for all of your prayers during this exciting season of life! Healthy baby and a healthy mama! Praise God.”
The announcement post included a series of five photos, including a photo of baby Merrick in his bassinet and photos of McCreery and his wife with their precious new bundle of joy.
“Next to his mother, he is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” McCreery excitedly shared. “We have been waiting and preparing all year, and now we are so excited to have our little man here with us. We have begun a grand new adventure that will continue for the rest of our lives.”
“Gabi was a total rock star during Avery’s birth. I could not be more proud of her,” the new father added. “She has already taken to motherhood like a champ. Part of my joy as his Dad is watching Gabi already crush it as his Mom.”
McCreery and his wife Gabi first revealed they are expecting their first child in late June of 2021.
The “Damn Strait” singer revealed the news exclusively with PEOPLE on Tuesday, June 21, unveiling that their new addition will be arriving this fall, in November.
He also revealed their baby’s gender with the outlet. “We got a little man on the way,” the North Carolina native said with a smile.
“I was the only boy on both sides of my family, the last McCreery boy out there,” McCreery told the outlet. “Gabi’s from two sisters in her family, so I just figured it would be a girl. But we got a surprise of a boy.”
McCreery, who is currently on “paternity leave,” will return to the road on November 30, where he will play a show in Las Vegas, NV at the Downtown Hoedown on Fremont Street.
On November 18, Scotty McCreery will release a deluxe version of his 2021 album, Same Truck, as well as a vinyl. The expanded edition includes six new tracks. The project will be available on Vinyl, CD, and Digital formats and will feature six additional new songs that weren’t on the original Same Truck album that came out last year. Two of the new bonus tracks from the album, “Nothin’ Right” and “Small Town Story,” are available for streaming now.
“I’ve been sitting on these extra songs that we recorded since we started the Same Truck project and I’ve always wanted to hear this album on vinyl,” he wrote on Twitter.
His latest single “It Matters To Her,” which he wrote with Rhett Akins and Lee Thomas Miller, recently charted in the Top 50 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay Charts. “It Matters To Her” follows McCreery’s three-week No.1 hit “Damn Strait,” which was his fifth consecutive No. 1 single.
