It’s no question that Scotty McCreery has reached plenty of milestones, both personally and professionally, since winning Season 10 of American Idol. And 2022 was no different.
This past year, the country music singer performed to a sold-out crowd at the famous Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, where George Strait got his start. McCreery also marked his fifth consecutive single with “Damn Strait,” following a string of No. 1 hits, including “You Time,” “In Between,” “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes.”
On the personal side of things McCreery welcomed his first child, a boy named Merrick Avery McCreery (who goes by Avery), with his wife, Gabi McCreery. The couple’s little one was born on October 24, 2022, at 4:34 a.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.
But, aside from all of those incredible accomplishments, there’s one goal that McCreery has yet to reach. And that’s becoming an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Indeed, it’s hard to believe that McCreery hasn’t already been invited to be a part of the prestigious country music institution. After all, he is deeply passionate about the traditional and historical aspects of country music, he has a strong relationship with his loyal fan base, known as the McCreerians, and he has a career that promises longevity with a track record of success. Not to mention, he has stepped into the historic Opry circle countless times.
In fact, McCreery recently wrapped a holiday show at the Grand Ole Opry, performing alongside artists, including Mandy Barnett, Louise Mandrell, Charlie McCoy, Riders in the Sky, and The Gatlin Brothers – four of which are Opry members.
“I love the Opry. I love Christmastime. So for me, it’s like the best of both worlds. I sing Christmas music all year round,” McCreery recently told Music Mayhem. “Ask my band, like, I’ll be walking down the bus singing ‘White Christmas’ in July. So for me, it’s fun when you get to combine the Opry and Christmastime.”
So what would it take for McCreery to get summoned to join the Opry club?
According to the Opry, “There’s no magic formula or secret code that grants access to one of the most coveted invitations in all of the music,” but the decision on who gets in belongs to the show’s management.
So when that time comes for McCreery to join the illustrious family that includes names like Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, The Oak Ridge Boys, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and more, he will be more than ready. But for now, that opportunity is a goal that remains on his bucket list for 2023.
“Being an Opry member, that’s definitely at the top of my list as far as goals,” McCreery said. “So if you love country music and tradition, the Grand Ole Opry is right there in the middle of that. It would be a great honor, but you know. It’s on the dream board.”
“I think everybody knows for me, I grew up on traditional country, and I love where country is at currently,” McCreery, previously, told Everything Nash. “I will always love the genre. I’ll always love the storytelling aspect of country music. And I think the Opry has done a great job of carrying on that classic traditional country while also embracing what’s going on currently in the format as well. I think they’ve struck a great balance there, and I think the Opry will always be very important to country music.”
While he waits for his spot on the Opry member list, McCreery has a busy schedule ahead. After spending time off the road due to paternity leave, he will embark on his 2023 Damn Strait Tour, named after his latest smash. The trek kicks off on Jan. 20 at the Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, OK, and wraps on April 30 at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, MD.
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