Scotty McCreery paid tribute to the King Of Country Music during his appearance on Kelly Clarkson’s Emmy-winning talk show.
The multi-platinum selling Triple Tigers recording artist and country superstar performed his latest single, “Damn Strait,” during The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday (Oct. 19).
“He’s done amazing things since he won [American Idol] back in 2011,” Clarkson said ahead of his performance. “Topping the Billboard charts and also dropping five albums. His latest [album] is called Same Truck, and it features a song that pays tribute to the King Of Country, not you Shelton, George Strait. Now, performing ‘Damn Strait,’ give it up for Scotty McCreery y’all.”
“Damn Strait you’re killing me man / you know I’ve always been your biggest fan / now I can’t even listen ’cause I’ll get to missing her / then the hurt gets worse / Damn Strait I used to love your songs / but now every time that one comes on / my heart gets broke in half / but do I wish I could get her back / Damn Strait,” McCreery sings in the chorus.
Watch the performance below.
Co-written by Trent Tomlinson and Jim Collins, “Damn Strait” appears on the North Carolina native’s fifth studio album, Same Truck. The track is one of only two songs on the upcoming 12-track album that he didn’t write. However, McCreery knew when he heard the song that he had to cut it for the project, as he admitted it was so him.
“I had an email from Kevin Herring at my label, and he said, ‘Hey, take a listen to this song. It just came through for you,’ and I kind of had a little mini freak out session because I’m a huge George Strait fan,” McCreery previously shared with Billboard. “I love the different tidbits in there of songs of his… It’s a classic country breakup song, but [it’s also] paying homage to George Strait throughout the song. It’s so cleverly written. If you’re a country fan, a George Strait fan, this song is so cool.”
Same Truck was produced by Rogers, Eshuis and Derek Wells, the team who produced his previous project, the RIAA Gold certified Seasons Change that has sold more than 700,000 copies to date, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, and contained his three consecutive No. 1 hits: the Double RIAA Platinum certified “Five More Minutes,” Platinum certified “This is It,” and Gold certified “In Between.” McCreery co-wrote every song on that album.
