Scotty McCreery

As a 16-year-old American Idol hopeful, Scotty McCreery wowed judges and audiences with his deep voice, down-home charm, and sweetly sincere audition version of Josh Turner's "Your Man." After winning the talent show's 10th season, McCreery, born in 1993 in Garner, NC, dove into country music with the smitten coronation single "I Love You This Big." His 2011 debut, Clear As Day, focused on the teenager’s big vocals and appreciation of Nashville legends like Hank Williams and newer stars like Keith Urban. McCreery essentially grew up in public in the years that followed, releasing the rock-edged See You Tonight in 2013, writing the 2016 memoir Go Big Or Go Home, and, with 2017’s reflective "Five More Minutes," becoming the first artist to hit the country airplay charts without label backing. McCreery's third album, Seasons Change, still placed his resonant voice front and center, but it also showed how far he'd come since Idol—he co-wrote every song on the album, which paired a '90s Nashville sound with lyrics about marriage and nostalgia. While he was thrust into the worldwide spotlight at a young age, McCreery's level head and commitment to his artistry have helped him transition from talented telegenic teen to bona fide country-music superstar.