On Scotty McCreery Receiving a Grand Ole Opry Invitation
Scotty McCreery will be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Surprised on stage Sunday evening, December 3rd, Garth Brooks did the honor by coming out on stage and handing McCreery a gift box. No, it was not Garth’s recent exclusive box set so unlike so many country fans, McCreery could finally hear Garth’s new album Time Traveler.
“This is a Christmas present to the Grand Ole Opry,” Garth said. “We would love to invite you to be the newest member of the Opry.”
“Holy cow. Yes, I would love to,” was McCreery’s response. “When I got started doing this people asked, ‘what are your goals?’ And I’d say ‘one day I’d like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.’” Then McCreery bent down and touched the circle of wood in the Opry’s center stage where so many of his heroes and peers have stood.
Scotty McCreery is a complex character to regard in country music. Starting his career as a 17-year-old American Idol winner who was a spitting image for Alfred E. Neuman of Mad Magazine, McCreery was easily cast off by some as a young singing competition star as opposed to a more meaningful artist. But in the dozen years since, McCreery has shown a consistency as one of the more traditional country performers in the mainstream, despite some single choices that might mischaracterize his catalog overall.
It was during his initial run on American Idol where Scotty McCreery showcased his true country music influences, performing songs from the likes of George Strait, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, and John Michael Montgomery as opposed to covering the more contemporary country performers of the time. His recent single “Damn Strait” proved those influences never wavered, even if the song can’t live up to the Mike and the Moonpies version of the idea.
Unlike some of mainstream country’s boilerplate stars, McCreery has kept a strong and devoted fan base throughout his career by staying true to the style and sound he developed for himself. And in an era when actual singing ability seems to be secondary, McCreery showcases an above average range that can reach into the bass register, making him one of contemporary country’s most gifted singers.
What’s also been curious about the Scotty McCreery career is how quietly successful he’s been while awards shows and the rest of the mainstream seem to ignore his impact. Over the last dozen years he’s secured three #1 albums, five #1 singles, had four singles go Gold and six go Platinum, including the 3X Platinum “Five More Minutes” from 2017.
Though other names may have made for more buzzy or more deserved Opry invitees, it feels like worthy recognition for McCreery who clearly wanted it, and will take the honor seriously.
Scotty McCreery will be formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on a future date. You can watch the invitation here.
December 4, 2023 @ 9:04 am
Even though Saving Country Music has transformed my music tastes into more traditional country, roots, bluegrass, americana, folk etc and away from mainstream and music row, I still like to listen to some mainstream artists that do a good job of making catchy tunes, but staying true to country. I think McCreery has certainly been one of those artists. I definitely have quite a few of his songs in my playlist.
Great thoughts Trigger and I definitely echo a lot of your comments. Well deserved honor for him.
December 4, 2023 @ 9:16 am
I think he’s a nice fit. He seems to genuinely respect the Opry.
December 4, 2023 @ 9:20 am
Love this guy, one of the best in the mainstream. Cried tears out of my god damn eyes the first time i heard Five More Minutes. He has some corny radio songs but generally tends to record quality stuff (This Is It is another good one). Congrats to scotty boy
Jeremy pinnell rips
December 4, 2023 @ 9:36 am
Scotty does respect the Opry and will continue to perform there with joy, I’m sure. Great choice.
December 4, 2023 @ 9:52 am
I really like Cab in a solo. One of the best songs he has released, catchy and traditional!
December 4, 2023 @ 10:23 am
I’ve loved his past two singles, It Matters to Her and Cab in a Solo. Damn Strait was not good lyrically but the arrangement saved it, as far as I’m concerned. He’s got too good a traditional country voice to be wasting it on dumbed-down throwaways like You Time, though, but going in that direction has always been less of a gamble to get your song on country radio than channeling Keith Whitley or Randy Travis is.
So long as country radio (and its advertisers) continue to covet the 18-34 female demographic above all others, there’s always the danger of a quality song stiffing because those listeners don’t stream it enough. That’s what I’ve read about Cab in a Solo — that its streaming numbers are poor — and it’s on a slower climb up the chart than either Damn Strait or It Matters to Her experienced.
December 4, 2023 @ 10:27 am
Great country singer. I’m 87 n I love this guy’s voice.
December 4, 2023 @ 11:42 am
My wife likes American Idol, so I’ve watched it with her over the years. I liked Scotty on the show, and still do, though I’m not his biggest fan. He’s in that lane of good enough to be respectable, but doesn’t stand out enough to be great. I think his career has kinda followed that path. Congrats to him for the honor.
December 4, 2023 @ 12:13 pm
No qualms from me. Good choice. Did Garth tear up?
December 5, 2023 @ 6:55 am
Yeah he did tear up because The Beatles new song topped his box set in sales
December 4, 2023 @ 12:18 pm
I am so happy for Scotty. I have been a fan since American Idol. Have watched his highs and lows and this is definitely one of his highs. His new single is so good. Have really liked all his music.
December 4, 2023 @ 1:55 pm
Four of us had tickets to Scotty’s show in Dover, Ohio a couple weeks ago. I’ve loved his voice since American Idol and was so happy to see him in person. I’m a senior citizen who enjoyed his show and so appreciate his well sung country sound. He is special!!
December 4, 2023 @ 12:25 pm
I do think its well deserved, but Country Music always seems to leave someone out.
Charles Esten has put in his time on the Opry and deserves an invite.
And the Maddox Brothers and Rose deserve to be in the CMHOF!
December 4, 2023 @ 4:55 pm
If Esteban ever gets that invite, I’ll get my ass to Nashville for the induction. Love that guy, and he truly loves country music.
December 4, 2023 @ 5:34 pm
Esten. Stupid autocorrect making it look like I’m pushing for Esteban 😀
December 5, 2023 @ 6:55 pm
Charles Esten? The guy played a singer on a tv show, has no hits and has contributed nothing to country music. Yep, he’d make a perfect choice. ????
Congratulations to Scotty!
December 4, 2023 @ 2:53 pm
He knows songs from 40-50 years ago.
That is as much as you can ask for from the mainstream.
December 4, 2023 @ 3:06 pm
Did Easton Corbin ever get the nod for the Opry? Remember that guy? He was more country than just about any of the current generation. Tried to pivot into Bro when that came along. Didn’t work out.
Anyway, good for Scotty. Seems like a nice lad.
December 4, 2023 @ 7:21 pm
Corbin’s early stuff was catchy and country, very much like McCreery’s. Same goes for Chris Young, who has gone completely off the rails but, unfortunately, remains popular. I don’t blame anyone for chasing the big money that comes with bro or boyfriend country, but I hate it when guys with solid country voices do so.
December 5, 2023 @ 11:14 am
After his first album, I thought Easton Corbin was going to be a mega star. I know he still tours, but it’s a lot of small venues or opening for Cody Johnson. I saw him 5 or 6 years ago doing a small bar acoustic gig for a radio station in Louisville and you could tell it was the last place in the world he wanted to be. He ran thought about 8 songs real quick and got the hell outta there.
December 5, 2023 @ 2:33 pm
My favorite local mainstream country station still plays Easton’s “Lovin’ You Is Fun” and “Roll With It” occasionally, but that’s it. I think he had a song out not too long ago on an independent label, but I never heard it on the radio and it barely cracked the top 50 on the national airplay chart. Too bad about your concert experience. I guess his frustration with the business is showing in his performances now.
December 5, 2023 @ 3:35 pm
Roll With It and A Little More Country Than That were great singles, to my ears. I think he probably just came along at the wrong time.
December 7, 2023 @ 9:07 am
The music video for “Lovin’ You Is Fun” had one of the hottest blondes in recent memory.
Fun song, too.
Corbin would have been a megastar in the 90s. Same with Josh Turner.
December 4, 2023 @ 4:04 pm
Can we get Charlie Worsham in the Grand Ole Opry next?
December 5, 2023 @ 9:47 am
Charlie and Mo Pitney, great talents just not enough content out to get them there unfortunately.
Current member list:
https://www.opry.com/artists/membership
December 4, 2023 @ 4:56 pm
Happy for Scotty, and pleasantly surprised by the comments. He’s a young guy who by all accounts has a love and respect for the genre.
December 4, 2023 @ 8:36 pm
McCreery is someone who hasn’t blown me away at any point to date in his output, yet I also find pretty easy to root for in that…………….ever since the misguided one-off single “Southern Belle” bombed……………..McCreery has just been moving along and recording the sort of music that he wants in a way that doesn’t seem to pay mind to trends or marketability. He’s just essentially doing his own thing.
So it’s easy to respect and get behind that even if his output is neither the most traditional, nor the most innovative, nor the most charismatic, nor the most textured. Because what he’s doing feels like an authentic reflection of where he’s at and what inspires and drives him. Which especially stands out considering most of us were introduced to him via “American Idol” and the few singles he released while signed to Mercury were much more polished and thus he was much more pressured to pander to the “Idol” listening demographic……………before being removed from Mercury allowed him to pay no mind to said pressure and expectation ever since.
December 5, 2023 @ 6:48 am
This is the real reason why Chris Young went “Pop Country” — real country baratone voices of the early 2010s didn’t get recognition or awards or even much radio airplay.
Just ask Scotty or Josh Turner.
I’m glad Scotty has started to find mainstream success again starting in 2018.
This is what Chris Young should do — embrace his authentic sound & rebrand himself. Similar to what Scotty did with “5 More Minutes” & his entire “Seasons Change” album
December 6, 2023 @ 3:41 pm
I miss hearing Josh Turner on the radio with new music, too. He’s only recording gospel music now and I guess it’s not a good look for a devout Christian singer to be singing bedroom come-ons like “Your Man.” On the other hand, Chris Young could easily be his generation’s Conway Twitty if he’d continued to use that voice the way he did before his pop-country swerve.
Honestly, I don’t get why women (or anyone else) would want to hear love songs sung by whiny tenors. Tell me Brett Young’s “You Didn’t” wouldn’t sound better with a baritone or baritone/bass doing the singing. Mitchell Tenpenny is the worst — big guy, looks like a linebacker, then he opens his mouth and those wimpy sounds come out of it.
December 5, 2023 @ 6:59 am
At this point, if Garth interupts your set — you’ll probably be invited to join the Opry. No longer a surprise.
Because i dont think Garth plays at the Opry that much anymore — he only shows up to invite/induct others
He is a good salseman. So i dont blame the Opry.
“What can i do to get your @$$ into the Opry’s membership today, big guy? — You know, youre a real sweet kid”
December 5, 2023 @ 9:53 am
…the former (young) “idol” contestant and the material handed to him have finally started to match for a few years by now and it’s working out for him and his audience. sounds good to me. nice move by the opry.
December 6, 2023 @ 11:49 am
good choice
December 12, 2023 @ 8:57 pm
While I shook my head in disbelief at some of the poor choices made in the last few years for inductees into the Opry, I did not for Scotty. I was so happy for him. First and foremost, he is a true country artist. And he is talented as well as popular. Finally, I know he will respect the Opry and show up for performances…unlike some of the other members who seldom, if ever, appear on the show. A fine choice!