Image Credit: Etahn Miller/Getty Images
The real winners were announced last night at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. But here are a few more honors from the telecast you should feel free to weigh in on: READ FULL STORY »
Tag: Scotty McCreery (1-10 of 28)
Apr 8
2013
11:56 AM ET
Apr 7
2013
06:07 PM ET
Scotty McCreery's new single 'See You Tonight' sounds shockingly contemporary
Last year’s American Idol winner Phillip Phillips gets a lot of credit for reinvigorating the Idol crown’s significance, but people seem to forget that his predecessor, Scotty McCreery, has had a pretty darn impressive post-Idol career himself.
McCreery’s debut album Clear As Day sold 1.2 million copies and spawned two country hits, “I Love You This Big” and “The Trouble With Girls.” Today, an Amazon listing confirmed what many have recently speculated — that McCreery is about to unleash new music into the world. The deep-voiced country crooner, who’s currently enrolled at North Carolina State University, will release “See You Tonight” on April 9, and it’s safe to assume he’ll perform the song when he visits the American Idol results show two days later.
There’s no official audio for the song yet, but country expert Windmills of MJsBigBlog shared the video below (with great audio) from a recent concert of McCreery singing “See You Tonight.”
My snap judgment? This is by far the best thing he’s ever put out. While much of Clear As Day felt dull and antiquated, both lyrically and musically, “See You Tonight” feels fresh, youthful, romantic, and perfect for the warm summer nights ahead. McCreery’s baritone laces the moonlit lyrics convincingly — especially that “Baby, it’s worth the drive/you’re worth the drive” lyric, which will have a lot of his female fans swooning. The song actually reminds me a bit of Eric Church’s “Springsteen,” another romantic, torchy midtempo number. Give it a listen below: READ FULL STORY »
Dec 22
2012
11:22 AM ET
Christmas in Washington: Diana Ross, Demi Lovato, PSY entertain the Obamas, America
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Tonight marked the airing of the 31st “Christmas in Washington” gala, the country’s annual seasonal celebration benefiting the Children’s National Medical Center. Every year, the event brings in the lion’s share of D.C. VIPs, including the POTUS, the FLOTUS, the VP, and this year… PSY.
But we’ll get to that in time. First, to open up the TNT telecast of the event (which took place Dec. 9), was Diana Ross. Backed by a merry, scarf-clad chorus, the legendary diva opened the night with a tone-setting medley of seasonal standbys that included Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” “Jingle Bells,” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Barack and Michelle Obama and their family watched on with smiles as wide as the National Mall.
With the tone set for the evening, host Conan O’Brien took the stage. “Good evening Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice President, and friends,” opened O’Brien, who’s helmed this shindig before. “It’s good to see that both the president and I were given a second term. Congratulations to both of us!” The joke gave Barack a good laugh, though Sasha didn’t seem amused. How irrelevant does it make you feel to realize that Conan — Conan! — is just another old person to the younger First Daughter?
First Daughterly approval aside, though, O’Brien powered through his monologue, milking jokes out of red-state marks like Honey Boo Boo and Speaker John Boehner’s complexion, as well throwing a broader barb regarding the fiscal cliff. (It’s unnerving that that joke is still relevant two weekends after the event’s actual taping.)
But enough with the gags: O’Brien soon surrendered the stage to Smash star Megan Hilty, who ably delivered a few soothing verses of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Which was nice and all, but the Bombshell bombshell couldn’t hold a Yankee candle to the next act: top-billed Demi Lovato, who delivered an impassioned “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Simply put, the X Factor judge nailed it.
O’Brien then introduced the next entertainer, singer Chris Mann, who may or may not just be Michael Bublé in disguise. With help from the Naval Academy Glee Club, he touchingly dove into “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” — a wise, fitting selection for a nation in wartime.
American Idol winner Scotty McCreery brought the mood back up with a rollicking run through Elvis Prestley’s “It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby,” which prompted some measured headbanging from the President and the First Lady. (The daughters, however, once again proved to be tougher to please. Maybe they had finals on their minds?)
The next performer, though, was one that a billion people of all ages can recognize: K-pop sensation PSY. Even Coco couldn’t help but chuckle as he introduced the YouTube-crushing rapper, who came out in a glitter-festooned red sweater and similarly blaring pants.
Dec 19
2012
09:51 AM ET
Best and Worst 2012: The year in country music
Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Ah, what a year in music it’s been! Here at EW, we’ve been in retrospective overdrive, looking back at the best and worst albums, singles, lyrics, and soundtracks that 2012 had to offer.
But since I’m already primed to hop onto a plane and head home down South for the holidays, I thought it might be fun to take let my music tastes do the same and take a deep-dive into the country music world. Here’s my take on the year that was — country music style:
BEST: Little Big Town The hard-working quartet has always had the respect of Nashville for their on-point harmonies and sumptuous live performances, so it was nice to see them find true mainstream success in 2012. “Pontoon” was a fresh, tongue-in-cheek summer smash that motorboated all the way to No. 1.
BEST: Eric Church With a sand-papery voice, a trademark baseball cap (which have now officially replaced cowboy hats), a drink in his hand, and some genuinely great melodies, Eric Church joined country’s A-list this year. “Springsteen” was a wide-open crossover hit that gave his confidently country disc Chief the mainstream appeal it deserved. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Chief won the CMA Award for Album of the Year, either. READ FULL STORY »
Nov 12
2012
10:00 AM ET
'American Idol' roundup: Phillip Phillips releases song previews, Jessica Sanchez goes 'Glee,' and 'Skyfall' gets a killer cover by... Syesha?
Image Credit: Nick Walker
Over the past 11 years American Idol has played host to 133 different finalists vying for a shot at belting out a coronation anthem at the Nokia. As such, keeping track of all the goings-on of American Idol alumni can be a daunting task — but hey, that’s what we’re here for!
Here’s what’s going on with your favorite American Idol stars:
PHILLIP PHILLIPS: The reigning champ’s album, The World From the Side of the Moon, won’t be available until Nov. 19, but 90-second previews of all the album’s songs have surfaced on iTunes. Though many of them reflect Phillips’ personal style while on Idol, there are more than a few that resemble his double-platinum smash “Home.” Come back to EW for a review of the disc later this week, but in the meantime, check out these snippets below. (“Gone, Gone, Gone” is my personal fave.) READ FULL STORY »
Oct 24
2012
01:10 PM ET
Album Sales: Jason Aldean's 'Night Train' chugs to No. 1; Taylor Swift outsells it in one day
In any other week, the first-week sales of Jason Aldean’s new album Night Train would be a very big deal.
The disc, a follow up to his double-platinum smash My Kinda Party, sold 409,000 copies in its first seven days — a huge number by any measure, and the second-best debut sales week of 2012 behind Mumford & Sons’ Babel, which moved 600,000 copies in its opening frame.
Unfortunately for Aldean, news of his chart-topping feat arrives less than a day after projections for Taylor Swift’s Red blew up the internet. Swift, who sold over 500,000 copies of Red in its first day, is expected to sell over 1 million copies in her first week, which would make her the first woman in history to have two albums sell more than 1 million copies in their first weeks. Yowza.
But let’s get back to Aldean’s accomplishment. Night Train is the rocking country star’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. He formerly peaked at No. 2 in 2010 with My Kinda Party, but was kept out of the top spot, funnily enough, by Taylor Swift, whose Speak Now was reigning atop the chart.
Considering My Kinda Party became an enduring hit, ultimately moving 2.8 million copies, I’m expecting Night Train to be a freight train with buyers. After all, Aldean is selling out arenas across the country, and he (along with everyone else releasing albums in the final quarter of 2012) will get a big boost from the holiday buying rush. READ FULL STORY »
Jun 8
2012
05:34 PM ET
'American Idol' winner Scotty McCreery graduates high school, preps for summer tour
Image Credit: News & Observer, Robert Willett/AP
American Idol Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery graduated from North Carolina’s Garner Magnet High School yesterday, taking the stage in Raleigh with about 400 of his classmates to receive his diploma.
The deep-voiced country star, who has sold nearly 1.1 million copies of his debut disc Clear As Day, couldn’t celebrate with his friends on the eve of the ceremony, though. He was in Nashville at the CMT Music Awards, where he won Breakthrough Video of the Year for his ballad “The Trouble With Girls” and performed his current single “Water Tower Town.” (True story: I once got dreadfully lost while driving to the Outer Banks and ended up in Garner, N.C. It really is a water tower town. Just ask his mom!)
Interestingly, graduating from high school is the most youthful thing that old soul McCreery — who has a penchant for singing songs more familiar to senior citizens — has ever done. It’s a funny reminder of how young some of American Idol‘s bright-eyed contestants really are.
After putting his cap and gown into storage, the star will hit the road with Brad Paisley and The Band Perry next week before officially enrolling as member of N.C. State’s class of 2016. (Not a bad post-grad life, Scotty; honestly, all I dreamed of for graduation was a few friends in my backyard and a Chick-Fil-A nugget tray.)
When I sat down with Scotty and his mother, Judy, last summer following his Idol win, she was clear that she wanted Scotty to receive a college education. What do you think, readers — will he be able to juggle a booming career and college course load at the same time?
More on EW.com:
CMT Music Awards: Best and worst of the broadcast
Scotty McCreery is college bound
Jun 7
2012
10:34 AM ET
CMT Music Awards: Best and worst of the broadcast
Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
The actual winners were announced last night at the CMT Music Awards. But here are a few more honors from the telecast that you should feel free to weigh in on:
Best Overall Performance Willie Nelson assembled an all-star crew to help him sing the hilarious “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” The ponytailed veteran was joined by Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Zac Brown, and Jamey Johnson, all of whom looked delighted to be sharing the stage with the legendary toker.
(Honorable Mention Little Big Town, who always sound fantastic, delivered a fun rendition of their summer single “Pontoon.” On a night when A-listers like Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, and Luke Bryan delivered competent but forgettable performances, theirs might legitimately have earned the quartet a few new listeners. Also, props to Kellie Pickler for her “Motorboatin’” introduction.) READ FULL STORY »
Apr 23
2012
01:12 PM ET
CMT Music Award Nominations: Little Big Town must win for 'Fix You' cover -- VIDEO
Image Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Nominations for June 6′s CMT Music Awards were announced this morning, with Carrie Underwood leading the pack with five nods, followed by Miranda Lambert, who received four.
See the full list below, which also includes three nominations a piece for Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and Thompson Square.
If there’s one category we feel strongly about, it’s CMT Performance of the Year, which honors the best live performance that aired on a CMT show, series, or special. Little Big Town has to win for their cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” on the Music Builds: CMT Disaster Relief Concert. It starts at 2:40 in the clip below; you’re guaranteed to get chills. READ FULL STORY »
Apr 2
2012
02:26 PM ET
'American Idol' Scotty McCreery is college bound
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Though he has a platinum album and was just named the Academy of Country Music’s New Artist of the Year, Scotty McCreery is still a youngster. After touring the U.S. with Brad Paisley last year, the 18-year-old reigning American Idol winner has chosen to keep it local when it comes to college — less-than-15-minutes-away local. According to the AP, he’ll attend North Carolina State University, where his father is an alum.
EW reached out to N.C. State to see about McCreery’s matriculation to “the Wolfpack.” Director of admissions Thomas Griffin admitted that McCreery’s admission was an unusual experience for the school, which has more than 34,000 students. “I don’t know of anybody coming in so well known initially. Most 18-year-olds don’t have the kind of exposure that someone like Mr. McCreery has,” he acknowledges. READ FULL STORY »
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