Scotty McCreery is opening up about one of the songs on his new 15 album. Included on the record, which is a retrospective look back at the 15 years he has been part of country music, is a cover of Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin’,” a song Twitty first released in 1970.
Prior to releasing 15, McCreery performed the song at the Grand Ole Opry,
“Doing ‘Hello Darlin’ on the Grand Ole Opry, and then putting it out on their YouTube page and social media, I think introduced me to a lot of new folks,” McCreery says. “It became a song that people at my concerts, at meet-and-greets or online before shows, would be like, ‘Please tell me you’re singing ‘Hello Darlin’.’ We’ve started doing it regularly because of that. It felt like it became a big part of my career, so I wanted to include it on this project, looking back on 15 years.”
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Scotty McCreery’s ’15’ Album
15 celebrates McCreery’s 15 years being part of country music, after winning Season 10 of American Idol in 2011.
“The fact that I’m still able to do this 15 years later, at a high level, having my songs on country radio, touring the world, and crowds are growing, still,” he shares on social media. “I’m thankful that I get to live out this dream. I get to have fun for a living. This is bananas.”
Of course, in those 15 years, the North Carolina native has also married his wife, Gabi, and become a proud father to three-year-old Avery and ten-month-old Oliver. For McCreery, his success is even sweeter because he can share it with his children.
“It’s so cool to see Avery climb up on stage and get so excited to be there with Daddy, playing guitar,” McCreery says.
Scotty McCreery Reveals Plans For His Next Album
In addition to “Hello Darlin’,” 15 also includes nine of his previous hits, plus a cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me, Lord,” a cover of Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” featuring Turner, and a brand-new song, “Been a Good Run.” With that record out in the world, the 32-year-old is hard at work on his next project.
“I’m itching to get back in the studio to make a full length album,’ McCreery says on Country Countdown USA. “I’ll be back in the studio in a month or two, been writing songs for that. Can’t wait for folks to hear what we’re working on.”
McCreery hints his next record will have a song about his dog, Moose, along with a touching tribute to his late grandmotheres.
“I didn’t go into the session looking for a dog song, but I’m so glad it happened,” McCreery says. “I’m pretty sure that song will make the album. I also wrote a story song about my grandmothers. I lost both of them last year. So if ‘Five More Minutes’ was for my grandfather, then this song is more touching on my grandmothers.”