Premiering in 2002, American Idol offered up-and-coming artists a shot at real stardom. More than two decades later, the singing reality competition show just crowned its 23rd winner in Jamal Roberts. Onstage, host Ryan Seacrest announced Roberts’ name, sending confetti raining down from the ceiling. It’s a moment with which Scotty McCreery, who won American Idol on this day in 2011, is quite familiar.
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Scotty McCreery Won ‘American Idol’ 14 Years Ago
A gawky 16-year-old high school student from North Carolina, Scotty McCreery brought a big voice and even bigger charisma to season 10 of American Idol. Six years earlier, Carrie Underwood’s dominating season 4 victory proved that country singers could flourish within a format that seemed tailored toward pop artists.
McCreery and fellow country singer Lauren Alaina emerged as two of season 10’s brightest stars, and they did so without ever straying too far from their roots. When finale night rolled around on May 25, 2011, they were still there. And by the end of the night, they were the only two left standing, securing a victory for country music either way.
Looking like two anxious high schoolers waiting to enter prom, McCreery and Alaina clasped hands onstage as they waited for host Ryan Seacrest to reveal the winner. Soon, they had their answer: Scotty McCreery.
He remains the series’ youngest male winner and second-youngest winner overall behind season 6 champ Jordin Sparks.
Although Alaina didn’t take home the title, she also didn’t walk away empty handed. Days later, both McCreery and the “Like My Mother Does” singer inked hefty contracts with Mercury Records.
[RELATED: Former ‘American Idol’ Winner Scotty McCreery Reveals Major Life News]
Speaking his first words as the American Idol season 10 victor, McCreery made sure to give Alaina her flowers. “Me and her have been together since Day 1, and we’re gonna stay together,” said the “Five More Minutes” crooner.
He Lost His Record Deal
Scotty McCreery’s path to post-American Idol success wasn’t exactly straightforward. He started out on a high note, becoming the youngest male artist and first country artist to debut his first album, 2011’s Clear As Day, on the Billboard 200.
Unfortunately, McCreery would learn in 2016—ironically, while shooting an episode of Idol—that he had lost his contract with Mercury. He rebounded with the emotional single “Five More Minutes,” which became the first song released without a record label to ever land on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Top 50.
Since signing with Triple Tigers Records in 2017, McCreery has dropped three more albums, including last year’s Rise and Fall.
Featured image by Kevin Winter/American Idol 2011/Getty Images
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