10 Best Scotty McCreery Songs

When Scotty McCreery first strutted into his American Idol audition in 2011 at the age of sixteen, no one ever could have expected the heights that the now award-winning, Platinum-certified country staple would rise to.

Since being crowned winner of season 10 of the iconic singing competition, McCreery has notched five No. 1 singles and has earned quite the collection of RIAA metal. In a short 12-year span, the North Carolina native has become one of the most consistent modern-day country stars and has become a proven wordsmith, with many of his hits spawning from his own pen. In fact, he has earned three BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year (“See You Tonight” in 2015, “Five More Minutes” in 2108 and “This is It” in 2019), and earned an NSAI Nashville Songwriter Award for one of the Top Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written (“Five More Minutes”) in 2018.

In addition to recently being named a 2023 inductee to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, McCreery has also been honored as the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011 and the Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2013.

Here are 10 of the best Scotty McCreery songs:

10. Feelin’ It

Written by Frank Rogers, Matthew West (2013)

Found on his sophomore album, See You Tonight, this Gold-certified summer jam definitely didn’t blow anyone’s mind with its lyrics. However, it is a little over three minutes of youthful fun that landed in the Top 10 on the country airplay charts. At the time, 19-year-old McCreery was a student at North Carolina State University when he recorded this song and, thanks to his college friends, got a helpful push to release it to the world.

9. I Love You This Big

Written by Esther Dean, Brett James, Jay Smith, Ronnie Jackson (2011)

This was the song that kicked things off for McCreery back in May of 2011. He performed it on the finale of American Idol on the heels of its release and it was soon after released as his debut single to country radio. Peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the touching, Platinum-certified ballad also hit the No. 11 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as a fitting introduction to our future country star.

8. Water Tower Town

Written by Cole Swindell, Lynn Hutton, Tammi Kidd (2011)

“Water Tower Town” was the third and final single from McCreery’s debut album, Clear As Day, and it perfectly epitomizes small-town life from Friday night all the way to Sunday morning. Co-written by another present-day country star, Cole Swindell, the song doesn’t find McCreery in the writing credits. However, he has explained that the song reminded him of his hometown of Garner, North Carolina.

7. It Matters To Her

Written by Rhett Akins, Lee Thomas Miller, Scotty McCreery (2021)

This McCreery-penned love song, written alongside songwriting royalty Rhett Akins and Lee Thomas Miller, is poised to be McCreery’s sixth No. 1 song at country radio. Taking form as the third single from his most recent record, Same Truck, he’s shared that the oozing anthem was inspired by his wife, Gabi, who is a familiar muse throughout McCreery’s discography.

6. In Between

Written by Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, Frank Rogers, Scotty McCreery (2018)

This coming-of-age tune was included on McCreery’s fourth record, Seasons Change, and marked a statement song for the maturing singer-songwriter. Rather than being the clean-cut Christian, as he seemed when he debuted, or an all-out hell-raiser, he explains through the song that he’s a little bit of both or, more accurately, that he’s “In Between.” The Gold-certified single quickly became his third No. 1 at country radio and cementing his future as a commercial (and relatable) country artist.

5. You Time

Written by Aaron Eshuis, Frank Rogers, Scotty McCreery (2021)

Another Gabi-inspired single, this one served as the lead single for Same Truck. Highlighting his rigorous touring schedule and his hard to manage work-life-balance, “You Time” simply talks about how the man wants some quality time with his wife. The pop-tinged tune landed McCreery his fourth trip to the top and yet another Gold plaque from the RIAA.

4. See You Tonight

Written by Ashley Gorley, Scotty McCreery, Zach Crowell (2013)

“See You Tonight” was a song of many firsts for McCreery. Notably, it was the first song he released that he was a writer on. The title track from his sophomore album, “See You Tonight” was also his first Top 10 hit single. Written with writing legend Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, the song doesn’t break any new lyrical ground, but it is a pretty cute little diddy that we still can’t get out of our heads ten years later.

3. Damn Strait

Written by Jim Collins, Trent Tomlinson (2021)

You can’t go wrong with sprinkling in some references to the King of Country Music, and this song lays it on thick. Woven together with a healthy dose of George Strait lyrics, “Damn Strait” was one of McCreery’s outside cuts and proved to be one of the most rewarding. Found on Same Truck, McCreery made a quick fifth journey to the top of the country charts with this woeful, Platinum-certified heartbreak ballad.

2. This Is It

Written by Aaron Eshuis, Frank Rogers, Scotty McCreery (2018)

Two weeks before popping the question to his now wife, Gabi, McCreery sat down with frequent collaborators Aaron Eshuis and Frank Rogers to write this love-soaked weeper. Marking his second trip to the top spot at country radio, it serves as an ode to his high school sweetheart and tells the story of their engagement. The lovely couple got hitched in June of 2018 and McCreery commemorated the day by performing the now Platinum-certified tune at their wedding reception. “This Is It” easily ties for one of his most vulnerable songs to date, but…

1. Five More Minutes

Written by Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell, Scotty McCreery (2018)

But this song exists, and it undoubtedly has to take our No. 1 spot.

Penned by McCreery alongside Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell, this moving ballad was written as an ode to the North Carolinian’s late grandfather who passed away in 2015. It was the debut single from his Seasons Change album and, arguably, reinvigorated McCreery’s young career. “Five More Minutes” secured his very first No. 1 at country radio and serves as a reminder to us all to savor each and every moment we get. Now donning a 3x Platinum certification, this McCreery single just might stand the test of time and endure as a country music classic.