Scotty McCreery Celebrates Milestone Career Moment With His Family By His Side

“It feels pretty incredible to be a part of this great group of American Currents here at the Country Music Hall of Fame,” McCreery shared.

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 8, 2023

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4:34 pm

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Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal with baby Avery; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Scotty McCreery had his wife, Gabi, and son, Avery, by his side on Tuesday evening (March 7) at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum for the unveiling of the new American Currents: State of the Music exhibition.  

McCreery was one of several artists featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s newest exhibit and says he was “honored” to be included. 

Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal with baby Avery; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal with baby Avery; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

“It feels pretty incredible to be a part of this great group of American Currents here at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I have driven by the Hall of Fame a bunch. I have taken the tours. I’ve walked through and seen it and always wanted to be a part of it. It’s an honor to be included,” he shared during the event. 

The “Damn Strait” singer celebrated the milestone moment with his wife and 4-month-old son and had the opportunity to hang with other featured artists such as Parker McCollum, HARDY, Sunny Sweeney, Miko Marks, Jordan Davis, Molly Tuttle, and more. The exhibit is open now at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville.    

Back Row L to R: Parker McCollum, Holly G, Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, HARDY, museum's CEO Kyle Young, Front Row L to R: Miko Marks, Frankie Staton, Scotty McCreery, Molly Tuttle ​and Sunny Sweeney; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Back Row L to R: Parker McCollum, Holly G, Jordan Davis, Ashley Gorley, HARDY, museum’s CEO Kyle Young, Front Row L to R: Miko Marks, Frankie Staton, Scotty McCreery, Molly Tuttle ​and Sunny Sweeney; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The new exhibit opens just weeks after McCreery introduced fans to his baby boy on stage at Knoxville Civic Auditorium in Knoxville, Tennessee on February 2. 

In the midst of his recent headlining concert, McCreery brought his son out to make his on-stage debut, which also marked his son’s first concert. 

Little Avery joined his dad on stage during his cover of John Michael Montgomery’s “Be My Baby Tonight.” As the song came to a close, the country superstar put a twist on the lyrics.

@musicmayhemmagazine

@scottymccreery shared a milestone moment with his 3-month-old son, Merrill Avery McCreery, on stage in Knoxville on his headlining Damn Strait Tour! #ScottyMcCreery #DamnStraitTour #MerrickAveryMcCreery 🎥: @ms.katiescupsandsuch

♬ original sound – Music Mayhem

Rather than singing the original lyrics, “Could you / Would you / Ain’t you gonna / If I ask you, / would you / want to Be my baby tonight,” McCreery sang, “Could you / Would you / Ain’t you gonna / If I ask you, / would you wanna / this is MY baby tonight!”

“This is Avery’s first concert! Say hi to Avery!” McCreery shouted before exiting the stage. 

McCreery, who launched his Damn Strait Tour in late January, previously opened up to Music Mayhem about bringing his son on tour with him and becoming a “road daddy.” 

“[We’re] bringing a baby on the road and getting him used to the lifestyle. Like it or not, [I’m] going to be a road daddy for a while, so hopefully he loves it,” McCreery said. “We’re bringing out a baby bus. So he will be with me out there most of the dates. That will be a fun new way to do the road. I’ve kind of had my system down pat for 10 years now. So, that will be a little change, but a great one.”

The “It Matters To Her” singer is currently in the midst of his headlining tour, dubbed the Damn Strait Tour. The trek, which kicked off on January 20 in Hinton, OK at Sugar Creek Casino, will visit over a dozen states and currently runs through April of 2023.

Scotty McCreery; Photo By Andrew Wendowski
Scotty McCreery; Photo By Andrew Wendowski

The tour takes its name from McCreery’s fifth consecutive chart-topper, “Damn Strait,” which stayed at No.1 for three weeks and also landed at No. 4 on the Billboard Year End Country Airplay chart along with being named among Billboard’s “10 Best Country Songs of 2022.”

The tour comes in support of his latest album, Same Truck, which features the chart-topping hits, “You Time” and “Damn Strait,” as well as his current single, “It Matters To Her.” 

In November of 2022, McCreery expanded the album with the release of Same Truck Deluxe, which features six additional tracks. The country hitmaker was a co-writer on all but four of the 18 tracks on the new project, which was produced by Frank Rogers, Derek Wells and Aaron Eshuis.

“I’ve been sitting on these extra songs that we recorded since we started the Same Truck project and I’ve always wanted to hear this album on vinyl,” he wrote on Twitter.

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McCreery’s Damn Strait Tour continues this weekend in Grant, Oklahoma (Mar. 10), and Tulsa, Oklahoma (Mar. 11).

Later this year, fans can catch the 29-year-old North Carolina native on tour with Brooks & Dunn on the Reboot Tour 2023, which will also feature support from Megan Moroney.

Scotty McCreery says joining the “Neon Moon” singers on the trek is a “dream come true.”

“Having been a huge fan of their music all my life, going out on the road with Kix and Ronnie is a dream come true for me,” McCreery added. “I can’t wait for this tour to begin!”

Additionally, McCreery was recently nominated for CMT Digital-First Performance Of The Year  at the 2023 CMT Music Awards for his performance of “Damn Strait” from CMT Campfire Sessions.

Scotty McCreery; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Scotty McCreery; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Scotty McCreery Tour Dates

March

10 – Grant, OK – Choctaw Casino

11 – Tulsa, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

18 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate Theatre

19 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center

24 – DuQuoin, IL – Cord McCoy Du Quoin Rodeo

25 – Opp, AL – Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo

April 

21 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort & Casino

22 – Henderson, NV – Sunset Station Hotel & Casino

27 – Carteret, NJ – The Carteret Performing Arts Center

28 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre

30 – Hagerstown, MD – The Maryland Theatre

Scotty McCreery; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Scotty McCreery; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

REBOOT 2023 TOUR DATES

May 

4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

6 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

11 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

12 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

13 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center

18 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC

19 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum

20 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena

June

1 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center

2 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

3 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

8 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena+

10 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center

15 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort*

16 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena

17 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.