Scotty McCreery Talks ‘Rise and Fall’ and His New ‘No-Rules’ Approach to Music [Exclusive]
McCreery delivers his best record yet with this 13-track project.
Scotty McCreery poses for a photo in the North Carolina mountains
Thirteen years into his career, newly minted Grand Ole Opry member Scotty McCreery releases Rise and Fall, his fifth studio album and his favorite project to date. The 13-track collection is completely representative of who McCreery is as an artist, a husband, a father, and a true champion of country music.
Throughout the album-making process, McCreery decided to push all the rules aside and focus on making an album that he believed in, rather than chasing trends. The result is something the North Carolina native is extremely proud of.
“I was like, ‘Man, I feel like I’m at a place where I just want to make a record that feels good to me.’ It’s fun to sing. It feels right to sing. It feels like me telling my story and even if it’s not my autobiographical story, something that I love to sing…It all feels very me,” McCreery shared during a recent conversation with Country Now.
With six No.1 singles now under his belt, McCreery admitted he felt a bit less pressure with the album, giving him the freedom to embrace a “no rules” approach when writing and recording.
“We didn’t put up any guardrails,” he revealed.
Rise and Fall is a ‘90s country music fan’s dream. From top to bottom, fans will hear McCreery’s traditional influences, most notably in tracks such as “Little More Gone,” “Can’t Pass The Bar,” and “No Country For Old Men.” The 30-year-old told us it wasn’t necessarily intentional to chase the beloved sounds of the ‘90s, it was more so a natural process.
“I didn’t tell the producers ‘‘90s this’ or the writers ‘‘90s that.’ I wanted to make a record that reflects who I am. But naturally, as a kid growing up in the ’90s, that’s what I loved. I do feel like that’s probably my favorite decade of country music. So it’s only natural that some of these sounds, the guitar riffs, the fiddle, the steel guitar, some of it kind of came out like that,” he explained. “Even some of the song titles and the twist on words that country music is known for like ‘Cab In A Solo’ or ‘Can’t Pass the Bar,’ it’s all from stuff that influenced me growing up.”
McCreery’s undeniable storytelling skills are also seen throughout the project. The song “Fall Of Summer” paints the picture of young summer love in listeners’ minds, while the album-closer, “Porch,” instantly transports fans to a breezy day in the mountains while reminding them to cherish the simpler things in life.
“Porch” is the perfect way to close out the album, and even includes a shoutout to McCreery’s son, Avery.
“Little man, little man, climb up in my lap/ Leave your little boots by mine on the mat/ One day you’re gonna make this big world yours/ But you’ll always have a spot by your Daddy on the porch,” he sings on the final verse of the song.
“It kind of has that Appalachian feel to it, which is where the album, a lot of it was made,” McCreery explained of the track. “And then the end, the last verse is a little nod to my little man back home just like, ‘Hey man, it’s crazy big world out there, but you always can always come back to Daddy if you want.’”
Being the true family man that he is, McCreery gave his wife and other relatives a sneak peek of the project. He said his entire family has been supportive of the record and admitted that they each have varying opinions on what should be his next single.
“Gabi loves ‘Porch.’ ‘Hey Rose’ and ‘Love Like This’ are probably her favorites,” he revealed. “Fall of Summer,’ my family loves that one and ‘Slow Dance.’”
With an album as solid as Rise and Fall, any track has the possibility to be a hit at country radio.
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.
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