- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
Three years ago, a country teenager from North Carolina walked into an American Idol audition and wound up winning the whole thing. That teenager was Season 10 alum Scotty McCreery.
Over the weekend, the deep-voiced Idol got wistful about that day on Twitter and decided to share some “inside scoop” with fans.
VIDEO: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: Idols Play Reporters
The biggest revelation? McCreery’s signature song, “Your Man,” by Josh Turner, nearly wasn’t cleared in time for the then 17-year-old’s big moment in front of judges Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez.
To hear McCreery tell it, it was a nail-biter to the end.
“Fun Fact: For the Idol auditions you have to sing a song that is cleared by the show for rights and stuff. Your Man wasn’t cleared my audition day,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site. “If you sang a song that wasn’t cleared they wouldn’t put your audition on tv, which makes it tough on ur chances of making the show. I told the producer’s I didn’t care, and I was singing ‘Your Man’. Miraculously, about 15 mins b4 my audition they told me they got it cleared! If that had not happened, we would’ve never got to hear Stevens crazy line, and who knows if I’d be here today!”
McCreery also said the producer he met at the first stages of auditions told him, “This isn’t Nashville Star” and asked him to sing a different song, not country. McCreery’s choice? “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.
“Imagine that in my country voice, haha,” he tweeted. He then did a quick take on “In Color” by Jamey Johnson before he was awarded his first arena golden ticket and a homework assignment to learn a pop song. His choice? “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” by John Mayer.
PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 12 Finale in Pictures
After performing that in the second round of non-filmed auditions, the producers threw the Idol hopeful a curveball: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. McCreery said he gave it a go with the rah-rah intros, but stopped midway and “told them “this aint on my country station back home, I don’t know this.”
He added that the producers “busted out laughing and said they just wanted to hear a country boy sing Lady Gaga, lol.“
McCreery said he holds no hard feelings, since they did sent him through to round three.
“Love all those producers 2, they’re cool!” he wrote.
Twitter: @MicheleAmabile, @Idol_Worship
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day