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Scotty McCreery finds his way with new album, hit song and Paramount show

In 2015, country singer Scotty McCreery recorded “Southern Belle,” a breezy, flirtatious track that his record label sent to radio as his new single. McCreery wasn't so sure about the choice - he would have preferred to release a song such as “Five More Minutes,” an emotional ballad he co-wrote after the death of his grandfather. But “Southern Belle” was the kind of up-tempo song that was popular on country radio.

Several months later, “Southern Belle” stalled at No. 45 on the charts. And McCreery, who had been with Universal Music Group Nashville since he won “American Idol” in 2011, was dropped.

His unexpected departure stung. Then, a few months later, McCreery performed “Five More Minutes” at the Grand Ole Opry.

He received a standing ovation. The video racked up thousands and eventually millions of views. Syndicated radio personality Bobby Bones caught wind of the song and called McCreery, saying, “Dude, we're going to make this a monster.” Other stations joined in, and it became the first song to ever crack the Top 50 Mediabase radio chart without the support of a label.

In August 2017, McCreery signed a new deal with Triple Tigers Records. Late last month, “Five More Minutes” became the first No. 1 song of McCreery's career - just in time for his new album, “Seasons Change,” which came out last Friday. Local fans can see him Sunday, March 25, at Aurora's Paramount Theatre.

So Scotty, tell us: How great does it feel to get your first No. 1 with a type of song that your former label - the one that dropped you - chose not to release?

“It feels good,” said McCreery, during a recent interview. “I'm not gonna lie, it feels really good.”

Scotty McCreery got his start on "American Idol," winning the singing competition show in 2011. Courtesy of Fox

However, the 24-year-old North Carolina native is way too nice to gloat, so he makes a point of saying how much he appreciates everything Universal did for him. After all, his debut album, “Clear As Day,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 back in 2011, when he was fresh off “Idol” and a high school senior who had no idea how the music business worked. That record sold more than a million copies. McCreery also had two Top 10 singles with his sophomore album, “See You Tonight,” released in 2013.

But Nashville is all about meaningful songs, and he simply never had that breakout hit - until now. So for McCreery, this victory is sweet, particularly as an artist who has long felt the need to prove he wasn't just “that TV guy people voted for.”

“I feel like I was still kind of fighting that battle even a few years ago,” McCreery said. “I'd say this song, more than anything, gives you credibility and validates what we've been doing. So I think I'm past that now.”

McCreery burst onto the “Idol” stage as a 16-year-old with a shockingly deep singing voice. He stunned the judges at his first audition, where he belted out Josh Turner's “Your Man,” and sailed to victory with the help of devoted fans.

When McCreery won, he had just finished his junior year of high school; he attended classes and played on the baseball team Monday through Wednesday, and joined Brad Paisley's tour on weekends.

Although reality singing shows can quickly propel teen singers to success, it's tough to figure out an artistic identity - that was one of McCreery's biggest challenges as he relied on record executives and longtime songwriters to show him the way.

Scotty McCreery, a past "American Idol" winner, also performed for the season finale in 2016. He plays Aurora's Paramount Theatre Sunday, March 25. Associated Press

“I was listening to other people a bunch, which I always try to do, but you still need to have your voice be the loudest voice when you're making your own record and putting your name on it,” McCreery said. “This (third) one, I was really in control from start to finish.”

In addition to “Five More Minutes” (co-written with Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell), McCreery co-wrote all 11 songs on the album. This includes “In Between,” about being in your early 20s; his next single, “This Is It,” a ballad about his girlfriend-turned-fiancee; and “Seasons Change,” the first song he wrote after he got dropped from Universal. As soon as he wrote it with James McNair and Tommy Cecil, he knew it had to be the title track, as it perfectly captured his last few years of ups and downs: “Just when you think you can't make it through the rain, seasons change.”

“I'm an artist, but I'm also a competitor. ... When you have somebody tell you they don't think you can win, or they don't think you do something - for some people, that might knock them down. And it did for me - for 24 hours, I was down,” McCreery said. “Then, for me, that just pumps me up.”

And really, Scotty? You don't want to gloat at all?

“When I'm alone in my room,” McCreery joked, “I might have other things to say.”

Scotty McCreery

<b>When:</b> 7 p.m. Sunday, March 25

<b>Where:</b> Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-666 or paramountaurora.com

<b>Tickets:</b> $40-$50

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