Fans are eager for the release of Rise and Fall, but no one is likely quite as excited as Scotty McCreery. The 30-year-old will release his 13-track record on May 10, a culmination of a lot of hard work, personal introspection, new career highs, and a resolved, unwavering belief in himself and the music he wants to make.
“I just think for me, I’m at a place where I wasn’t going to make a record chasing trends, or chasing the top of the charts, or what sound is selling more tickets on the road,” McCreery tells Everything Nash. “I just want to make an album that feels good to me, feels good to my soul, touches on influences that I had growing up. I really think we did that on this record. To me, it’s the most ‘me’ record, and the most proud I’ve been of a record yet.”
“Every song has a story,” he adds. “Every song is one I’m passionate about.”
McCreery just released “Red Letter Blueprint,” a song about his faith that he wrote with Derek George, Brent Anderson, Jeremy Bussey and Monty Criswell. The song, the second to last one on the record, blends seamlessly with songs like “Cab In A Solo,” “Slow Dance,” “Can’t Pass The Bar” and more.
“It’s a special one,” McCreery maintains. “My faith has always been a huge part of who I am as a man, let alone as an artist. I always think of it as a trio: faith, family and friends. I think it’s a crazy world out there right now. I’ve seen the ups and downs in all of it. I think it’s easy to get lost out there, and to me, when you get that way, there’s an easy road map, an easy blueprint for you, and it’s right there in the good book, so that’s how the song came about.”
McCreery’s last album, Same Truck, was released in 2021. With Rise and Fall, his fifth studio record, the North Carolina native has found the sound he wants to make, the messages he wants to share, and the fans he wants to honor and celebrate, with all of the songs on the project.
“I do think there’s a song on there for everybody,” McCreery says. “My previous records used to be so autobiographical. They were autobiographical. And this one, there are a couple of songs on there. But I really feel like there are songs for different seasons of life, different times, your party songs, your serious songs, your love songs, your heartbreak songs. You got a little taste of everything.”
By the time Rise and Fall is released, McCreery will be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. The singer, who was invited to join by Garth Brooks in December, will be inducted on April 20 by Josh Turner. Tickets are available at Opry.com.
Rise and Fall will be released on May 10. Find all of McCreery’s music and upcoming shows, and pre-order Rise and Fall, at ScottyMcCreery.com.