Scotty McCreery is one grateful CMT Music Awards winner. The 30-year-old won the trophy for Digital-First Performance of the Year, for his performance of “It Matters To Her” on CMT Stages last year. McCreery was nominated as part of an all-star list of nominees, including Nate Smith’s “Whiskey on You,” Megan Moroney‘s “I’m Not Pretty” and more, making the fan-voted victory that much sweeter.

“My fans have always supported me from the very beginning, and I appreciate them more than I can say,” McCreery tells Music Mayhem. “It’s truly because of them that I won the CMT Award this year.”

McCreery, who won one other CMT Music Award in 2012 (for Breakthrough Video of the Year, for “The Trouble with Girls”), also praised the people who worked behind the scenes to make all aspects of his CMT Stages episode come to life.

“I also really enjoy working with CMT,” McCreery said. “I worked with Melissa Goldberg and her team on the ‘CMT Stages’ episode that featured the performance that won the award. That was such a creative and fun event.”

McCreery accepted the CMT Music Award virtually ahead of the live ceremony, but he fortunately had a good reason to miss being there in person.

“I was sorry that I couldn’t be at the CMT Awards to accept it in person, but it was my wife’s 30th birthday and I couldn’t miss that,” said the singer. “But I appreciate CMT allowing me to Zoom into the red carpet show to accept the award.”

Ahead of the ceremony, the father of one reflected on the importance of even being nominated for a coveted trophy.

“That’s huge,” McCreery told Everything Nash. “I love CMT. We’ve done a lot with them over the years, and they’re just great partners, and great champions for country music. Anytime I get the chance to be nominated, it feels great. I’m very honored to be part of the CMT Awards.”

 

McCreery has another big event to look forward to: his Grand Ole Opry induction on April 20.

“Still doesn’t seem real that I will become a Grand Ole Opry member in just 11 short days,” McCreery recently shared on social media. “I can’t wait to join the Opry family. See you on April 20th!”

McCreery was invited to become the next member by Garth Brooks in December, an invitation that he is still trying to wrap his head around.

“It felt like a dream,” McCreery told WNYT, “I’ve just got so much respect for the Opry, who they are, what they do, what they have done over the years. It’s the best place to sing in country music. One of the best stages in the country, if not the world. It had always been, in the back of my mind, a dream, like ‘Man, one day I would love to become a member here, because it means so much to me.’ And I thought about it on certain nights before, if I was singing, ‘Maybe tonight’s the night.’”

McCreery will release his new album, Rise and Fall on May 10.  His current single, “Cab In A Solo” is inching closer to the Top 5 on the charts. He has also released “Slow Dance,” “Can’t Pass The Bar” and  “Red Letter Blueprint” from his new record.

Find all of McCreery’s music and upcoming shows, and pre-order Rise and Fall, at ScottyMcCreery.com.

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