Scott McCreery stays grounded

The history of music is full of stories of artists who burst onto the scene and in the course of a year or two have tremendous success. It’s basically a whirlwind.

“That’s definitely a way to put it,” said country star Scott McCreery during a telephone interview. “There was no fair warning. I just started out, then live TV then nationwide tour and album. I am still trying to learn while we go.”

Most initially heard of McCreery when he won the tenth season of “American Idol.” From there it was the release of “Clear as Day,” which was the best-selling solo album by a country artist in 2011.

“No one can really be ready,” he said. “I try to keep family and friends close and keep me sane. I don’t think I’ve lost my mind.”

Born and raised in North Carolina, McCreery had an early love of classic country, and one major rock and roll star.

“I grew up on old school country like Conway Twitty and Merle Haggard,” he said. “But Elvis was probably my biggest influence. That’s probably weird for a kid in the 90s.”

That might have made his appearances on the Grand Ole Opry extra special.

“It is a special place, and you get a sense of the history of the place and the people that have gone there before you,” he said. It’s definitely an honor.”

It comes back to the idea of family.

“It’s not that they give you advice about one thing or another, but they treat you like family,” he said. “Guys like Little Jimmie Dickens and Bill Anderson might not know me from Adam, but from day one they treated me like close friends and family. It’s like every time there is an award show, it becomes like a family reunion.”

He is already a prolific album producer and song writer, having recorded three albums, “Clear as Day,” “Christmas with Scotty McCreery,” and “See You Tonight.” He’s also planning his fourth record.

“I am inspired by everyday life, and I pull from experiences,” he said. “That’s kind of what country music is and was. It is all about real people singing real life stories. That’s where I draw my experiences. Granted, at 21 I haven’t been through as much as some but I have experiences.”

It is an experience on stage as well.

“It is getting easier and easier as we get more songs, and now that we have two albums under our belt, the idea of what songs work and where is getting easier to figure out,” he said. “I feel I am getting older and learning what songs the crowd wants.”

And while he is performing a great deal, he does still have time to be creative.

“I’m taking more time, and with the speed of recording I am able to have it come out the way I want,” he said. “I’m living and experiencing a lot of new things, so I have different things to say in my songs.”

And that process is a team effort at times.

“It starts with an idea, then a melody and words,” he said. “It somewhat goes together, and if we get a lyric that fits, then it is kind of like magic. We don’t have a strict way to do it, but it does just come together.”

All in all, he is trying to stay sane about the whole process.

“I know that no matter what, when I finish on road I get to still go home,” he said. “You learn lot of yes men and people want to be your friends. Most people have good intentions, but you can tell if they are just wanting something. But I get to go home to family and true friends and that keeps me grounded and happy.”