Scotty McCreery Reflects on Friendship with 'Influence' Garth Brooks: 'I'll Always Be Indebted to Him'

Scotty McCreery opens up about his friendship with Garth Brooks.

It’s recent American Idol the Season 10 winner, 30, sat down with vice to discuss his fifth studio album, Rise and fall, Out now. During the interview, the “This Is It” singer-songwriter got candid about his biggest musical influences that shine on his 13-track project, one of them being his friend Brooks.

“I love Garth Brooks. You’re going to hear a little bit of Garth on this record,” McCreery said of the 62-year-old country icon. “Now I sing these songs with pride, but I was influenced by songs that were like that growing up. I am proud to have them in my catalog now.”

Scotty McCreery performs in Nashville in October 2023.

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Speaking more about Brooks’ influence, the “Slow Dance” country artist said he grew up listening to the legend’s music and drew a lot of inspiration from it for Rise and fall.

“Garth is Garth. There’s no other Garths out there,” McCreery said. “Since I started, he’s been so nice to me and my family, inviting us to his shows. I’ve gotten to know his family a little bit over the years, so he’s always been an influence, but what I can to say he’s also a friend, to me, is pretty cool.”

Late last year, during the Opry Country Christmas show, Brooks invited the “Damn Strait” singer to join the Grand Ole Opry family, a major institution in country music with members such as Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and others.

Reflecting on the special occasion following his appointment in April, McCreery said: “The fact that [Brooks] he even flew in – he was on the West Coast that weekend – to call me [to join the Grand Ole Opry] he was pretty special to me, so I’ll always be in his debt.”

Garth Brooks at the ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas in May 2023.

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This summer, Brooks continues with the following dates for his Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, after nearly selling out 2023. Performances begin on June 26 and end on December 7.

McCreery, meanwhile, recently wrapped up his solo tour headlining Cab, but told Holler he still plans to have a “busy” year with more live shows.

“I ended 2023 saying, ‘I think I’ll be less busy in 2024.’ It’s not happening, but being busy is a good thing,” he said it still feels a bit like home.”

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Source: HIS Education