Scotty McCreery, now 21, sends love to 'Idol,' comes to Gainesville July 17

"It feels great to have been part of something so special and had such a great impact on pop culture," said McCreery, now 21 and performing at the new Gainesville satellite of the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Friday night. (Buy tickets here.) "I don't like to use the word 'cancelled.' It had 15 years. It's just time to move on. I'm glad to have been a small part of what went on."

He's already carved out time to ensure he'll be in Los Angeles next spring for whatever reunion show they do featuring past winners.

While his career has not turned him into a huge star like Carrie Underwood, McCreery has been steadily building his industry cred and his discography. He has two successful albums and four top 20 country hits to call his own. He spent time earlier this year working on his third album and is splitting dates this summer opening for Rascal Flatts and performing his own 90-minute solo shows.

Since "Idol," he also graduated high school and attended two years at North Carolina State University studying media communications. He has had to place his education on ice for now to focus on his music.

The opening set he does with Rascal Flatts is different from his solo show. To him, it's more of a sales job. "I have 45 minutes to make them a fan," he said. "We're trying to pack a punch in a short time. I don't play a lot of slow stuff unless it's a single. We try to get them on their feet."

With his solo show, his fans already know his songs so he can slow things down and sing heartfelt ballads such as "Carolina Moon," he said. And now that he has enough original songs to cull from, he can scale back the covers. He said he will only do one, plus a medley of older country songs by the likes of Merle Haggard, George Jones and Alabama.

He has already cut five songs for his third album and has started playing one of them in concert called "Southern Belle." He likes the melody, which he thinks is unusual. "It's pretty cool but I'm a little biased, of course," he said.

Although he didn't write that song, he said he is involved in more of the songwriting now, working with plenty of Grammy-winning Nashville songwriters who penned hit songs by the likes of Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert. "I try to be a sponge," he said.

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

McCreery, since turning 21 last October, said he hasn't gone hog wild. No tattoos, either. "At least when I do a casino date, I don't have to go through the back door anymore," he said. "I can actually walk through the casino."

He still has a baby face and will likely have his ID checked at the liquor store for many years to come. "I know right now, I want to look older but when I'm 30 or 40, I'll look younger," he said. "So I can't complain."

McCreery has done well enough financially to build a home by the beach north of Wilmington, N.C. During his time off, he enjoys time with his girlfriend (who he won't reveal because she isn't a public figure), hanging by the ocean and playing golf.

His handicap is 11.5 or so, which is pretty good, he said, until he does a celebrity pro-am and plays side by side with the likes of Dustin Johnson. "Those guys are insane. I think I hit a great shot, then they come in behind you and absolutely bust a drive," he said.

McCreery admits to loving the spotlight and being on stage doing what he loves. But he also needs some quiet time. He said he was on the beach July 4 with just 15 friends. "It's my escape," he said. (No surprise his "Feeling It" video is on the beach.)

A career he'd like to emulate is that of Brad Paisley. "He has it perfect," McCreery said. "He records, he tours, he does his thing. Then he come home to his beautiful wife and kids. That's a high goal. That's the epitome for me."

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

CONCERT PREVIEW

Scotty McCreery

8 p.m. Friday

$43.50 before fees

1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville