Scotty McCreery’s “American Idol” run hasn’t been all smiles. The 17-year-old Garner, North Carolina native, who auditioned in Milwaukee, had a rough start that had nothing to do with his singing.
The Hollywood Week contestants had to team up in groups to perform together. A young boy named Jacee Badeaux had originally joined Scotty’s group, but as they started rehearsing, they ended up giving Jacee the boot. Jacee had to scrounge around at midnight trying to find another gang to let him in. Scotty wasn’t the ringleader and didn’t initiate the Jacee move, but cried on camera after the performance saying he felt very badly for not sticking up for the kid and letting him stay on the team.
But if that behavior was a sign of his youth, his deep voice was a sign of something far beyond his years. It immediately struck the judges and Scotty was the recipient of their constant, unrelenting praise. Randy Jackson said things like, “I love it, don’t change it” when he sang Garth Brooks’ “The River” and Jennifer Lopez said, “you were born to sing country.” He was described as “flawless” and told “a star was born on this stage.” At one point at the end of one of last week’s performance, Randy told Scotty he was approaching a “Garth level.”
Even with theme weeks, Scotty found a way to stay true to his country strength and never once landed in an unsafe bottom seat.
Still, record producer Jimmy Iovine, who mentored the Idol candidates and gave on-camera taped commentary that often dramatically differed from that of the judges and the voting public wasn’t as constantly impressed by Scotty as he seemed to be with Lauren Alaina, who competes against Scotty tonight. In fact, Jimmy thought Scotty was “in danger” of going home by late April.
A true sign of Scotty’s youth and innocence was the week Lady Gaga joined Jimmy in mentoring session. She made some suggestion comments about how Scotty should hold the microphone and seemed to offend Scotty.
It could be that country-pure sweetness that appeals to those who are voting in tonight’s finale. Lauren and Scotty are both just 16, making this the youngest finale in Idol history. Tomorrow, in a two-hour grand finale, the winner will be announced amidst what producers are billing to be a star-studded event.
