The American Idol alum turned country heavyweight is crossing borders and smashing expectations, with a run of packed-out UK gigs and a new wave of momentum behind his chart-climbing single, “Bottle Rockets.”

Scotty McCreery isn’t just packing out venues in Nashville anymore. The North Carolina native—once crowned America’s sweetheart at 17—just proved that his signature baritone and grounded, old-school country sensibility play just as powerfully across the Atlantic.

Coming off a string of sold-out shows in the UK and Ireland, McCreery took the stage at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, O2 Ritz Manchester, and Glasgow’s legendary Barrowland Ballroom, sending crowds into singalong bliss. He also played his first-ever Belfast gig at the SSE Arena, pulling more than 3,000 fans, and packed out Birmingham’s O2 Institute for the first time.

“The UK audiences are amazing,” McCreery said after the run. “They know the words to every song and sing along passionately. Each time we come back, the venues get bigger, the crowds louder. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

That growing love overseas isn’t just about live shows. UK radio has jumped on his new single “Bottle Rockets,” a rootsy, feel-good collab with Hootie & the Blowfish that debuted at No. 22 on the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart in its first week. It’s already been named Record of the Week on Absolute Radio Country, BFBS, CountryLine Radio, and Smooth Country. While in Manchester, McCreery even sat down with the legendary Bob Harris for BBC Radio 2, bringing his easy charm and heartfelt songwriting to one of Britain’s biggest platforms for country and Americana.

Across the pond in the U.S., “Bottle Rockets” exploded out of the gate as the No. 1 most-added track at country radio on impact week, with 110 stations jumping on board. It currently sits at No. 29 on Mediabase and No. 26 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, proving that McCreery’s warm, steady rise shows no signs of slowing.

Back home in Nashville, he kicked off CMA Fest in pure storyteller mode with a solo acoustic take on his triple-Platinum debut hit “Five More Minutes.” As the stadium lit up with phones, McCreery followed it with a tribute to George Strait via his 2022 chart-topper, “Damn Strait”—a nod to the traditionalist lineage he so effortlessly honors.

On June 20, McCreery will release the Platinum Edition of Seasons Change, his 2018 breakout album that marked a major turning point in his career as both a singer and a songwriter. The new version includes acoustic takes on all three of the album’s No. 1 hits—“Five More Minutes,” “This Is It,” and “In Between”—plus a long-requested fan favorite, “Still.”

More than just a reissue, the Seasons Change: Platinum Edition includes updated artwork, new liner notes, and platinum-colored double vinyl, available exclusively on Amazon for a limited run. It’s a retrospective look at the album that redefined McCreery post-Idol and set him on his current trajectory—one that’s part mainstream, part throwback, and fully authentic.

McCreery’s not slowing down anytime soon. With a second baby on the way (he and wife Gabi are expecting later this year), a co-headlining tour with Dustin Lynch kicking off in November, and a stop at Country Night Gstaad Festival in Switzerland this September, his 2025 is already looking stacked.

And that’s saying nothing of the accolades. Since bursting onto the scene as the youngest male artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, McCreery has racked up six No. 1 singles, more than 4 million albums sold, and an ever-growing fanbase that spans continents. From winning American Idol at 17 to being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Randy Travis and Josh Turner last year, his career has been one slow-burning, stone-solid climb.

“Bottle Rockets” might be the current single, but the trajectory? It’s more like a rocket ride.

(McCreery Performing at Sold Out Show in London at O2 Forum Kentish Town & O2 Ritz Manchester; Photo Credit: Alanna Georgette)

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.