Scotty McCreery is shaking up summer with a little help from his friends – and they’re not who you’d expect.

The multi-platinum country star has announced his new EP, Scooter & Friends, dropping July 18, and it’s stacked with genre-crossing collabs that range from country royalty to R&B legend Charlie Wilson. The five-track project, produced by longtime collaborator Frank Rogers, features appearances from Hootie & the Blowfish, Lee Brice, and marks a career highlight for McCreery: a duet with his musical hero, the one and only Charlie Wilson.

“Back home everyone calls me ‘Scooter,’ so since I’m singing with a few of my favorite artists, I decided to call this project Scooter & Friends,” McCreery explains. “It’s a fun collection of songs that are a little different from what I normally sing, yet they are still me.”

The EP leans into McCreery’s love for collaboration and nostalgia, with a sound that jumps the fence between country, soul, and stadium-ready singalongs. Latest single “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine”, out now, pairs McCreery’s southern drawl with Wilson’s velvet vocals for a smooth, surprising blend.

“I’ve been a massive fan of Charlie Wilson since I was a kid,” says McCreery. “To write a song and have him sing on it? That’s a dream come true.”

Wilson returns the love: “He brought the house down the first time we sang together, and now we’ve got a duet that I’m so proud of.”

The EP’s lead single “Bottle Rockets” (feat. Hootie & The Blowfish) has already taken off, landing at No. 5 on the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart in just five weeks, proving McCreery still knows how to deliver a radio hit with serious staying power.

Other tracks include the honky-tonk-heavy “Whiskey Said” (featuring Lee Brice), sun-soaked “Swim Up Bar,” and the rowdy closer “Holding Down the Honky Tonk.” Whether it’s laid-back or full throttle, the EP feels like a summer road trip through McCreery’s influences.

If that wasn’t enough, McCreery has just announced “Prime Country with Scotty McCreery,” a new monthly show debuting July 5 on SiriusXM’s Prime Country channel. He’ll spotlight his favorite ‘80s and ‘90s hits, plus share backstage stories and live Opry recordings in each episode.

The American Idol alum and Grand Ole Opry member will hit the road this summer across the U.S., before heading to Switzerland in September to headline Country Night Gstaad. Then it’s back stateside for the “Two for the Road Tour” with Dustin Lynch starting this November.

‘Scooter & Friends’ Tracklist

1. “Bottle Rockets” feat. Hootie & the Blowfish
   
   
2. “Swim Up Bar”
   
   
3. “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine” feat. Charlie Wilson
   
   
4. “Whiskey Said” feat. Lee Brice
   
   
5. “Holding Down the Honky Tonk”
   
   

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.