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Carly Rae Jepsen and Cookie Monster ice cream? Why, yes, those did make Scotty McCreery's list of his favorite things. Sunday night (June 17), I asked him a long list of random "what's your favorite" questions, and here's a sampling of what he came up with:

Favorite country song: Eric Church's "Springsteen." He told me, "I listen to that a ton." Rascal Flatts' "Changed" came in a close second.

Favorite pop song: Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." He admitted, "That one's all the rage right now, and I catch myself singing it all the time."
Courtesy of CMT.com

Favorite artists to cover: Elvis Presley, Travis Tritt and George Strait. "All the guys who influenced me," he said.

Favorite junk foods: Cookie dough, cookie dough ice cream and, most importantly, something called Cookie Monster ice cream. "There's this place in my hometown called Pelican's, and it's mainly a snowball place, and I love getting snowballs, but they have this ice cream called Cookie Monster. It's blue vanilla ice cream with Oreos, snicker doodles, chocolate chip cookies and M&M cookies. And it's incredible," he raved.

Favorite not-so-junky foods: Broccoli, apples, bananas, strawberries. And ants on a log. "I was just introduced last week to this thing called ants on a log. It's a celery stick with peanut butter in there and raisins on top. It's very good," he said.

(Almost) favorite chore when he's back home: "I'm the trash guy," he said, saying he occasionally does slack off.

Courtesy of Taste of Country
By:  Alanna Conway
Photo Credit:  Jason Merritt
 

Before he became one of America’s most loved singers, thanks to ‘American Idol,’ Scotty McCreery was learning about life and what path to pursue from his biggest fan and supporter, his dad. McCreery credits his father for many things that has helped shape the young man he is today. But above all, he says his dad was the one who inspired him to follow his heart into music.

“My dad is the guy who really taught me a lot about myself growing up,” McCreery tells Taste of Country. “He has a job where he has to travel sometimes. He’s always working hard at it. He’s also the guy who taught me how to throw a baseball. I have two loves in life: singing and baseball. He was a pitcher growing up, and he was always out there with me, throwing with me at the field on off days when we weren’t practicing. We were in the bullpens and practicing. He always said hard work will pay off, and whether that’s baseball for me or singing now, it’s the truth. You’ve got to put forth the effort to get back your results.”

The phrase “father knows best” paid off big time in this situation. McCreery, who will attend college in the fall, is currently in the studio beginning to lay the groundwork for his sophomore album that will follow his first release, ‘Clear as Day.’ McCreery’s latest single from that album, ‘Water Tower Town,’ is at radio now.

Courtesy of Taste of Country

By:  Amy Sciarretto
Photo Credit:  Rick Diamond 

Scotty McCreery is an exercise in contrasts. On one hand, he is a country music megastar, having racked up platinum sales, toured the world and performed on both breakfast and late night TV programs with increasing frequency. On the other, he just graduated high school and is preparing for college. McCreery will begin his freshman year at North Carolina State University in the fall. But he’s not wasting any time and is diving right in. He’s already started decorating his new house, which is located just a few miles from the school’s main campus.

“We’ve got a few signs, and my buddy’s got a big deer head we’re going to put in the living room,” McCreery said, according to Country Music Is Love, about making the new place feel like home.

The décor isn’t going to consist of any of McCreery’s awards, like his recently picked up 2012 CMT Music Awards honor for ‘Breakthrough Video of the Year,’ which he nabbed for ‘The Trouble With Girls.’ He admitted, “I don’t think we’re going to put any of my awards in there. We’re trying to keep things safe.” That’s a wise idea. Don’t need any mishaps during parties or thefts while he is in class.

McCreery, who will major in communications and PR while at NC State, is not planning to put his career on ice while he attends to his studies and his degree, so don’t fret, all you Scotty fans. He’s going to engage in quite a juggling act by doing both. He said, “My friends back home call the me the ‘real-life Hannah Montana’ because I have two lives.”

In order to balance school and work, he will build a two or three day class schedule and route his touring so that he can be on campus on the required days and then fly out for shows on his “off” days.

Few people can pick up an education at the school of life and on the road and in the classroom, but McCreery has a one in a million chance to do so and he’s going for it. He’s a regular ol’ college freshman by day and a country star by night!

We’re not going to lie. The schedule sounds grueling but if anyone can pull it off, it’s our boy Scotty McCreery.

The first day of fall classes isn't until Aug. 16, but Scotty McCreery is already preparing for college life at North Carolina State University. "My friends back home call the me the 'Real-life Hannah Montana' because I have two lives," McCreery says. "We're planning on having a two- or three-day class schedule and work a tour around college so I can be in class and fly out the next day." McCreery will be living in a house near campus with a few friends, who already have begun decorating their new digs. "We've got a few signs, and my buddy's got a big deer head we're going to put in the living room," McCreery says. "I don't think we're going to put any of my awards in there. We're trying to keep things safe." McCreery is pursuing a concentration in communications/public relations, but right now he says the Virtual Reality tour's Brad Paisley and The Band Perry are "the best professo

Season 10 “American Idol” Scotty McCreery will throw out the first pitch at the Lookouts baseball game at AT&T Field on Friday, June 22, at 7:15 p.m.

Pete Intza, Lookouts spokesman, confirmed McCreery’s appearance and first-pitch honors. The country singer’s visit is one of the promotions during Paint the Park Purple, a benefit for the Mid-South chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association during the Lookouts vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.

McCreery should have no trouble getting the ball across home plate. A pitcher on his Garner High School baseball team, he loves the game so much he gave up touring with Brad Paisley this past spring semester to return to school to play ball his senior year.

Beth Cragon, office and volunteer coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association, said Paint the Park Purple will be an awareness event for the local chapter.

“The Lookouts will be wearing purple jerseys that will be sold in a silent auction during the game,” she said.

Cragon said fans attending the game are asked to wear purple as well.

“If fans buy game tickets through the Alzheimer’s Association, they will be the same price but part of the proceeds will be donated to the association,” said Cragon.

“They can get tickets by calling 265-3600 or dropping by the office, 7625 Hamilton Park Drive, at the intersection of Lee Highway and Bonny Oaks Drive.”