This week, Garner native Scotty McCreery will perform in the final three of the American Idol tv show. The newly-minted 17 year old star was welcomed home over the weekend with a made-for-tv celebration.
One thing was clear this weekend. Garner LOVES Scotty McCreery. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you’re likely going to start hearing the name a lot in the coming days. And if you haven’t heard him sing, you’re in for something special. An estimated 30-thousand people were on hand to welcome back the hometown hero. To put that in perspective, Garner itself has a population of less than 30-thousand. “American Idol” tv crews followed McCreery around for the day-long tour of the town. That experience will be broadcast to millions Wednesday night.
Ronnie Williams: "It’s probably the biggest thing that’s ever happened in Garner and I’ve lived here all my life."
That’s Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams, who introduced McCreery and presented him the key to the city. But it almost never happened. It was between McCreery and fellow contestant James Durbin to see who would move on to the final 3, a moment that had this town holding its collective breath. But just who is Scotty McCreery? Once, again, Mayor Ronnie Williams:
Williams: "He is a junior at Garner Magnet Senior High School, honor roll student, plays on the school baseball team, sings in his choir group at the First Baptist Church. He is just a talented and sincere and good Christian young man."
And here’s Sonya Armstrong, a member of McCreery’s First Baptist Church in Garner.
Sonya Armstrong: "He and my daughter are the same age so we’ve kind of been together with them through children’s choir and things like that. So Scotty’s always been singing. He’s a great kid and he’s just exactly what you see on tv. He’s just the humble, wonderful sweet spirit that you see on tv."
We’ll find out Thursday night whether or not Scotty McCreery will advance to final 2 of “American Idol.” Win or lose, one thing’s for sure.Garner LOVES Scotty McCreery.
