Scotty McCreery is just a little over three months into his crash course in the country music business, and he's on track to pass with flying colors. It was just this past May that the North Carolina native won Season 10 of 'American Idol,' with a record-breaking number of votes cast. Since that life-changing night, he has signed a major record deal, headlined the American Idols LIVE tour, recorded his debut album ... and finished his junior year of high school.

Scotty's first CD, 'Clear as Day,' hit stores today (Oct. 4) and is already off to a great start. Its first radio release, 'I Love You This Big,' was the highest-charting debut single by a new artist since 1984. Its follow-up single, the similarly heartwarming 'The Trouble With Girls,' is poised to have similar success.

The Boot met up with Scotty in downtown Nashville to talk about the new album and his newfound fame, which he's digging, even if he's not quite used to it. The high school senior also reveals big plans for his 18th birthday and for his continued education.

You've had to learn a lot about this business in just three months! Is it intimidating?

I'm still learning every day. It's been intense being around all these people, these musicians in Nashville, and learning on the tour what goes on. 'Crash course' -- yeah, that's a good way to describe it!

During 'Idol,' you got a lot of comparisons to Josh Turner, but on this album, there's a little Dierks Bentley ... a little Conway Twitty ... It's hard to pinpoint just one person you sound like. You just sound like you! Was it important to you to establish a unique voice on this record?

It was definitely important, but it happened naturally. We weren't consciously thinking, "Don't do Josh Turner; don't try to copy someone else." It happened naturally with the songs we chose and the melodies and everything. I think people were expecting the Josh Turner sound, but we're two different artists.

Was it important to merge your classic country influences with a modern sound?

That was the goal of this album. I wanted to make sure I had the oldies ... the Conways and the Merles [Haggard] and the guys I grew up listening to, but still have that modern edge.

Have you heard Keith Urban's response to your version of his song, 'Walk in the Country'?

I haven't yet. Hopefully he likes it! We had fun with that recording. I'm glad he sent it my way. He sent it to the label [Universal Music Group Nashville] with a message to me saying, "I think this is a great song for you, Scotty. I think you'd be great doing this. Hope you enjoy it." We loved it ... so even if it wasn't Keith's song, we would have cut it. It's a great song. It's one of my favorites to listen to on my iPod when I'm out running.

You've said 'Water Tower Town' is your favorite song on the album, mostly because it reminds you of your hometown, Garner, N.C. Does singing it make you homesick?

It does ... That's one of the reasons we cut it, because it reminds me of home. To see that imagery in my head of the water tower right across from the baseball fields I grew up playing at ... and the football games ... and sweet tea. Sweet tea, you can't get it everywhere! [laughs] It's a good song. We really fell in love with it the first time we heard it.

What did you miss most about home when you were on tour?

Friends and family, definitely. I grew up not missing a day of seeing some of those guys. It was a challenge. But I was supposed to be on tour ... I was supposed to be on 'Idol.' I really think God put me there for a reason. I don't sweat it too much. It's how it's supposed to be.

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'Clear As Day' starts out as such a sweet love song, and then the ending is heartbreaking. Tell me your reaction when you first heard that very last verse that takes such an unexpected, tragic turn.

They played us the song without the twist at the end. Right at the beginning, we were hooked on the [story of] after the football game, going to the after-football parties. That's my life on Friday nights -- we have the football games and the cookouts after the game. We chill in the parking lot. When it took that turn at the end, it really ripped my heart out. It's just a song I felt the need to get out there. It's a great song.

Being such a new artist, I'm sure you had advice coming your way from every direction when it came to this album. But what's one thing you insisted on for the project?

The songs just had to be right. There were some songs pitched my way that were trying to get on this album, but I wasn't really feeling them. I just told them, "I don't like it." I had to have a song I could believe in and not fake in the recording studio or on stage. I had to stick to my guns about it.

You're a man of your word, because the last time we interviewed you, back in June, you said you were going to insist on putting a Christian-themed song on the album. You've done so, beautifully, with the last track on the album, 'That Old King James.'

I heard that song in Houston when I was chilling out in my dressing room by myself. We were thinking about putting a hymn on the album that would also fit the mold of the album ... I instantly fell in love with it.

As a high school baseball star yourself, getting the call to sing the national anthem in Game 1 of the World Series had to be surreal.

The World Series ... that's an incredible opportunity. I'm a baseball nut. I grew up with two loves: baseball and music. To be able to sing, my number one love in life, and watch a baseball game afterwards ... the World Series is the biggest stage of baseball! It's a moment I will never forget.

How about getting the invitation from Brad Paisley to join his tour ... right there on stage in front of thousands of people? Was that a surprise or did you know the invitation was coming?

We had already talked about it. I didn't know he was going to do that though, announce it live on stage. It's gonna be a great experience. He knows everything about [the country music industry]. He has the hit songs, and I'll be singing along side-stage with him. It'll be really nice to go out on the road with him and check out how the country world works ... get my feet wet.

What's one thing you admire most about Brad?

He's a classy guy. He has a classy way of entertaining his fans. The songs he sings and the way he lives his life is a great testament to that. I got a chance to meet his dad, too, and talked about Brad going to college and me going to Belmont [University]. It was great to be able to talk to Brad and his dad ... just about life, right off the bat when I first met him. I'm looking forward to learning a lot more from him.

You mention Brad's alma mater, Belmont, which is a great university in Nashville. Are you definitely planning on going to college?

I am ... I'll be at college. We're not 100% sure where yet. That just depends on if I want to move to Nashville yet or stay in Carolina. We're still having those conversations at the dinner table. Belmont will be a great school to go to and learn about the music business.

What scares your parents the most about this career and your celebrity status?

They are scared about me losing my childhood and throwing some memories away that I'd otherwise have as senior year memories. [My mom] says she doesn't want me to regret this 20 years down the road. But if it's your time, it's your time. God put me here for a reason. I'm supposed to be doing this and using music in a positive light. If I do that, there will be no regrets.

How about getting used to all the rumors that inevitably come with celebrity, particularly about your love life? Are you able to laugh at them, or do they annoy you?

I just brush that stuff off. I don't pay much attention to it. I have a saying back home: "Short hair, don't care" ... and I have short hair, so it's all right. The public wants to know about your personal lives. I don't get too upset about it. I wish I had something to talk about! [laughs]

What's been the weirdest thing about fame?

The recognition. It's wild walking down the streets and people saying your name, or trying to go to dinner and someone recognizing you. They appreciate your music and tell you stuff about helping you out through [real-life situations], and that's cool to hear. I just go up and sing songs and hope someone can be touched by it.

Happy early birthday! You turn 18 this Sunday (Oct. 9). What will you do to celebrate?

I'm playing the big concert venue [Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion] where I'm from [on Saturday, Oct. 8]. It'll be cool to be on that stage instead of watching it. We're looking forward to it. It's gonna be a fun day. We're singing there and then singing at the football game. We're giving out a lot of tickets to charity and different organizations from around town, so they can come out.

Is it a different feeling singing live when you have friends and family in the audience?

It is. In Raleigh, everywhere I looked I saw someone in the crowd that I knew. I'd wave to them and give them a little nod. It's fun knowing people are out there who you know. It's cool to have friends you grew up with supporting you.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

I get pumped up -- whether it's singing or baseball. I'll be punching [mimics throwing punches in the air] up the staircase walking up to the stage -- I'm a Rocky fan. How can you not be? [laughs] But pre-show on the Idols LIVE tour, I'd be sleeping. I would wake up, make my hair straight and go on stage. Nobody believed me, but I knew what time it was.

Who from the Idols LIVE tour do you think you'll keep in touch with the most?

I'll keep in touch with all of them ... I'm not going to say I'll keep in touch with one more than any of the others. We're all the big 'Idol' family from Season 10.

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