This ‘American Idol’ winner will be the show’s 6th alum to make NC’s Music Hall of Fame

More than a dozen years after Scotty McCreery was crowned winner of “American Idol,” the Garner native is achieving legend status in his home state: This fall, the singer will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, the organization announced.

McCreery will be honored as part of the 2023 class of inductees during a ceremony in Mooresville that will take place 10 days after he celebrates his 30th birthday on Oct. 9.

In a statement, the N.C. Music Hall of Fame said it was recognizing him for achievements that include his first album, 2011’s “Clear as Day,” debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, making him the first country artist and youngest male artist of any musical format to achieve this feat.

All five of his studio albums have landed in the Top 10 on the U.S. country charts. Three of them went to No. 1. His most recent single, “It Matters to Her,” reached No. 17 on Billboard’s list of “hot country songs” after it was released last September.

McCreery will become the sixth “American Idol” alum to be inducted into the state’s Hall, following Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino (class of 2014), Kellie Pickler (2016), Bucky Covington (2017) and Chris Daughtry (2018).

Also on the list of 2023 inductees with McCreery: Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, of Chapel Hill; funk-disco band leader Bill Curtis, of Fayetteville, most famous for The Fatback Band; ’80s-era, live-music sensation Fetchin Bones, of Charlotte; late, great gospel singer George Beverly Shea, of Montreat; and “Queen of Funk” Betty Davis, of Durham, who died last year.

About Fetchin Bones

From 1983 to 1990, Fetchin Bones pioneered an eclectic sound by blending rock, punk, funk, grunge, country and blues with vocals by Hope Nicholls, the band’s lead, the Hall of Fame said.

After their debut album, “Cabin Flounder,” they released three more albums for Capitol Records. Fetchin Bones were celebrated for their live performances, and opened for such big-name acts as R.E.M., the B-52s, Violent Femmes, The Replacements and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The induction ceremony — scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center — is open to the public and will include appearances and live performances by McCreery, Wainwright and Fetchin Bones.

Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now for $60 to $90, and can be purchased at NorthCarolinaMusicHallofFame.org.

This story was originally published May 28, 2023 at 3:50 PM.