The country star won ‘American Idol’ at age 16 in 2011
Scotty McCreery got high praise from Priscilla Presley.
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, June 12, McCreery recalled meeting Priscilla backstage at American Idol — and the sweet compliment she gave him.
At one point, Hudson asked McCreery, 30, what his favorite performance was on the show and he said it was singing “That’s All Right, Mama” by Elvis Presley during rock and roll week.
“I love that guy, but the kicker was that Priscilla was there at the show, and I got to talk with her between commercial breaks,” he said. “She looked at me, and she said, ‘Scotty, can I tell you something?’ I said, ‘Absolutely, Priscilla.'”
She said, ‘Elvis would’ve loved you,'” he recalled of his conversation with Priscilla, now 79. “Oh my God. I had to sing after that! But that was the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
Reflecting on his journey since the singing competition show — which he won at age 16 in 2011 — the “Five More Minutes” singer said it’s “been a wild ride.”
“I think if somebody would’ve told me back at 16 when I auditioned for the show, ‘Hey, 13 years later you’ll still be doing it. Writing country songs. Touring the country, the world, having fun’ — I would’ve shook their hand in a heartbeat and said I’ll take that deal. This is fun,” he said.
Though he’s grateful for his experience on the show — he also revealed why he would never be a judge on the show.
“Absolutely not. I don’t want to do that. Do you?” he asked Hudson, who appeared on the show in 2004. “I know what it feels like being on the stage, being judged. I don’t want to put that on somebody else.”
