Scotty McCreery Is ‘Excited to Put a Spotlight’ on Country Songs of the Past with New SiriusXM Show

Scotty McCreery has posted five Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers during his career, including a streak of signature hits such as “Damn Strait” and “In Between.” But now, he’s gearing up to shine a spotlight on many of the hits, and album cuts, that have inspired him.

On Thursday (June 26), McCreery was announced as the host of a new monthly show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country (Channel 58), which highlights country music of the 1980s and 1990s. Prime Country With Scotty McCreery will premiere Saturday, July 5 at 3 p.m. ET, with new episodes premiering the first Saturday of every month at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Country. Each show will also be rebroadcast on the channel several times throughout the month.

“I love country music from every decade, but the country music of the ’80s and ’90s is probably my favorite era of music. I’m excited to put a spotlight on the songs and performers I grew up listening to that helped shape the artist I am today,” McCreery tells Billboard in a statement.

He notes that the debut episode will feature music from artists including Garth Brooks, George Strait, Randy Travis, Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Ronnie Milsap and John Anderson.

“Each song is handpicked by me,” he says. “I’ll be sharing stories of how an artist influenced me or how I met them or something we may have experienced together on the road or backstage at an awards show or the Opry.”

Even when McCreery made his career debut on American Idol (he won the talent competition’s 10th season), his allegiance to ’80s and ’90s country music was clear in his performances of songs such as Travis Tritt’s “Can I Trust You With My Heart” and Strait’s “I Cross My Heart.” His three-week Country Airplay No. 1 hit “Damn Strait” also nods to the Country Music Hall of Famer.

McCreery was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in April 2024, when he was ushered into Opry membership by fellow country music hitmaker Josh Turner. McCreery is using his new show to highlight his passion for the Grand Ole Opry and its essential contributions to country music’s history and present-day global influence.

“Every month I’ll also be sharing a live Opry performance that was recorded on that legendary stage during the ‘80s or ‘90s. My first episode will feature Joe Diffie performing ‘Pick Up Man’ on the Opry stage from Oct. 18, 1997,” McCreery previews.

Of course, McCreery fans can also hear a few songs from McCreery himself. “You’ll also hear one or two of my songs on the show because – hey! It’s my show! I’m hoping in the future to occasionally have guest artists join me for some conversation as well. I’m really pumped to be able to do this and I appreciate SiriusXM offering me this opportunity. I hope people tune in and enjoy it!”