'American Idol' Winner 2011: Scotty McCreery Wins Season 10 (VIDEO)

In the end, it was the unlikely juxtaposition of the boyish looks and deep voice that won America's ears and hearts, as Scotty McCreery beat out Lauren Alaina to take home the "American Idol" season 10 crown.

In a season that introduced rock star Steven Tyler and pop diva Jennifer Lopez as new judges, McCreery's country crooning won out, this despite less positive reviews for the North Carolina native's finale song, "I Love You This Big."

After predicting a win for Alaina on Tuesday night's final competition, judge Randy Jackson changed his tune on Wednesday afternoon, telling host Ryan Seacrest that he thought McCreery would win it all.

A 17-year old resident of Garner, North Carolina, McCreery was always a solid frontrunner, having never appeared in the bottom three of fan voting.

In an interview after the show with Entertainment Weekly, McCreery paid tribute to Alaina, saying, "I met her the first day of Hollywood week, so we've been really close. She's been my schoolmate for the last couple of months. We've had a lot of fun together. We're really close friends. We still are. She's a wonderful young lady."

Now, listen to the exclusive debut of Scotty McCreery's single, "I Love You This Big."

LISTEN:

Comments

[Letha Cousar]

12:41 PM on 06/02/2011

I have to agree, the first time I heard Scotty on American Idol, I said he is the Next American Idol winner. It is good to know that America can vote based on talent. Kudos to all who voted and got it right.

[Alyssan Perez]

02:58 AM on 05/28/2011

Strait is more similar to Scotty, so his voice would wind up being a reference point for sizing Scotty up -- and any 16-year-old, no matter how talented, is going to have a harder time impressing under those circumstances. http://bit.ly/jTHbMf

[dutch163]

09:08 PM on 05/27/2011

I think he is adorable and his voice is awesome
he seems like such a nice guy (he loves his grandma!)..I am glad he won
I was rooting for him..but I thought James would win
and even those who did not come in first will have careers in music...
and he says Lauren is "a wonderful young lady." as if he is some sort of old soul...LOL

[lvcntrymsic]

11:01 AM on 05/27/2011

Scotty.. When I first heard you on Idol..I said this boy has a big voice..and sounds like George Strait...I predicted he'd win...and he did!..You brought tears to my eyes,congrats...hope to see you on Country Music Awards shows..and concerts..I'm a big fan of Country music...Congrats to your parents too....I've listened to your single "I love you this big"...I love it! heard it over and over again..It will be a smash hit it the country circle..and hopefully in other avenues as well...God Bless....May God guide and protect you always...

[dutch163]

09:04 PM on 05/27/2011

amen

[stepoutofthenorm]

10:03 PM on 05/26/2011

I don't like country music but the guy has an awesome voice; and the title and the song are beautiful. He will be "this big."

[Pruitt77]

05:46 PM on 05/26/2011

He's a great fit for country radio and he knew from the beginning he wasn't a pop singer and never tried to be. What was clear with him singing next to Tim McGraw last night is his live vocals need some work. But, he's cute, the deep voice is an attention grabber and I actually think the song is less corny than the finale songs usually are. I've been singing it to my hubby randomly since I heard it. LOL So kudos to him. He's livin his dream.

[Doc Wattson]

04:19 PM on 05/26/2011

OFFICAL HUFFINGTON POST REPLY IN A THREAD ABOUT A CONTEST

"Name" shouldn't have won. The contest was "Fixed"/"Racist"/"Sexist". I blame "Political Party", they are so stupid! I'll never watch "Show" again.

[lvcntrymsic]

11:04 AM on 05/27/2011

I'm sorry you feel that way...I personally don't like hip hop or Rap...we are intitled to our opinion...Maybe next season will be different...God Bless...

[Doc Wattson]

04:10 PM on 05/27/2011

What's that got to do with my post?

[leorangerie]

03:13 PM on 05/26/2011

The bible belt won the day, evidently.

[edrice222]

02:38 AM on 05/27/2011

They had a lot of practice voting for Bristol Palin. Seems they're really organized when it comes to voting for their own on Reeeality TeeeVeee.

[MNTom]

03:10 PM on 05/26/2011

Again the person who won should not have. 3rd year in a row.

[Rosy]

03:14 PM on 05/26/2011

Agreed. I think in the earlier years of the show, the winner was the right one most of the time. Then something changed. Maybe it was the allowing of text voting.

[mamamab]

08:24 PM on 05/26/2011

yep. Last 3 years: the most boring "nice guy" won. Yawn.

[Grokenspiel]

03:08 PM on 05/26/2011

My failed prediction of the top four:

1. Pia
2. Jacob
3. James
4. Haley

My prediction was based on singing talent. However, millions of tween texters had other criteria.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

04:17 PM on 05/26/2011

I disagree. I was thrilled when Jacob got eliminated. His oversouled, melodramatic voice, coupled with his insincere, false humility, but strangely inflated sense of self importance annoyed me big time. Also, I could not stand his effeminate mannerisms. Gay people are awesome. Some of my best friends are gay. But the flaming effeminate gay males irritate me almost as much as Evangelical Christians.

[Grokenspiel]

07:10 PM on 05/26/2011

"Some of my best friends are gay."

Yeah, right. I'm sure the way you feel about effeminate mannerisms and "flaming effeminate gay males" endears you to your gay best friends. (Let me guess -- they feel the same way, right?) How does it feel to be a walking, talking cliche?

[mamamab]

08:26 PM on 05/26/2011

Wow. What to say? Why is being effeminate such a problem for you?

I'd say you have some issues to look at. Not just your attitude about gay men who are more on the feminine side, but perhaps your views of WOMEN as well. Be brave, be honest, and see what comes up.

[Doc Wattson]

04:22 PM on 05/26/2011

Jacob was as much a one trick pony as Scotty, the only difference is the pressure didn't become to much for Scotty as it did Jacob. Pia was so boring and people way over reacted when she was cut. She went to soon, yes, but she was about to get old fast. I liked James and Haley the most.

[Matthew2010]

10:38 AM on 05/27/2011

The only difference is that Jacob's "one trick" was the ability to sing incredibly well.

[Namvet6871]

03:06 PM on 05/26/2011

He sux with that crooked head and mouth, so does idol!

[Bushido08]

02:54 PM on 05/26/2011

Great young man with an outstanding voice!

[blukazoo]

02:54 PM on 05/26/2011

How unfortunate for him, everyone else on the show will probably have a career...

[Namvet6871]

03:07 PM on 05/26/2011

Thats so true, #2 get alot of contracts!

[Diana Black Bandelow]

02:50 PM on 05/26/2011

Awwww...American Idol has its own Dubya.

[Simplecomplexity]

02:49 PM on 05/26/2011

Wow! The haters are out in force. Why? Here's a clean cut 16 year old young man who honestly CAN sing, has a teriffic personality, is polite, and genuinely liked by all of the other Idol candidates, and at only 16, he's got a great sense of himself, is very fun to watch on stage, plays the guitar pretty darn well and he's going to have a very long and lucrative career singing CWestern music. So what's up with all the bitter swiping, huh? Geeze...is this not the American Dream in action? What possible reason do any of these commentors have for not wishing him well. If you don't like his music, what's that got to do with the inability to be happy for someone grabbing the POSSIBILITY of that Brass Ring, huh?

This kid took a chance and actually went out there, put himself on a VERY visible forum and achieved a very difficult goal for himself at sixteen freaking years old! He WON!

I wish him all the joy and good fortune in the world. Go get 'em Scotty.

[Namvet6871]

03:07 PM on 05/26/2011

If you call a croaner a singer where u live?

[Simplecomplexity]

03:11 PM on 05/26/2011

I don't even like Country music....has nothing to do with this kid's talent. You don't like the way he sings, well that's your opinion...but why the hate?

[byteb]

03:45 PM on 05/26/2011

Wasn't Scotty the one who cut that poor, sweet young kid (with the beautiful voice), I think his name was JC, loose from his group during the early elimination part of the show. JC was part of the group but they got a new member and Mr. Wonderful Scotty was cold as ice when the kid had to go. I remember JC wandering around looking for another group to take him in and he lost valuable rehearsal time trying to find a spot. After the story came out about what happened and while on camera, Mr Scotty got all tearful and 'aw shucks, I was a bad boy".
But I was able to see that Scotty was full of baloney. It's all an act, folks.

[Doc Wattson]

04:10 PM on 05/26/2011

No, that's wasn't Scotty. That guy didn't make it to the live show. He wore glasses and was a karaoke host from San Fransisco. You are just looking for a reason to hate Scotty.