Here’s One ‘American Idol’ Winner With A New Success Story

Scotty McCreery stood backstage at Build Series in New York awaiting our live sit-down interview when he hopped on the phone with his fiance, Gabi Dugal.

I was in the dressing room today giving her my thoughts on the invitations, so I think we finally have those ready to go, he said.

Those invitations are meant for the couples summer wedding. The pair met in kindergarten, started dating when they were high school seniors and got engaged last fall. But its clear sparks flew very early on. McCreery says that while in kindergarten, Gabi wrote the words Mrs. Gabi McCreery in her diary with hearts around it.

McCreery said his fiance is definitely doing more heavy lifting in terms of wedding planning.

I just dont have as much to offer on colors or floral designs different things like that. But I can taste test, he told HuffPost at the Build Series, which is owned by HuffPosts parent company, Oath. Catering is my specialty. I will help her with that.

Im going to have a big say in the playlist, McCreery said. Were going to have a DJ, not a band. And she will, too. But we love the throwback jams to dance to.

Its no surprise that the Season 10 winner of American Idol wants to be involved in the music for their big day. In fact, a lot of his own music is inspired by his soon-to-be-wife. His new album, Seasons Change, even features a song about his proposal.

McCreery wrote the track called This Is It roughly two weeks before he popped the question near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina in their spot. Its an area they stumbled upon a few years ago while getting lost looking for a waterfall. They found themselves on some beautiful cliffs instead; and now every time they go hiking there, they make sure to visit those cliffs.

A post shared by Scotty McCreery (@scottymccreery) on Mar 8, 2018 at 3:30pm PST

I had everything planned out. I knew where I was going to ask her and how I was going to ask her I think thats how it tipped her off because I dont plan anything ever Luckily she said yes, so we put [This Is It] on the record.

The album has been a long time coming for McCreery, who won Idol in 2011 at 17 years old and released his self-titled debut that same year. Two more albums followed in 2012 and 2013 and then nothing for five years. During that time, plenty of issues started to creep up.

We had just come off a platinum and a gold single There were decisions made the powers that be about what direction they wanted the music to go to and the next single, which was definitely a pivot from what I traditionally like to lean with my music. Lo and behold, that song didnt work out and a few months later we get dropped [from my label], McCreery said. MES AT YOU FAST. BUT HEY, FOR 24 HOURS I WAS AT A DOWN POINT AND YOU JUST PICK YOURSELF UP AND MOVE ON. THATS ALL YOU CAN DO IN LIFE. SO A YEAR LATER, WE FINALLY GOT DONE WITH ALL THE LEGAL STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH ALL THAT. THAT WAS A LONG YEAR.

ALSO AROUND THAT TIME, MCCREERYS FORMER MANAGER SUED HIMDURING A LEGAL DISPUTE INVOLVING BACK PAY. AND IN 2014, HE WAS ROBBED ANDHELD UP AT GUNPOINT DURING A HOME INVASION.

AFTER SOME DRAMA AND A 5-YEAR MUSICAL HIATUS, SCOTTY MCCREERY IS BACK WITH A NEW ALBUM AND HIS FIRST NO. 1 HIT.

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