“CMT Campfire Sessions” returns for third season on CMT Digital with an all-new slate of performances under starlit skies

New season kicks off with Scotty McCreery on Tuesday, Oct. 18th via CMT’s Facebook & YouTube channels 

Latest installment also features artists Charley Crockett, Elle King, Jessie James Decker, Lainey Wilson and Warren Zeiders

Watch here. 

CMT Digital’s much-acclaimed original series “CMT Campfire Sessions” returns for its third season Tuesday, October 18th with new episodes premiering each week via CMT’s YouTube and Facebook channels (full schedule below). Kicking off Season 3 is multi-platinum country star Scotty McCreery who shares stripped-back versions of hits including his recent three-week No. 1 “Damn Strait,” “Five More Minutes,” “You Time,” and current single “It Matters To Her,” all performed fireside with two members of his band. Watch McCreery’s full episode here.

Artists Charley Crockett, Elle King, Jessie James Decker, Lainey Wilson and Warren Zeiders will appear in upcoming installments of the show, offering acoustic performances under starlit skies. Wilson’s episode marks her second “CMT Campfire” appearance and includes a special tie-in to her character on Paramount Network’s award-winning series, “Yellowstone.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome this group of artists as part of our third season of CMT Campfire Sessions on digital,” said Melissa Goldberg, VP, Digital & Social Media, CMT. “Not only do they represent the breadth of the genre, but their talent of storytelling through song, especially in this fireside-format, creates a unique experience for the fans that is amazing to witness on screen.” 

Goldberg continues: “And while the fire remains constant throughout this new season, we made some cool set changes to reflect each artist’s unique vibe, which translated to everything from pink muscle cars to bohemian backyards. These stylistic enhancements serve to further connect the audience with their favorite stars while evolving the overall look and feel of the series.” 

Season 3 schedule is as follows: 

Tuesday, Oct. 18 – Scotty McCreery 

Tuesday, Oct. 25 – Charley Crockett

Tuesday, Nov. 1 – Jessie James Decker

Monday, Nov. 7 – Lainey Wilson 

Tuesday, Nov. 15 – Elle King 

Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Warren Zeiders

“CMT Campfire Sessions” is a reimagining of the traditional campfire sing-along, swapping songs and stories that nod to the nostalgia and intimacy of storytelling that is synonymous with country music. Fans can view past “CMT Campfire Sessions” episodes via CMT’s Facebook and YouTube channels. For more information, visit CMT.com, join the conversation using #CMTCampfireSessions and also follow @CMT on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

“CMT Campfire Sessions” began as a CMT Digital-led production that gave fans an inside look into the backyards of some of their favorite artists during quarantine, including Cody Johnson, Granger Smith, Hailey Whitters, Jimmie Allen, Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Lee Brice, Russell Dickerson and The War and Treaty. The success of the digital franchise went on to inspire the brand to launch a linear version of the series of the same name; with both series featuring appearances from a stellar list of artists including: Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Brittney Spencer, Brothers Osborne, Clay Walker & Tracy Lawrence, Gary Allan, Kane Brown, Keb’ Mo’, Jason Aldean, Jon Pardi, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Maddie & Tae, Miranda Lambert with Jack Ingram & Jon Randall, Old Crow Medicine Show, Old Dominion, Riley Green and Trisha Yearwood.

Courtesy People.com | Nancy Kruh

Scotty McCreery has been in quite a pickle in recent days. As much as he loves hitting the road and playing shows, he's found that he might hate something even more now: saying goodbye to his wife.

Who can blame him? She's due to give birth to their first child, a boy, in just a few weeks.

"It's getting tougher and tougher to leave home," McCreery, 29, tells PEOPLE. "My wife and my dog drop me off at the airport and we hug and kiss goodbye. And now she's got a bump, and it's like I'm saying goodbye to three instead of just two."

Thankfully, McCreery's dilemma is about to end. He'll soon take himself off the road so he and Gabi, his wife of four years, can await the birth together. And when the baby finally comes, it will no doubt be the high point of what McCreery already considers the best year of his life.

"I've known since February that I'm gonna be a father by the end of the year — and then having my biggest song with 'Damn Strait' at the same time," he says, "I don't think I've stopped smiling all year."

Indeed, the three-week No. 1 song — his fifth chart-topper in a row — has been McCreery's biggest hit to date, and the singer-songwriter has been feeling its momentum begin to shift his career into a higher gear.

"The crowds are bigger, they're more energetic," he says. "This has probably been the best summer we've had as far as headlining shows. As soon as we tease 'Damn Strait' with the music, everybody's up. Their phones are going up. They're smiling. They're elbowing their neighbors. It's been pretty cool."

On Nov. 18, he'll take a victory lap with a deluxe edition of his latest album, Same Truck, which will feature six new songs, including his latest song release, "Nothin' Right."

It's an uptempo laid-back jam that reflects McCreery's always-on-the-sunny side: "Got nothin' to do / Got nothin' but time / If we're gonna do nothin' / Then we're gonna do nothin' right." But those lyrics, which he co-wrote, also seem at odds with his relentless drive.

Says McCreery: "I mean, it's easy to sit back, and you want to celebrate success — and it's been fun with 'Damn Strait' — but now, it's like, what's next? You know, let's keep the train rolling. How can we keep it going and try to come back bigger and better?"

He's been on that train since winning American Idol, at age 17, in 2011, but it's only been in recent years that he feels he's hit his stride as an entertainer and songwriter.

Now he has more than enough radio hits and fan favorites to pack into his concerts. "Before," he says, "it was like, what covers can we do to fill in this whole thing for an hour and a half?"

He also is enjoying a growing confidence as an artist. "There was a time back in 2014-2015 when I was maybe trying to figure out what's hot at radio and how I could get in there," he recalls. "And now it's like I'm just gonna do what I love and hopefully people love it, too. And luckily, it's been connecting."

Over the past few years, McCreery has increasingly put his own experiences into his songs, and he's finding out, of course, that the more he lives, the more he has to write about.

"I remember when I first started, people would be like, 'What's he gonna write about? He's so young,'" McCreery recalls. "That used to really get under my skin. But now I look back and I'm like, what was I gonna write about? Now I've lived a lot of life. I've been doing this for over a decade. I was single when I started, dated for a while, been engaged, been married, and now I'm having my first kid."

That latest life stage is McCreery's overwhelming preoccupation at the moment. "It's constantly on my mind," he says. "I'm so excited. I'm so nervous. I'm so everything. Every feeling that's out there, that's what I'm feeling right now."

McCreery says his wife broke the news of her pregnancy to him a day later than she'd intended. Her plan was to tell him when he returned to their Raleigh, North Carolina, home from an out-of-town concert, but his flight was delayed several hours, and they had to rush off to a hockey game. Later that evening, he spirited her off to surprise his pal Chris Lane, who was in town for a show.

"Funny enough, that night Chris told me, 'Don't tell anybody but Lauren's pregnant again — we just found out yesterday,'" McCreery recalls. "I was like, 'Congrats, man,' and little did I know, my wife was standing right next to us, thinking, 'Oh, so are we.'" (Chris and Lauren Bushnell Lane's second child, another son, is due a week before the McCreerys'.)

The next morning Gabi finally revealed the positive pregnancy test to her husband while he was still in bed. "And I was like, uh … are you serious?" he says. "I mean, it's something we were wanting. It wasn't a surprise. But the rest of the day, my jaw was just on the floor. I was like, oh my word."

McCreery says the months have flown by since that day, and he and Gabi are now in a bit of a rush to get ready for the baby. He reports that the nursery, with a Winnie the Pooh theme, is almost done (and he expects fans will get to see their efforts in a music video one day).

"We've been painting away, and we just did some board and batten on one wall," he says. "The crib's up, the dresser's up. If the baby came today, I'd feel comfortable with the nursery."

McCreery also reveals he and his wife have settled on first and middle names, but they're waiting for the birth to announce them. He does hint a family name could be in the mix. He also shares what the name won't be.

"I did have an offer from Darius [Rucker]," he reveals. "He said if we name him 'Darius,' he'll pay for college. I mean, I was kind of tempted, but I don't think that name won out!"

McCreery says he's been getting some guidance from The New Dad's Playbook, a how-to manual by former NFL standout and father of seven Benjamin Watson. But so far, the McCreerys haven't put birthing classes on their schedule. His wife, he says, plans on a natural birth.

"I feel like I want to get in there [the delivery room] and just be like, 'surprise me,'" he says. "If she wants to do classes, then that would maybe help us get prepared, but I don't know. I feel like it should be like an 'oh my God' kind of moment."

One reason McCreery is feeling so confident is the fact that his wife is a pediatric nurse, so she knows her way around babies. "I tell her all the time I'm thankful," he says. "I'm gonna do my part, but if the baby coughs, I'm gonna be like, are we OK? And she'll be like, we're fine. She'll be able to calm my nerves, I think, more than anything."

McCreery says he's been leaning into his own skill set: He assumes his son is well acquainted with his singing voice by now since he loves to use it so much around the house. "He's been to a few of my shows in the belly," he says, "and whenever we're in the car and one of my songs comes on the radio, Gabi will always be like, 'Hey, that's Daddy on the radio!' So that's been kind of cool."

McCreery is already imagining his new role, he says, and he intends to be "a fun dad."

"I want to strike that balance of he's my best friend, but I'm also his father," he says. "I'm there to help him, try to raise him to be a strong, respectful man."

For his first months of fatherhood, he says, he's just looking forward to lots of snuggling. "I love to cuddle my dog [3-year-old yellow Lab, Moose], and I'm sure the baby will be even that times a million," he says. After that, "I cannot wait to take him to the ball field," says the former high school pitcher. "And I want to just do all the little things: take him fishing, take him to church on Sunday, all the things I grew up loving. But he's gonna be his own person. Whatever he loves, I'm gonna be his biggest supporter."

He and Gabi also plan to outfit his tour bus with a crib so they can take the baby on the road. McCreery says he's already received some guidance from Brett Young, who has adapted his bus for his wife and two daughters. "It's doable," says McCreery. "We just have to find what works for us."

In between concert dates, McCreery also will be working on his next album, which he expects to release sometime next year. These days he has no shortage of song ideas; his marriage, of course, continues to be a constant source of inspiration.

"I think we're more in love now than we were four years ago," he says. "I think that's gonna be the case every day."

And rest assured, McCreery adds, "This next record is gonna have a baby song or two."

Multi-Platinum-selling, chart-topping country artist Scotty McCreery has received the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award, which singles out a country artist each year for outstanding commitment and service to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.^®

Alabama lead singer Randy Owen presented McCreery with the award at the Country Cares Seminar, an annual gathering of music artists and industry professionals who come together to learn how to help raise funds and awareness for St. Jude. The event precedes the launch of the #ThisShirtSavesLives promotion in support of the #MusicGives to St. Jude Kids initiative.

McCreery has released five consecutive No. 1 hits including “Five More Minutes” and “This Is It.” Since 2014, Scotty and his wife, Gabi have been champions of the St. Jude mission. From visiting the St. Jude campus to appearing on “Celebrity Family Feud” and donating his $25,000 winnings to the institution, the Triple Tigers recording artist has supported several St. Jude campaigns over nearly a decade of partnership. He and his wife are expecting their first child, a son, in early November.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive the Angels Among Us Award from St. Jude,” said McCreery. “The patients and families here have been an inspiration to me, just as I know they are to so many other country artists as well. With continued support from country radio and our loyal listeners, who pitch in to play their part for this wonderful cause, we can make a difference together by helping ensure that no family receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. That’s a beautiful thing to me, and I’m happy to lend my voice in support of such an amazing cause. And then to receive this award from the legendary Randy Owen himself is a moment I’ll treasure always.”

Past recipients of the Angels Among Us award include namesake Randy Owen, country groups, Florida Georgia Line and Lady A, artists Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, and industry leaders Lon Helton and Bill Mayne.

The country music industry has a legacy of supporting the patients of St. Jude. Cancer is a multi-trillion-dollar, multi-year problem, and the country music industry helped to raise nearly $50 million in 2021 for St. Jude. The continued support from the country music community helps fuel the current six-year, $12.9 billion St. Jude strategic plan to accelerate research and treatment for childhood catastrophic diseases.

For more information, please visit musicgives.org.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Congratulations to the Scotty McCreery Fan of the Month for October 2022, Ane! Learn more about Ane below!

Where are you from?: Latrobe, Pa

How many years have you been a fan?: Since his first American Idol audition

How many years have you been a fan club member?  Quite a few years

What is your favorite Scotty song? Carolina Eyes and Five More Minutes

What is your favorite Scotty album? Seasons Change

How many times have you seen Scotty live? What was your first show? What was your favorite show? Too many to count. First show was Idol tour. Favorite was at the Opry

What’s one thing that sets you apart from other Scotty fans? Biggest fan in Western PA and I am in his book

Want a chance to be featured as the Scotty McCreery Fan of the Month? Join NOW!

On the heels of three straight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his RIAA Gold-certified hit song “Damn Strait” and the recent launch of his new single “It Matters to Her,” which was the second most added song at country radio this week, Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery announces the release of Same Truck: The Deluxe Album coming Nov. 18 on vinyl, CD and digital formats. Fans can listen to “Nothin’ Right,” one of six new tracks featured on the deluxe album, today.
 
“We had more songs I loved ready for the original release of Same Truck than we could put on that album, so I am pumped that Triple Tigers asked me to do a Deluxe Edition where I could add six more songs,” said McCreery. “We’ve also had a lot of requests for a vinyl version of Same Truck over the last year, so I’m excited we can offer that option as well.” 
 
Same Truck: The Deluxe Album was produced by Frank Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis. The project features 18 songs including the six new tracks: “Falling for a Stranger” written by Eshuis, Travis Wood, and Hannah Ellis; “Here and Ready” by Abe Stoklasa, Sarah Buxton, and Mikey Reeves; “Nothin’ Right” written by McCreery, Jordan Schmidt, Jared Mullins, and James McNair; “On It” written by McCreery, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, and Rogers; “Live a Little” written by McCreery, Eshuis, and Blake Chaffin; and “Small Town Story” written by McCreery, Ashley Gorley, and Zach Crowell.
 
“On It” reunites McCreery with Alexander, Singleton, and Rogers - the writing team responsible for his Gold-certified 2020 No. 1 hit “In Between” from his No. 1 album Seasons Change. “Small Town Story” finds McCreery again joining with Gorley and Crowell, with whom he also wrote his Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “See You Tonight” from 2013.
 
“We’re performing ‘Nothin’ Right’ in the live shows right now and it always gets a great response,” said McCreery. “Don’t be surprised if a few more of the bonus tracks make their way into our concerts soon.”
 
Listen to “Nothin’ Right” HERE.
Pre-order/Pre-save Same Truck: The Deluxe Album HERE
Pre-order signed vinyl copies of Same Truck: The Deluxe Album HERE
 
“Damn Strait” was McCreery’s fifth consecutive No.1 hit, following the Gold certified singles “You Time” and “In Between,” the Platinum-certified “This Is It,” and the Double Platinum certified “Five More Minutes.” Upon the song’s release, Rolling Stone named it a “Pick of the Week” calling it “clever songwriting, delivered by one of the genres’ best King George disciples,” while Billboard praises, “Another ace is the clever track ‘Damn Strait,’ a rare outside cut on the project, penned by Trent Tomlinson and Jim Collins, in which McCreery name checks several of King George’s greatest hits.” Taste of Country recently named it “one of the top 10 country songs of 2022 so far.”
 
Both “Damn Strait” and “You Time,” as well as his new single “It Matters to Her” written by McCreery, Rhett Akins, and Lee Thomas Miller, are featured on Same Truck which was released in late 2021. The Garner, North Carolina native shifted his perspective to reflect on the last decade of his career and life with wife Gabi and dog Moose, with Tennessean sharing, “McCreery walks a sonic tightrope that leans into his country influences while not abandoning modern Music Row hitmaking,” while Sounds Like Nashville observed, “those songs ended up showing more maturity than ever, and exploring everything from the common bonds his fans share to the eternal flame of romance.”McCreery and his wife Gabi announced earlier this summer in People that they are expecting their first child, a boy, to be born in early November. 
 
Same Truck: The Deluxe Album Track Listing:

1. Same Truck (Scotty McCreery, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Zach Crowell)
2. You Time (Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers, Aaron Eshuis)
3. It Matters To Her (Scotty McCreery, Rhett Akins, Lee Thomas Miller)
4. Damn Strait (Trent Tomlinson, Jim Collins)
5. It’ll Grow On Ya (Jeremy Bussey, Jason Blaine, Taylor Phillips, Adam Wood)
6. The Waiter (Scotty McCreery, Matthew West, Frank Rogers)
7. Why You Gotta Be Like That (Scotty McCreery, Jordan Schmidt, James McNair)
8. Home (Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers, Brent Anderson, Tammi Kidd)
9. Carolina To Me (Scotty McCreery, Jeremy Bussey, Taylor Phillips)
10. Small Town Girl (Scotty McCreery, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
11. That Kind of Fire (Scotty McCreery, Josh Hoge, Matt McVaney, Justin Wilson)
12. How Ya Doin’ Up There (Scotty McCreery, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Tyler Reeve)

Plus six new tracks:

13. Falling for a Stranger (Aaron Eshuis, Travis Wood, and Hannah Ellis)

14. Here and Ready (Abe Stoklasa, Sarah Buxton, and Mikey Reeves)
15. Nothin’ Right (Scotty McCreery, Jordan Schmidt, Jared Mullins, and James McNair)
16. On It (Scotty McCreery, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, and Frank Rogers)
17. Live a Little (Scotty McCreery, Aaron Eshuis, and Blake Chaffin)
18. Small Town Story (Scotty McCreery, Ashley Gorley, and Zach Crowell)

McCreery has been touring all summer, both on his own as well as direct support to Brooks & Dunn, and Brad Paisley at select shows. He is direct support to Jason Aldean tonight in Saratoga Springs, NY, and will perform a sold-out show at the historic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX, site of his “Damn Strait” music video, next Friday, Sept. 23.

Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery performed in front of more than 9,000 fans in Woodstock, Georgia on Saturday (Sept. 10) at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Ampitheater as part of the city’s Woodstock Concert Series.  It was the largest concert attendance in the amphitheater’s 20 year history. As part of the show, McCreery sang his five consecutive #1 hits, including his three week #1 smash “Damn Strait.”  He also performed his new single, “It Matters to Hear,” which was just released to country radio. Both songs are on his Same Truck album.

Photo credit: Colton Bowman