When "CNN Travel Insider” decided to visit Raleigh, North Carolina, the producers knew exactly the person to ask for an insider’s tour: native son Scotty McCreery. The Platinum-selling country music artist was happy to oblige, and took a brief break from the recording studio, where he has been working on his upcoming album with producer Frank Rogers, in order to show off his city. Now, viewers can learn about several of McCreery’s favorite Raleigh places when the “CNN Travel Insider” segment airs on CNN this Thursday, July 30 during the 10:00-11:00 AM/ET period. The segment will re-air on Saturday, August 1 during the 12:00-1:00 PM/ET period and Sunday, August 2 during the 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM/ET period. (Please note, breaking news could bump the “CNN Travel Insider” segment to another time period).
 
McCreery took the CNN crew to Pullen Park, the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the United States and the 16th oldest in the world. While there, the ACM Award winner took a ride on both the more-than-one-hundred-years-old Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the C.P. Huntington Miniature Train.  Later in the day the former high school baseball pitcher brought the television crew to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, spotlighting many of the state’s nationally known professional and college athletes. During the evening, the singer/songwriter gave the crew a tour of the iconic The Angus Barn restaurant, winner of more than 200 prestigious awards including 21 Wine Spectator Magazine Grand Awards.
 
The Mercury Nashville / 19 / Interscope Records recording artist is currently working on his next album. He scored two consecutive Top 10 hits (“See You Tonight” and “Feelin’ It”) from his sophomore album See You Tonight, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. That album’s title song, co-written by the singer, was one of three singles from the “American Idol” champion that were certified Platinum by the RIAA in the same week (the other two being “The Trouble with Girls” and “I Love You This Big” from his Platinum-certified first album Clear as Day, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart). The ACM, CMT Music, ACA, and ICM Award winner is the Special Guest on the Rascal Flatts RIOT 2015 Tour this summer, and will be performing with them at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on July 31; Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ on August 1; and the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA on Aug. 2. For more information and additional tour dates, visit www.scottymccreery.com.

Mercury Nashville / 19 / Interscope Records artist Scotty McCreery invited “CMT Hot 20 Countdown” to join him in Fort Worth, Texas last weekend for a behind-the-scenes look at his performance at the legendary Billy Bob’s Texas, the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk.  CMT’s cameras captured a day in the life of the dynamic singer/songwriter as he rehearsed at soundcheck, hung out with his band members, met with his fans, performed live in concert, and much more.

Catch this backstage glimpse into McCreery’s life-on-the-road during “CMT Hot 20 Countdown” THIS weekend when the show airs on Saturday (Jan. 17) and Sunday (Jan. 18), at 9:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM CT on both days.  

McCreery recently scored his second consecutive Top 10 hit, “Feelin’ It” from his sophomore album See You Tonight, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. That album’s title song, a top 10 hit co-written by the singer, was one of three singles from the “American Idol” champion that were recently certified Platinum by the RIAA in the same week (the other two being “The Trouble with Girls” and “I Love You This Big” from his Platinum-certified first album Clear as Day, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart). The ACM, CMT Music, ACA, and ICM Award winner was recently ranked No. 2 on Country Weekly’s “2014 Country’s Sexiest Men Poll.” McCreery returns to the road next week when he performs in Charlottesville, VA on Jan. 23; Emporia, VA on Jan. 24; and Newport News, VA on Jan. 25. For more information and additional tour dates, visit www.ScottyMcCreery.com.   

Check out this great photo from backstage at the #ACCAwards.  Courtesy of People.com.

Tonight is the night!  The #ACCAwards are tonight! Tune in at 8pm on FOX