Tag Archives: Brad Paisley

Gomez Takes Home Three Surfboards at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards

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Selena Gomez is celebrating a quinceañera of sorts…

The 24-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress was one of the big winners at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards, picking up three of the iconic surfboard trophies.

Selena Gomez

Gomez won in the Choice Female Artist, Choice Summer Music Star: Female and Choice Instagrammer categories, raising her overall Teen Choice Awards career haul to 15.

Gomez, currently on the road for her Revival Tour, sent in a video message thanking fans for her latest awards.

But Gomez wasn’t the only three-time winner…

Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello and Ally Brooke Hernandez and their fellow Fifth Harmony members also took home three surfboards, doubling their career haul to six TCAs.

The all-girl group won in the Social Media Queen, Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show for “I’m In Love with A Monster” from Hotel Transylvania 2, and Choice Summer Song for Fifth Harmony’s first-ever Top 10 hit “Work from Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign.

Demi Lovato, a 14-time TCA winner, picked up her first in a country category.

The 23-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress won the award for Choice Country Song for “Without a Fight,” her collaboration with country star Brad Paisley.

Twin sisters Brie and Nikki Bella, best known as the Bella Twins, were named the winners in the Choice Female Athlete category.

Internet star and fashionista Bethany Mota took home the award for Choice Web Star: Fashion, while Once Upon a Time star Lana Parrilla was named Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

Hosted by John Cena and Victoria Justice, the 2016 Teen Choice Awards were broadcast live on Fox.

Here’s the full list of winners:

MOVIES

Choice Movie: Action/Adventure (#ChoiceActionMovie)
“Deadpool”
Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure (#ChoiceActionMovieActor)
Dylan O’Brien, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”
Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure (#ChoiceActionMovieActress)
Shailene Woodley, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant”
Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiMovie)
“Captain America: Civil War”
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiMovieActor)
Chris Evans, “Captain America: Civil War”
Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiMovieActress)
Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”
Choice Movie: Drama (#ChoiceDramaMovie)
“Miracles from Heaven”
Choice Movie Actor: Drama (#ChoiceDramaMovieActor)
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
Choice Movie Actress: Drama (#ChoiceDramaMovieActress)
Jennifer Lawrence, “Joy”
Choice Movie: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyMovie)
“Ride Along 2”
Choice Movie Actor: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyMovieActor)
Zac Efron, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”
Choice Movie Actress: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyMovieActress)
Chloë Grace Moretz, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”
Choice Movie Villain (#ChoiceMovieVillain)
Adam Driver, “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”
Choice Movie Scene Stealer (#ChoiceMovieSceneStealer)
Jena Malone, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”
Choice Movie Breakout Star (#ChoiceMovieBreakoutStar)
Daisy Ridley, “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”
Choice Movie Chemistry (#ChoiceMovieChemistry)
Thomas Brodie-Sangster & Dylan O’Brien, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”
Choice Movie Liplock (#ChoiceMovieLiplock)
Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”
Choice Movie Hissy Fit (#ChoiceMovieHissyFit)
Ryan Reynolds, “Deadpool”
Choice Summer Movie (#ChoiceSummerMovie)
“Finding Dory”
Choice Summer Movie Actor (#ChoiceSummerMovieActor)
Kevin Hart, “Central Intelligence”
Choice Summer Movie Actress (#ChoiceSummerMovieActress)
Ellen DeGeneres, “Finding Dory”
Choice AnTEENcipated Movie (#ChoiceAnTEENcipatedMovie)
“Suicide Squad”
Choice AnTEENcipated Movie Actor (#ChoiceAnTEENcipatedMovieActor)
Dylan O’Brien, “Deepwater Horizon”
Choice AnTEENcipated Movie Actress (#ChoiceAnTEENcipatedMovieActress)
Cara Delevingne, “Suicide Squad”

TELEVISION

Choice TV Show: Drama (#ChoiceDramaTVShow)
“Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Actor: Drama (#ChoiceDramaTVActor)
Ian Harding, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Actress: Drama (#ChoiceDramaTVActress)
Ashley Benson, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Show: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiTVShow)
“Once Upon a Time”
Choice TV Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiTVActor)
Grant Gustin, “The Flash”
Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (#ChoiceSciFiTVActress)
Lana Parrilla, “Once Upon a Time”
Choice TV Show: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyTVShow)
“Fuller House”
Choice TV Actor: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyTVActor)
Ross Lynch, “Austin & Ally”
Choice TV Actress: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyTVActress)
Candace Cameron Bure, “Fuller House”
Choice TV: Animated Show (#ChoiceAnimatedTVShow)
“Family Guy”
Choice TV: Reality Show (#ChoiceRealityTVShow)
“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”
Choice TV Villain (#ChoiceTVVillain)
Janel Parrish, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV: Scene Stealer (#ChoiceTVSceneStealer)
Sasha Pieterse, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV: Breakout Star (#ChoiceTVBreakoutStar)
Matthew Daddario, “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments”
Choice TV: Breakout Show (#ChoiceTVBreakoutShow)
“Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments”
Choice TV: Chemistry (#ChoiceTVChemistry)
Ashley Benson & Tyler Blackburn, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV: Liplock (#ChoiceTVLiplock)
Jennifer Morrison & Colin O’Donoghue, “Once Upon A Time”
Choice Summer TV Show (#ChoiceSummerTVShow)
“Teen Wolf”
Choice Summer TV Actor (#ChoiceSummerTVActor)
Dylan O’Brien, “Teen Wolf”
Choice Summer TV Actress (#ChoiceSummerTVActress)
Shelley Hennig, “Teen Wolf”

MUSIC

Choice Male Artist (#ChoiceMaleArtist)
Justin Bieber
Choice Female Artist (#ChoiceFemaleArtist)
Selena Gomez
Choice Music Group: (#ChoiceMusicGroup)
One Direction
Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Artist (#ChoiceRBHipHopArtist)
Beyoncé
Choice Country Artist (#ChoiceCountryArtist)
Carrie Underwood
Choice Song: Female Artist (#ChoiceSongFemaleArtist)
Ariana Grande, “Dangerous Woman”
Choice Song: Male Artist (#ChoiceSongMaleArtist)
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Choice Song: Group (#ChoiceSongGroup)
One Direction, “Home”
Choice Country Song (#ChoiceCountrySong)
Brad Paisley feat. Demi Lovato, “Without a Fight”
Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song (#ChoiceRBHipHopSong)
Drake, “One Dance” (feat. Wizkid & Kyla)
Choice Rock Song (#ChoiceRockSong)
5 Seconds of Summer, “Jet Black Heart”
Choice Love Song (#ChoiceLoveSong)
One Direction, “Perfect”
Choice Break-Up Song (#ChoiceBreakupSong)
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
Choice Party Song (#ChoicePartySong)
DNCE, “Cake by the Ocean”
Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show (#ChoiceMovieTVSong)
Fifth Harmony, “I’m In Love with A Monster” (“Hotel Transylvania 2”)
Choice Music Breakout Artist (#ChoiceMusicBreakoutArtist)
Zayn
Choice Music: Next Big Thing (#ChoiceMusicNextBigThing)
Hey Violet
Choice Summer Song (#ChoiceSummerSong)
Fifth Harmony, “Work from Home” (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
Choice Summer Music Star: Female (#ChoiceSummerMusicStarFemale)
Selena Gomez
Choice Summer Music Star: Male (#ChoiceSummerMusicStarMale)
Zayn
Choice Summer Music Star: Group (#ChoiceSummerMusicStarGroup)
5 Seconds of Summer
Choice Summer Tour (#ChoiceSummerTour)
5 Seconds of Summer, “Sounds Live Feels Live Tour”
Choice Music: International Artist (#ChoiceInternationalArtist)
Little Mix

WEB/DIGITAL

Choice Web Star: Female (#ChoiceFemaleWebStar)
Lilly Singh (“IISuperwomanII”)
Choice Web Star: Male (#ChoiceMaleWebStar)
Dolan Twins
Choice Web Star: Comedy (#ChoiceComedyWebStar)
Lilly Singh (“IISuperwomanII”)
Choice Web Star: Music (#ChoiceMusicWebStar)
Christina Grimmie
Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty (#ChoiceBeautyWebStar)
Bethany Mota
Social Media King (#SocialMediaKing)
Cameron Dallas
Social Media Queen (#SocialMediaQueen)
Fifth Harmony
Choice Twit (#ChoiceTwit)
Justin Bieber
Choice Viner (#ChoiceViner)
Lele Pons
Choice Instagrammer (#ChoiceInstagrammer)
Selena Gomez
Choice Snapchatter (#ChoiceSnapchatter)
Kylie Jenner
Choice YouTuber (#ChoiceYouTuber)
Dolan Twins
Choice Muser (#ChoiceMuser)
Baby Ariel
Choice Fandom (#ChoiceFandom)
One Direction, #Directioners

FASHION

Choice Female Hottie (#ChoiceFemaleHottie)
Kendall Jenner
Choice Male Hottie (#ChoiceMaleHottie)
Harry Styles
Choice Style: Male (#ChoiceStyleMale)
Nick Jonas
Choice Style: Female (#ChoiceStyleFemale)
Zendaya

SPORTS

Choice Male Athlete (#ChoiceMaleAthlete)
Stephen Curry
Choice Female Athlete (#ChoiceFemaleAthlete)
The Bella Twins
Choice Sports Team (#ChoiceSportsTeam)
U.S.A. 2016 Olympic Team

OTHER

Choice Comedian (#ChoiceComedian)
Ellen DeGeneres
Choice Selfie Taker (#ChoiceSelfieTaker)
Ariana Grande
Choice Dancer (#ChoiceDancer)
Maddie Ziegler
Choice Model (#ChoiceModel)
Kendall Jenner
Choice President (#ChoicePresident)
Hillary Clinton

Lovato Performs “Stone Cold” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

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Demi Lovato is a stone cold fox…

The 23-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress hit the stage alongside country music star Brad Paisley at Sunday’s iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Demi Lovato & Brad Paisley

The singer was nominated twice, including for Best Cover Song.

Lovato performed her latest single from her new album “Stone Cold,” joined by Paisley on guitar, during the show airing live on TBS, TNT and truTV from the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

“Stone Cold” is the third single from Lovato’s fifth album, Confident, which was released in October 2015. It follows chart-topping lead single “Cool for the Summer” and the title track “Confident.”

Gomez to Serve as an Advisor on NBC’s “The Voice”

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Selena Gomez is heading to The Voice…

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress will help out aspiring vocalists on the upcoming season of NBC’s reality singing competition as an advisor on coach Gwen Stefani‘s team.

Gwen Stefani & Selena Gomez

People reports that the former Disney Channel star will be making her reality television debut on the show alongside fellow guest advisors Rihanna and Brad Paisley.

“I’m learning a lot being here. I’ve been in a transition period with my music, so it is, like [Gwen Stefani] said, inspiring,” she told Access Hollywood.

Gomez is preparing to release her next album, Revival, in October.

Pentatonix Among 50 Acts to Be Honored at the 2015 YouTube Music Awards

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There’s no doubt Kirstie Maldonado is YouTube sensation… After all, the video for Pentatonix’ Grammy-winning “Daft Punk” single has garnered more than 122-million views alone.

And now the 22-year-old half-Mexican/part-Spanish singer and her Pentatonix band mates are being recognized for their online success.

Pentatonix

Pentatonix, which had the best-selling album by a group last year, is one of 50 acts that will be feted during this year’s YouTube Music Awards.

The platform noted that the winners were “chosen by the fans” as they “showed the biggest growth in views, subscribers and engagement over the last six months on YouTube.”

Collectively, the winners – which include Fifth Harmony, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Sia, Pharrell Williams, Brad Paisley, Tori Kelly and Katy Perry — have over 146 million subscribers and 44 billion lifetime views.

To celebrate the winners, the ceremony on March 23 will comprise of premiering a slew of new Vice-produced music videos by Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Martin Garrix, Cahoots, Max Schneider, Migos, Megan Nicole, Nicky Jam and Shamir, among others.

The move follows the platform’s first-ever YouTube Music Awards in 2013, which streamed live from New York City’s Pier 36. Jason Schwartzman and comedian Reggie Watts co-hosted, while Spike Jonze oversaw the creative direction of the ceremony, which also featured the production of live music videos by Lindsay Sterling, Avicii and Arcade Fire.

McCreery Named to Forbes’ Top-Earning American Idols List

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Scotty McCreery is the Three Million Dollar Man…

The 20-year-old part-Puerto Rican country singer and former American Idol champion has earned a spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of the Top-Earning American Idols.

Scotty McCreery

McCreery comes in at No. 6 on the list, raking in $3 million dollars.

“Still not old enough to drink legally and not quite three years removed from his Idol win, McCreery is already making a name for himself as a solo act,” states the magazine’s description of McCreery. “His debut album, Clear As Day, sold over 1 million copies; on the road, he opened for Brad Paisley before launching a solo tour in 2013.”

Forbes determined this year’s Top-Earning list by calculating pretax earnings from June 2012 through June 2013 “with the help of data from Pollstar Pro, the RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan as wells industry veterans, the musicians’ handlers and some of the artists themselves.”

Carrie Underwood, who raked in approximately $31 million, comes in No. 1 on the list. Over the past five years, Forbes estimates that she has earned $83 million.

Here’s the complete list:

1. Carrie Underwood, $31 million
2. Kelly Clarkson, $7 million
3. Phillip Phillips, $5 million
3. Adam Lambert, $5 million
5. Chris Daughtry, $4 million
6. Scotty McCreery $3 million
7. Taylor Hicks, $2.5 million
8. Fantasia Barrino, $1.5 million
8. Kellie Pickler, $1.5 million
10. Katharine McPhee, $1 million
10. Jennifer Hudson, $1 million

Lovato Wins Two People’s Choice Awards

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Demi Lovato is the People’s Latina princess…

The 21-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress, who starred in the Disney Channel’s original movie Princess Protection Program, earned two trophies at Wednesday’s People’s Choice Awards.

Demi Lovato

Lovato took home the awards for Favorite Female Artist in the music category, beating out Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and P!nk.

The former The X Factor judge also won the award for Favorite Music Fan Following. Lovato’s Lovatics beat out Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, Katy Perry’s KatyCats, One Direction’s Directioners and Britney Spears’ Britney Army.

Lovato’s double put her in great company. The “Heart Attack” singer, Sandra Bullock, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake were the only artists to garner more than one award.

Meanwhile, Glee’s Latina stars Naya Rivera and Lea Michele’s charcaters Rachel and Santana were declared Favorite TV Gal Pals.

Fans cast more than 700 million votes to pick the winners.

Two Broke Girls actresses Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs hosted the show, and Sara Bareilles, OneRepublic and Brad Paisley performed.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Movie actress: Sandra Bullock
Album: The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake
Daytime TV host: Ellen DeGeneres
New talk-show host: Queen Latifah
Competition TV show: The Voice
Comedic movie actor: Adam Sandler
Network TV drama: The Good Wife
Comedic movie: The Heat
On-screen chemistry: Ian Somerhalder (Damon) and Nina Dobrev (Elena), The Vampire Diaries
Pop artist: Britney Spears
Comedic TV actress: Kaley Cuoco
Comedic TV actor: Chris Colfer
Dramatic TV actor: Josh Charles
Cable TV drama: The Walking Dead
Action movie star: Robert Downey Jr.
Comedic movie actress: Sandra Bullock
Actor in a new TV series: Joseph Morgan
Late-night talk show host: Stephen Colbert
Humanitarian: Jennifer Hudson
Actress in a new TV series: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Network TV comedy: The Big Bang Theory
Sci-fi/fantasy TV actor: Ian Somerhalder
Cable TV actress: Lucy Hale
Streaming series: Orange Is the New Black
Movie: Iron Man 3
Movie actor: Johnny Depp
Movie duo: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (Gravity)
Action movie: Iron Man 3
Dramatic movie: Gravity
Dramatic movie actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
Dramatic movie actress: Sandra Bullock
Family movie: Despicable Me 2
Horror movie: Carrie
Thriller movie: Now You See Me
Favorite year end movie: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Dramatic TV actress: Stana Katic
TV crime drama: Castle
Cable TV comedy: Psych
Premium cable TV show: Homeland
TV anti-hero: Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), The Walking Dead
Sci-fi/fantasy TV show: Beauty and the Beast
Sci-fi/fantasy TV actress: Kristin Kreuk
New TV comedy: Super Fun Night
New TV drama: Reign
TV bromance: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins (Sam, Dean and Castiel), Supernatural
TV gal pals: Naya Rivera and Lea Michele (Santana and Rachel), Glee
TV movie/mini-series: American Horror Story
Series we miss most: Breaking Bad
Male artist: Justin Timberlake
Female artist: Demi Lovato
Breakout artist: Ariana Grande
Country artist: Taylor Swift
Country music icon: Tim McGraw
Hip-hop artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
R&B artist: Justin Timberlake
Band: One Direction
Alternative band: Fall Out Boy
Song: Roar, Katy Perry
Music fan following: Lovatics (Demi Lovato fans)
Music video: Roar, Katy Perry

Pitbull to be Featured on “E!’s Inside Track Summer Concert Series”

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If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like for musicians like Pitbull on the road, you’re in luck.

E! will be taking viewers inside some of the summer’s biggest concert tours, including the 32-year-old Cuban American rap artist’s tour with Ke$ha.

Pitbull

The cable network will launch E!’s Inside Track Summer Concert Series as a regular part of E! News. The special collaboration with Live Nation will offer viewers a window into the life of some of the day’s biggest musical acts.

The Summer Concert Series will kick off June 21 at 7 p.m. with footage from Pitbull and Ke$ha’s Detroit concert and feature performances from Brad Paisley in Tampa, Jonas Brothers (Chicago),  Backstreet Boys (Chicago), New Kids on the Block (Detroit), Big Time Rush (Phoenix) plus Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls (St. Louis).

“E! thrives in the music space, and we’re excited to team up with Live Nation in a unique way that takes the summer concert series to a whole new level,” said Cyndi McClellan, president of network strategy and E! News. “Not only will viewers see their favorite music megastars taking the stage, we’re also serving the super fan with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to these performers.”

Each segment will showcase an exclusive interview, behind-the-scenes access to the prep work that goes into the tour, tour bus access, meet and greets with fans and concert footage. Additional features from the shows, as well as the opportunity to win tickets from Live Nation, will be available on E!’s website.

McCreery: A Top-Earning “American Idol”

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He’s only been part of American Idol history for less than two years, but Scotty McCreery is already one of the Fox reality singing competition’s top-earners.

The 19-year-old part-Puerto Rican country crooner, the season 10 winner, claimed the No. 3 spot on Forbes’ list of Top-Earning American Idols for 2012 with $4 million.

Scotty McCreery

McCreery, who ranks behind Kelly Clarkson with $8 million and Carrie Underwood with $5 million during the scoring period (May 2011 through May 2012), has been on a roll since receiving a $250,000 record deal as part of his Idol victory in May 2011.

The CMT Award-winner and Academy of Country Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year surpassed expectations with his debut album, Clear As Day, which sold more than 1 million copies. And the North Carolina native took advantage by hitting the road last year, opening for Brad Paisley.

So what’s next for McCreery? A solo tour and a new album later this year, all while continuing his college education.

“It’s meant everything,” says McCreery of the show. “I didn’t have a career before, so it was the starting point for my career and it got me going. … They reach like 16 million fans on a bad night.”

McCreery’s Post Tour Plans: High School Baseball

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He may be the American Country Awards’ reigning New Artist of the Year, but Scotty McCreery is still a regular high school senior. And, he’s planning to play ball after his stint on Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality tour.

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican country singer will be heading back to his native North Carolina to play baseball for his high school in Garner. And, even though he’s an American Idol champion and has sold more than a million copies of his debut album, McCreery isn’t getting any special treatment from his coach.

Scotty McCreery

“Singing don’t really mean you can really play ball well,” he recently admitted to ABC News Radio. “So, they had to see if I had a little something left in me.”

But McCreery doesn’t think that’s the only challenge he’ll face on the field.

“I have a feeling it’s gonna be rough,” he admits. “I’m a pitcher, so I have a feeling when I get on the mound, guys are gonna be taunting me. I’m just gonna blow it off and strike ’em out!”

Unfortunately, the rising country star has to miss the first games of the season as he concludes his touring commitment, but he’s happy that everyone is working with his schedule.

“I enjoy high school, I enjoy being there with my friends and getting to hang out,” he explains to BlogCritics.org. “But I also enjoy the music and getting out here with the fans and singing a lot. It’s really cool for me to be able to do both. It’s been a fairly nice balance with schoolwork and being on the road. We’ve made it work.”

It’s good that McCreery is learning how to find a balance between his singing career and his academics, since he plans to attend college in the fall.

“That’s going to be another monster,” he tells Nashville’s Tennessean newspaper. “But we’re going to figure out a way to do [it]. It might take me 50 years to get a degree, but I want to get there and go to college.”

The singer has already been accepted to East Carolina, with applications still out to North Carolina State, Belmont University and Middle Tennessee State University.

“In the music business today, you’ll be around and in a few months everybody forgets about you,” he continues. “I want an education to lean back on.”

Scotty’s run on the Virtual Reality tour comes to an end on March 3 in Lexington, Kentucky.

McCreery’s Debut Album Certified Platinum

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Scotty McCreery is starting the New Year on a high note…

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican country singer’s debut album Clear As Day has been officially certified platinum, with sales of more than one million copies just three months after its release. McCreery’s CD now ranks as one of the highest selling debuts from an American Idol contestant.

Scotty McCreery

In addition, Billboard magazine named the American Idol champion the Top New Country Artist for 2011, in addition to winning New Artist of the Year at the American Country Awards in December.

“It means the world to me,” said McCreery, who was recently named New Artist of the Year at the American Country Awards, in a press release. “It’s one of the highest honors you can get with your album and it’s a huge testament to the loyalty of country music fans and how great they have been to me this year. 2011 was absolutely an incredible, life-changing year for me. I want to say a huge thanks to the fans for this.”

Grabbing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts makes McCreery the youngest male in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. Clear As Day also garnered the highest sales of any country solo album released last year and held steady in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks.

“Never in a million years did I dream that the album would go platinum,” the singer added. “It’s wild! It’s going to take me a few months or years to really wrap my head around it.”

Meanwhile, McCreery is preparing for his first country music tour, “Virtual Reality Tour 2012,” in Grand Rapids, Mich. The newcomer will serve as one of the opening acts for superstar Brad Paisley, along with The Band Perry.

“I’m looking forward to having a great time,” said McCreery of the tour. “It’s going to be a fun, jam-packed set.”