Scotty McCreery’s new “Southern Belle” music video cast cheerleaders to be front and center, but the American Idol season 10 winner knew he didn’t want them to come off as gratuitous eye candy. Instead, he wanted to highlight their skill and athleticism.
“Obviously they’re pretty and everything, which is awesome, but it’s showcasing how strong they are,” Scotty told Rolling Stone Country of the women cast in the video, members of the cheerleading squads from Nashville’s Belmont and Lipscomb Universities. “Anyone who doesn’t think cheerleading is a sport, I laugh. I played baseball my whole life and I couldn’t flip or twirl.”
Scotty’s 3rd studio album is due out next year. “We should have had another single before ‘Southern Belle’ to bridge that gap,” Scotty said. “Feels a lot longer to the fans than it does to me. This was the way I wanted to make the album, take time to make sure it’s right. We had some success last time, but I’m not content with that. I want some Number Ones, and that starts with the music, and I want to make sure it’s right on my end. I’ve been writing a lot more and that takes a while.”
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“There’s a lot to women, I’m finding out through my girlfriend, through all kinds of folks,” the singer told RS. Scotty and Gabi Dugal have been together for several years. She has appeared in videos for “The Trouble With Girls” and “Feelin’ It,” but the couple are keeping it low key. “She kind of keeps to herself. She’s very independent,” he said. “I’m not saying she wouldn’t do [the red carpet]. If we get married or something, she’ll do it.”
Watch Scotty McCreery’s “Southern Belle” music video here.