Seele Review- Scotty McCreery's "Go Big Or Go Home"

Season 10 American Idol winner, Scotty McCreery has written a new book, Go Big or Go Home. His first album in 2011 Clear as Day went platinum in the United States, and a year later his Christmas album, Christmas with Scotty McCreery went gold. And in 2013, McCreery released a third album, See You Tonight, where the song “See You Tonight” reached the top ten on Country Music’s Billboard charts. In his new book McCreery shares his experiences from American Idol to stardom, from 16 to 22 years old, from being a teenager to growing and maturing into his early 20s.

Humility. Genuine. Open. Southern. These are the four worlds that I’d use to describe Scotty McCreery’s new book Go Big or Go Home. For the person born a Southerner, but who is living outside of that culture, reading “Go Big or Go Home” will be like going home, but in 250 pages. It’s easy to fall back into Southern American culture- the laidback life of the South and the Southern mindset when reading McCreery’s travelogue. He’s clear that Go Big or Go Home. is not an autobiography, but a story of his experiences from childhood to Country Music star.

This travelogue is humble, genuine and open because Scotty McCreery comes off this way in the 250 pages.  He’s personable in describing his family and he’s open in walking the reader through his childhood, to Clayton Idol, to the American Idol auditions, to American Idol itself and the finale, to being an actual businessman touring the open road with his band.

McCreery opens up in describing his love of music from an early age and his music idol, Elvis Pressley. Music and baseball are his first loves and it really comes out in the book, but there’s something different about him, even with the written word. It’s not fame that drives McCreery; it’s being himself, which is genuinely loving music, singing, and touching people. He states on page 33 of the book: “The legend doesn’t begin when you first step into that studio; it starts by being yourself and giving it a shot and letting the rest of the world decide the sort of story they want to tell about you.”

He also opens up about his spiritual idol, Jesus. His Christian walk with Christ is what fuels him, his church life in Garner, North Carolina (USA) grounds him, and it’s the Holy Spirit that guides him. He describes in the book the conviction he felt when he didn’t speak up and come to the defense of fellow Idol contestant, Jaycee Badeaux. McCreery describes the decision he had to make in standing his ground not to sing a song he thought would send the wrong message to his fans and one that was did not represent Jesus, on a live episode of American Idol, even if that meant he would not sing on the show that night.

McCreery goes on to talk about how he has had to deal with criticism, but that The Bible is his source of strength and guidance. For the Christian reading, the spiritual parts of the book will be familiar.

In Go Big or Go Home the reader will also read about the challenges of being an entertainer. McCreery opens up about the challenges of balancing and finishing up his high school, singing, and baseball careers. The reader will find out how he had to deal with adult decisions from hiring a team of people to keep his music business running; to being sued by his former manager; and to being robbed at gunpoint in his own home.

Although Go Big or Go Home is a travelogue, it is a book that offers perspective. The reminder that there are entertainers out there, like McCreery, who love their craft and aren’t in it for the fame, make the book a soothing read. It has been said, “To whom much is given, much is required,” and McCreery strives to live up to this. His stories will feel like home to those who are from small close-knit towns. I highly recommend it, as it will keep the reader engaged in its tone, reminding people of the importance of being humble, genuine, and open to inspire those around you.