In the heart of Garner, North Carolina, where the air still carries the faint scent of pine and barbecue from Scotty McCreery’s childhood haunts, a new chapter of family bliss unfolded on September 18, 2025. The country music sensation, whose gravelly timbre has tugged at heartstrings with anthems of love and loss since his American Idol triumph 14 years ago, became a father for the second time. Alongside his wife of seven years, Gabi Dugal McCreery, the 31-year-old singer welcomed son Oliver Cooke McCreery into the world—a robust 6-pound, 2-ounce bundle measuring 19 inches long, arriving six weeks ahead of his anticipated November debut. In a tender Instagram carousel that flooded fans’ feeds on September 23, Scotty shared the first glimpses of their newest addition, captioning the post with words that captured the whirlwind of instant adoration: “Oliver Cooke McCreery joined our family on September 18th 🥹🩵. Can’t imagine life without him—we love him so much.”

The announcement, a mosaic of soft-lit snapshots from WakeMed Raleigh’s neonatal wing, painted an intimate portrait of new-parent euphoria. One photo captured Scotty, his signature baseball cap tilted back, cradling Oliver’s swaddled form against his broad chest, eyes crinkled in that signature McCreery grin—half cowboy charm, half sleep-deprived dad. Another showed Gabi, her nurse’s poise unbroken even in postpartum glow, nestling the baby close while their 2-year-old son, Merrick Avery (affectionately called Avery), peered in with wide-eyed curiosity, one chubby hand tentatively touching his brother’s tiny fingers. A third image froze a family-of-four tableau: the McCreerys bundled on a hospital couch amid a sea of blue balloons and stuffed Pooh bears, the nursery theme they’d lovingly prepped now a reality. “From the moment he cried that first cry, it was like our world clicked into sharper focus,” Scotty told PEOPLE in an exclusive follow-up interview, his voice thick with emotion. “Gabi was a champ through it all—the delivery, the early scares—and now? This little guy has us wrapped around his itty-bitty finger.”

Oliver’s premature entrance was a plot twist in a year already brimming with milestones for the McCreery clan. Back in May, the couple had dropped jaws with a pregnancy reveal that blended whimsy and warmth, posting a video montage of Gabi’s February positive test, grainy ultrasounds, and Avery “assisting” with crib assembly—his toy hammer pounding away with toddler gusto. Dressed in a navy “Big Brother” sweatshirt, the preschooler stole the show, prompting Scotty to quip, “Avery’s already negotiating playtime slots for his ‘new best friend’ this fall! 💙💙.” The clip, set to the gentle strum of Scotty’s acoustic guitar, chronicled the joys of preparation: painting the nursery in sunny yellows with Winnie the Pooh accents (Avery’s favorite), folding stacks of onesies, and late-night heart-to-hearts about expanding their tight-knit trio. “To me, the video shows off how much of a rock star Gabi was during her pregnancy,” Scotty reflected at the time. “She’s out there working shifts at the hospital, chasing a wild toddler, and still finding time to dream up lullabies for baby number two.”

What the reveal didn’t disclose was the gender—a deliberate secret to heighten the surprise. “We wanted that old-school magic, you know? No pink or blue parties, just us and the envelope,” Gabi explained in a pre-birth podcast appearance on The McCreery Sessions. As a labor and delivery nurse at Duke University Hospital, she approached the pregnancy with clinical calm laced with excitement, monitoring every kick and craving (pickles and peanut butter, apparently). Scotty, ever the doting partner, balanced studio sessions for his upcoming Scooter & Friends EP—a soulful collection of duets featuring legends like Charlie Wilson—with daddy duties, from playground push swings to impromptu living-room concerts where Avery banged on a toy drum set. The couple’s May post amassed over 500,000 likes, with fans flooding the comments: “Another mini-Scotty? Country music’s future is secure!” and “Gabi, you’re glowing brighter than a sold-out Bridgestone Arena.”

Fast-forward to that fateful Thursday in September, and the McCreery home— a sprawling ranch-style haven on the outskirts of Raleigh, complete with a home studio and backyard fire pit for songwriting sessions—transformed into a NICU vigil turned victory lap. Labor kicked off unexpectedly at 34 weeks, with Gabi waking to mild contractions around 4 a.m. “I thought it was Braxton Hicks at first—I’ve seen enough false alarms at work,” she recounted with a laugh. But by dawn, things escalated, and the couple raced to WakeMed, where Gabi’s colleagues sprang into action. Scotty, white-knuckling the steering wheel of their black Ford F-150, later joked, “I was humming ‘Five More Minutes’ the whole drive, bargaining with the universe for just a little more time.” Avery, mercifully, bunked with grandparents, armed with a backpack of trucks and promises of “baby brother stories” upon return.

The delivery room buzzed with controlled urgency. Oliver emerged at 10:47 a.m. after a swift C-section—Gabi’s second, a precautionary measure given the prematurity—his lusty wails echoing like a tiny country ballad’s chorus. “He came out swinging, eyes open like he owned the place,” Scotty beamed, describing the instant skin-to-skin contact that melted away the worry. Weighing in at 6 pounds even, with a tuft of dark hair mirroring his big brother’s, Oliver needed a brief stint under warming lights for respiratory support—a standard protocol for early arrivals. But within 48 hours, he was off monitors, nursing like a champ, and charming the nursing staff with his alert gaze. “These nurses are family now,” Gabi said, crediting the team’s expertise. “They let me advocate, held my hand, and made sure our boy was strong enough for home.”

The name Oliver Cooke carried layers of legacy, a deliberate echo of Scotty’s roots. Cooke, his middle name, honors his paternal grandfather, a stoic tobacco farmer from Bishopville, South Carolina, whose tales of hard-knock wisdom shaped the singer’s songwriting ethos. “Granddaddy Cooke taught me that real strength is quiet—like plowing a field at dawn without complaint,” Scotty shared in a Taste of Country profile. Oliver, meanwhile, evokes olive branches of peace and resilience, fitting for a family that’s weathered Idol fame’s glare and the tender vulnerabilities of parenthood. Avery’s full name, Merrick Avery McCreery, nods to Gabi’s father, Merrick Dugal III, blending their lineages in a tapestry of Southern heritage. “Names aren’t just labels; they’re stories we carry forward,” Scotty mused. And in a nod to Avery’s infamous naming escapades—his adamant push for “Bo Berry” after his favorite Bojangles’ biscuit—the couple slipped a playful “so berry much” into Gabi’s caption, complete with a blueberry emoji, delighting fans who’d followed the toddler’s quirky campaign all summer.

The homecoming on September 21 was pure poetry: a convoy of balloons bobbing from the car seat as the family crossed their threshold, greeted by a banner strung by Scotty’s mom, Judy. Avery, initially tentative, warmed quickly, bestowing “kisses” on Oliver’s forehead and declaring him “my truck buddy.” The living room, once a solo jam space for Scotty’s gold records and guitars, now hummed with double the diapers and double the delight. Gabi, on a brief maternity leave, orchestrated the transition with her trademark efficiency—rotating feeds, soothing colic with white noise machines tuned to ocean waves (a trick from her nursing toolkit), and enlisting Scotty for midnight rockings. “Fatherhood round two? It’s like upgrading from a duet to a full band,” he laughed during a FaceTime with American Idol alum Lauren Alaina. “Avery’s the lead guitarist—loud and full of riffs—while Ollie’s on bass, steady and deep.”

Scotty’s music, ever intertwined with his personal narrative, found fresh inspiration in the chaos. His 2024 album Rise & Fall already delved into paternal themes—”It Matters to Her,” with its music video chronicling Avery’s first year, remains a fan favorite—but Oliver’s arrival amplified the muse. “This little one’s got me jotting lyrics at 3 a.m.,” he revealed, strumming a half-formed melody about “tiny hands holding bigger dreams.” Pausing his solo tour for family focus, Scotty’s next gig is the November co-headline run with Dustin Lynch, the Same Truck Tour, where he’ll weave tales of tandem bottles and big-brother bonds into his set. “Fans ask about the boys all the time,” he said. “Now, I’ll have stories for days—how Avery ‘sang’ Oliver to sleep with truck noises last night.”

The outpouring of love from Nashville’s tight-knit community underscored the McCreerys’ status as relatable royalty. Fellow parents like Thomas Rhett (dad to three girls and a boy in 2025) and HARDY (welcoming his second) flooded the comments with emojis and anecdotes: “Brotherhood just leveled up—proud of y’all!” from Rhett. Chris Lane, another 2025 baby daddy, quipped, “Stock up on coffee, brother—it’s a beautiful ride.” Even Post Malone, Scotty’s collaborator on the chart-climbing “Pour Me a Drink,” chimed in with a simple “Congrats, family man. Beers on me when you’re back in the studio.” Social media lit up with #McCreeryBaby2, fans sharing their own preemie triumphs and photoshopping Oliver into album art as a future chart-topper.

Yet beneath the celebrations lies a poignant reminder of life’s fragility. Prematurity affects one in 10 U.S. births, and the McCreerys’ smooth sail highlights the strides in neonatal care—thanks in part to advocates like Gabi, whose hospital shifts fundraise for March of Dimes. “We’re the lucky ones,” Scotty acknowledged soberly. “Ollie was in great hands from minute one. If our story encourages one family to ask questions or prep early, that’s the real win.” The couple plans to channel this gratitude into quiet philanthropy, perhaps expanding their involvement with Safe Families for Children, a ministry close to Scotty’s faith-driven heart.

As autumn leaves swirl outside their window, the McCreery household settles into a symphony of sighs and coos. Avery’s “Bo Berry” phase evolves into “Ollie Biscuit” nicknames, Gabi masterminds meal trains from church friends, and Scotty pens verses by firelight. “Can’t imagine life without him,” isn’t hyperbole—it’s the raw truth of a love that multiplies overnight. From Idol stages to sleepless nurseries, Scotty McCreery’s ballad continues: a song of roots, rhythms, and the unbreakable bonds that make a house a home. With Oliver Cooke in their arms, the chorus rings louder than ever.