In the whirlwind world of country music stardom, where spotlights and sold-out arenas are the norm, Scotty McCreery has always found his truest joy offstage—in the quiet, chaotic magic of family life. The 31-year-old American Idol Season 10 winner, whose baritone voice has crooned hits like “Five More Minutes” and “Damn Strait” to millions, recently peeled back the curtain on one of those priceless parenting moments that remind us why kids are the ultimate reality show. With his wife, Gabi Dugal McCreery, expecting their second child—a baby boy due in November— their 2-year-old son, Merrick Avery (known affectionately as Avery), decided it was high time he weighed in on the naming process. What followed was a hilarious, heart-melting saga that had the couple in stitches and fans across social media roaring with laughter.
It all unfolded during a casual appearance on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown earlier this month, where McCreery was chatting about his latest single, the soulful duet “Pour Me a Drink” with Post Malone, and his upcoming fall tour dates. But as host Katie Cook steered the conversation toward family, McCreery’s eyes lit up with that unmistakable dad-glow. “Man, Avery’s got opinions now,” he chuckled, his Southern drawl thick with amusement. “Gabi and I are sitting there one night, tossing around some name ideas for the little guy on the way. You know, traditional stuff—family names, Bible names, that kinda thing. And Avery pipes up from the floor, playing with his trucks, and goes, ‘No, Daddy. His name is Bo Berry.'”
The room erupted in laughter as McCreery recounted the tale, but for the Garner, North Carolina native, it was just another Tuesday in the McCreery household. As lifelong fans of Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits—a Southern fast-food staple that’s practically a religion in the Carolinas—the family makes regular pilgrimages to the drive-thru. Avery, with his cherubic cheeks and boundless energy, has developed a particular obsession with the Bo-Berry Biscuit: a flaky, blueberry-studded treat that’s equal parts breakfast bliss and toddler bribery tool. “He’s two, y’all,” McCreery explained, shaking his head. “Everything’s food or trucks right now. But he latched onto that biscuit like it was destiny. ‘Bo Berry McCreery,’ he’d say, all serious, pointing at Gabi’s belly like he was casting a vote.”
Gabi, a registered nurse who’s balanced her high-stakes career with the demands of new motherhood, couldn’t contain her giggles during the interview clip that quickly went viral. In a follow-up Instagram Story, she shared a candid photo of Avery mid-bite into a pilfered biscuit, captioned, “The name negotiator strikes again. Sorry, baby bro—Mommy and Daddy love you, but we’re not going full pastry.” The couple’s laughter echoed through their cozy Raleigh-area home, a far cry from the polished stages where McCreery belts out odes to love and loss. “We were doubled over,” McCreery admitted. “Gabi’s tears were streaming, and I’m trying not to snort-laugh because Avery’s staring at us like, ‘What? It’s perfect!’ It’s those moments that make the tour bus feel a million miles away.”
This isn’t the first time Avery’s precocious personality has stolen the spotlight in the McCreery saga. Born on October 24, 2022, after a pregnancy announcement that melted hearts worldwide, Avery arrived as a 7-pound, 14-ounce bundle of joy, named in honor of Gabi’s father, Merrick Dugal III—a nod to the tight-knit family roots that ground the couple. Scotty and Gabi, high school sweethearts who tied the knot in a sun-drenched Valle, California ceremony in 2018, have documented Avery’s milestones with the tender authenticity that endears them to fans. From his first wobbly steps at a backyard barbecue to his debut “performance” strumming a toy guitar during Daddy’s soundcheck, Avery’s antics have become as much a part of the McCreery brand as Scotty’s signature cowboy hat.
The baby name brainstorming session, however, marked a new chapter in their family folklore. As Gabi entered her second trimester this spring—announcing the pregnancy in May with an adorable family photoshoot featuring Avery in a “Big Brother” sweatshirt emblazoned with tiny tool belts—the couple dove headfirst into the delightful dilemma of naming their newest addition. “We wanted something with meaning, like Avery,” McCreery shared in a PEOPLE magazine feature. “Cooke is my middle name—after my granddaddy—and Oliver just felt strong, timeless. But Avery? He’s got his own agenda.” True to form, the toddler escalated his campaign over the summer, incorporating “Bo Berry” into bedtime prayers and even scribbling what looked suspiciously like a biscuit blueprint on the nursery wall (in washable crayon, thank goodness).
Fans, ever attuned to the McCreerys’ relatable charm, flooded social media with their own toddler tales. #BoBerryMcCreery trended briefly on X (formerly Twitter), spawning memes of biscuit-themed album covers and fan art depicting a tiny cowboy with a blueberry mustache. “If they don’t name him Bo, I’m rioting—best country name ever!” one devotee tweeted, while another quipped, “Scotty’s next single: ‘Bo Berry, My Boy’ ft. Post Malone on the biscuit solo.” The lighthearted buzz underscored why McCreery, a three-time ACM Award nominee and Grammy contender, resonates so deeply: he’s not just a crooner of heartfelt anthems; he’s the guy next door, navigating sippy cups and sleeper holds with the same grace he brings to a sold-out Ryman Auditorium.
Delving deeper into the naming process, McCreery revealed a blend of tradition and whimsy that mirrors their life together. “Gabi’s the organized one—she’s got spreadsheets for everything, from nursery themes to tour schedules,” he said with a grin. “Winnie the Pooh for this one, because Avery’s obsessed with Tigger. And me? I’m vetoing anything that sounds like a truck part.” Family input played a big role, with Scotty’s parents suggesting nods to their Garner heritage and Gabi’s sisters lobbying for something “fiercely Southern.” But Avery’s intervention added the spark of unpredictability. “We’d be at dinner, and he’d yell it out: ‘Bo Berry!’ Gabi and I would lock eyes and just lose it. It’s like having our own tiny comedian on payroll.”
As the due date loomed—initially pegged for late November—the McCreerys balanced excitement with the practicalities of expanding their brood. Gabi, drawing on her nursing expertise, prepared Avery with gentle storybooks about big-brother adventures, while Scotty wove tales of “the baby who loves trucks” into his nightly lullabies. The couple’s May reveal video, a montage of ultrasounds, crib assemblies, and Avery “helping” paint the nursery blue, captured the anticipation beautifully. “A new best friend coming this fall! 💙💙,” they captioned the post, hinting at another boy and sparking a wave of congratulations from fellow Idol alums like Lauren Alaina, who gushed, “Yay!!!! Congrats 🥹🥹🥹.”
Yet, in a plot twist worthy of one of McCreery’s narrative-driven ballads, baby number two arrived ahead of schedule on September 18, 2025—nearly six weeks early but healthy and robust at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 19 inches long. Named Oliver Cooke McCreery, the newest family member bears Scotty’s middle name as a tribute to his grandfather, Cooke McCreery, a stoic farmer whose quiet strength shaped the singer’s values. The announcement, a carousel of tender family snapshots on Instagram, showed a beaming Avery cradling his brother’s tiny hand, the two swaddled in matching blue blankets against a backdrop of autumn leaves. “Oliver Cooke McCreery joined our family on September 18th 🥹🩵,” Gabi wrote. “Can’t imagine life without him—we love him so berry much!!” The sly blueberry emoji was a final wink to Avery’s fast-food fixation, drawing chuckles from followers who noted the poetic justice.
The early arrival, while surprising, aligned with the McCreerys’ resilient spirit. “He came in like a freight train—just like his big brother,” Scotty joked in a follow-up video, cradling Oliver in a rocking chair while Avery “conducted” an imaginary orchestra nearby. Gabi, ever the pillar, shared that the neonatal team at WakeMed Raleigh monitored Oliver briefly for precautionary breathing exercises, but he was home within days, nuzzling into the crook of his parents’ arms. The family photos captured unfiltered bliss: Scotty’s calloused hands—honed from guitar strings and hay bales—gently supporting Oliver’s head; Gabi’s eyes sparkling with exhaustion-tinged elation; and Avery’s wide-eyed wonder, as if he’d just unwrapped the ultimate Christmas gift.
Reflecting on the journey, McCreery tied it back to his music, a thread that weaves through every facet of his life. “Songs like ‘It Matters to Her’—that’s us, man. The little things, the laughs, the names that stick because a kid said ’em over biscuits.” His latest album, Rise & Fall (2024), delved into fatherhood’s tender vulnerabilities, and this chapter feels like an extension—a verse about legacy, laughter, and letting go of the script. As he gears up for a November co-headlining run with Dustin Lynch, the Same Truck tour will now feature tales of tandem nursing and toddler-approved setlists.
For the McCreerys, the “Bo Berry” saga isn’t just a funny anecdote; it’s a snapshot of joy amid the juggle. Avery, now a big brother at two years young, has already upgraded his suggestions to “Ollie Biscuit,” much to his parents’ delight. “We’re teaching him names are special,” Scotty mused, “but honestly? If Oliver ends up with a nickname like that, I’ll roll with it.” In a world that often rushes past these moments, the McCreerys remind us to savor the silliness—the spilled blueberries, the stubborn suggestions, the names that bloom from a child’s unfiltered heart.
As Oliver settles into his bassinet and Avery plots their next adventure, one thing’s clear: the McCreery home is richer for the detour. From Idol stages to nursery negotiations, Scotty’s story proves that the best hits aren’t always the ones you plan—they’re the ones that catch you off guard, leaving you humming with love.
