[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SIXTH DISTRICT CHEERS AMERICAN IDOL SCOTTY McCREERY

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, for years, the sounds and drama of American 
Idol have captivated the eyes and ears of Americans, gluing them to 
their TVs to find out who the next great singing star would be. Over 
the 11 seasons of American Idol mania, the state of North Carolina and 
the Sixth District have been well represented in the finals of this 
singing competition. This season's American Idol competition was no 
different, ending with 17-year-old Scotty McCreery, from Garner, North 
Carolina, crowned as the latest American Idol.
  Scotty has strong connections to the Sixth District, as well. Several 
members of Scotty's family live in our area. His grandmother and 
grandfather, Paquita and Bill McCreery, reside in the Moore County town 
of Aberdeen, while his aunt and uncle, Tina and Billy Creech, live just 
down the road in Pinehurst.
  The members of Scotty's family, however, are just some of a long line 
of connections to the Sixth District of North Carolina. We have been 
home to two previous finalists in the American Idol competition, 
Fantasia Barrino and Chris Daughtry. Fantasia, from High Point, won the 
American Idol competition during its third season. Daughtry, from 
McLeansville, though he did not win the competition, has gone on to 
become a successful recording artist, releasing several multi-platinum 
albums.
  North Carolina is one of only two states that can boast more than 
three finalists over the competition's history; the other is Alabama. 
North Carolina has had a total of seven finalists over the years.
  Joining Barrino, Daughtry and McCreery as American Idol finalists are 
four other proud North Carolinians. Clay Aiken of Raleigh, Bucky 
Covington of Rockingham, Kellie Pickler of Albermarle, and Anoop Desai 
of Cary, a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, all represented North Carolina in 
the finals of the competition, as well.
  Even Scotty McCreery's grandmother, Paquita, got some face time on 
American Idol. Like any proud grandmother would do, she used her chance 
at the microphone to tell the world, ``That's my Scotty.''
  On behalf of the residents of the Sixth District, we offer our 
congratulations to Scotty and his family who live in the Sixth 
District. And from the state of North Carolina, we say again, 
congratulations, ``That's our Scotty.''

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