Scotty McCreery set to play Taste of Joliet Saturday

Since 2011, Scotty McCreery's career has been one heck of a ride.

The now 24-year-old won Season 10 of 'American Idol' at age 16, was dropped from his record label and then debuted his album for his new label at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts. The North Carolina native will bring his sound to the Taste of Joliet on Saturday, June 22 when he co-headlines with Cole Swindell.

"You can call it co-headlining, but Cole is at that next level of his career. He has had so much success in his career and on radio and the fans love him," McCreery said. "He has been a buddy to me the last few years. Getting to know him and see what he does, I can learn a lot from him watching him perform and how he interacts with the crowd. It will be a lot of fun sharing the stage with him."

McCreery is touring on his 'Season's Change' album that dropped in March of 2018.

The album has so far produced No. 1 hits 'This is It' and 'Five More Minutes' - both songs McCreery co-wrote. He co-wrote 11 songs on 'Seasons Change,' something he is proud of.

"The most gratifying thing is when you write a song from personal experience and it means the world to you and you put it out there and are a little vulnerable at that point hoping that people like it as much as you do," he said. "We are lucky that the last two songs that we put out to radio have gone No. 1 and they have also been my most personal songs. That is huge to me."

One of those songs is his favorite he has released.

McCreery wrote 'Five More Minutes' just weeks after his paternal grandfather, Bill, died at age 86 in 2015 and although he had played it live, it wasn't until his latest album that he released the song to fans.

McCreery said the reaction was immediate.

"I feel like no matter who you are, you have those memories and those moments and those people that you wish you could spend more time with," he said. "Every meet and greet people are telling me how much it has helped them through times and who they are thinking of when they hear it. I think it is cool that people are relating to that song as much as they have."

Despite his success, McCreery is still a fan of the show that launched his career and appreciates the growth of the program.

"American Idol is an awesome platform, but you can't really make a career out of that. You have to grind, write your own songs and get on the road and event then, there is no guarantee even if you do all that. I am extremely grateful. It has been eight years and I feel like we are just getting started the last year or two. We are having a lot of fun right now," he said. "Back when I was on Idol, it was more cover based and I still love the show and watch whenever I can and (runner-up) Alejandro (Aranda) this last season two of three songs on the finale were originals he wrote and I thought that was awesome that they are letting them do that now."

No matter if locals are fans of American Idol or McCreery's current chart toppers, they have the opportunity to see him at the Taste of Joliet.

He will go on at 7:30 p.m. ahead of Swindell at 9 p.m.

Swindell is known for hits such as 'Break Up in the End,' 'Love You Too Late' and 'You Should Be Here.'

Opening the country lineup will be Cooler By the Lake at 3:15 p.m., followed by Dillon Carmichael at 4:15.

Tyler Rich, who put 'The Difference' as high as No. 30 on the Billboard Charts last year will play at 5:30 p.m.

McCreery said he is excited to play the area.

"We get around Chicago two or three times a year. The fans have always treated us good. They know their country music up there, so it is always fun to come play," he said. "I love having as many people there as possible enjoying themselves. If they are up front singing every word with their hands in the air, that gives us energy and we feed off that, but I am just as happy with the guys in the back drinking a beer and having a hot dog that are enjoying the music, too."