Most people know that Scotty McCreery got his start in country music as the winner of the 10th season of American Idol, but what you may not know is that he first heard himself on the radio just one day after the show wrapped ... when he was on his way home to take a high school AP English exam!

Of course, McCreery has gone on to become one of country music's brightest stars, releasing three No. 1 albums (including 2018's Seasons Change). But he still remembers that first time, and how it made him feel to hear his very own song on the radio.

It was the day after [American] Idol, and I'd flown home for an AP English test. I got in at, like, 1AM and just turned the radio on, and there it was. It was "I Love You This Big" -- the only song I had at that point.

Me and my whole family were in our truck. It was just us, and we started screaming. I was like, "Oh my God!" -- 'cause you grow up wanting that, you know?

I hadn't driven a truck in, like, four or five months, so that was my one thing. [I told my family], "Guys, whenever I get home, I just want to drive." And as soon as I got behind the wheel, we turned it on.

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