Scotty McCreery’s ‘I Love You This Big’ Marks Highest Chart Debut for New Country Artist in Over 20 Years

Scotty McCreery's popularity is growing by the day. Not only does the 'American Idol' winner have a catchy new country single, but that song, 'I Love You This Big,' has earned him the highest chart debut for a country newcomer since 1990.

Obviously, toppling all new artist debuts back to 1990 is a big feat for 17-year-old McCreery, given that he won 'Idol' less than a week ago and wasn't even born until 1993. The deep-voiced singer waltzed into the Billboard's Country Songs chart at No. 32, while runner-up Lauren Alaina followed shortly behind at No. 49 with her debut single, 'Like My Mother Does.'

Thanks to the special radio attention that both McCreery and Alaina have been shown in their home states, the new artists' debut singles are expected to be among the hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it is released this Thursday, June 2.

In fact, it's anticipated that McCreery's 'I Love You This Big' will make a Top 10 debut, which is not only big for McCreery, but for country music as a whole!

Watch Scotty McCreery Perform 'I Love You This Big' on the 'American Idol' Finale