Scotty McCreery Performs at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital

Scotty McCreery dropped in at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt on Tuesday (April 14) to help the Grand Ole Opry continue its Cause for Applause initiative.

2015 marks the Opry's 90th anniversary, and the venerable country music institution launched Cause for Applause to celebrate the occasion. The program's mission is to support nine important causes throughout 2015. April's cause is Thank God for Kids, and McCreery was on hand to perform an acoustic set for the patients and their families.

The 2011 American Idol champion also shared toys and toy instruments from the Opry’s retail collection. Later that night he took part in an all-star two-show lineup at the Opry that included Florida Georgia Line, Kellie Pickler and many more.

McCreery is currently at work on his third studio album, which will feature a more traditional country sound than either his debut album, Clear as Day, or its followup, See You Tonight.

“I’m going to make a country music record,” he says. “The stuff I grew up with was that kind of music — I want to have some depth and portray a different side.”

He is looking forward to taking a stronger hand in the songwriting this time around.

“We’re going to make an album,” he says. “We’re not looking for a quick single ... Honestly, we’re starting at ground zero.”

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