Ever since teenage country star Scotty McCreery won Season 10 of ‘American Idol,’ he hasn’t stopped giving props to the popular show that gave him his big start in country music. On Tuesday, McCreery even stopped by to lend some encouraging words as future ‘Idol’ hopefuls gathered in Charlotte, N.C. to try out for the show’s next season.

Judging by his Twitter feed, ‘The Trouble With Girls’ hitmaker was beyond excited to visit the could-be contestants in person. “Just got to Charlotte! On the way over to the #IdolAuditions,” he tweeted early in the day to his whopping half-a-million followers.

Once he arrived at the Time Warner Cable Arena, where tryouts were held, the humble ‘Idol’ winner offered helpful words of advice. “At the end of the day, they’re artists out here, and they’re going to sing their hearts out,” McCreery told local news station WRAL. “All of the North Carolina ‘Idols,’ we’re rooting for them, so we’ll see how they do.”

When McCreery beat out his fellow rising country star Lauren Alaina for the ‘Idol’ crown in 2011, he was propelled into country music stardom. Since then, the teen heartthrob has won a few awards, including an American Country Award for Artist of the Year: New Artist, an ACM for Best New Artist, and a CMA Award for USA Breakthrough Video of the Year. His first three singles, ‘I Love You This Big,’ ‘The Trouble With Girls,’ and ‘Water Tower Town,’ have fared well on country music charts, too. The first two releases achieved certified gold status by selling more than 500,000 units. Not bad for an 18-year-old kid!

Who knows? Maybe the next country music star was inspired by McCreery’s words at today’s Charlotte tryouts. We’ll have to watch to find out!

Watch Scotty McCreery Give Advice to ‘Idol’ Hopefuls

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