Scotty McCreery Earns First No. 1 Song, Goes Platinum With “Five More Minutes”

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP songwriter Frank Rogers and BMI songwriters Scotty McCreery and Monty Criswell pose at the party celebrating their No. 1 hit “Five More Minutes.” Photo: Steve Lowry

Scotty McCreery had much to celebrate Wednesday (May 23) during a party at Nashville’s Country Music Association offices, hosted by ASCAP and BMI. McCreery recently earned his very first No. 1 song with “Five More Minutes.” During the celebration, McCreery was also surprised with the news that the song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

“Five More Minutes” was inspired by McCreery’s late paternal grandfather, penned just two weeks after his passing by McCreery and hit songwriters Monty Criswell and Frank Rogers.

The well-attended event was packed with friends and family and featured remarks from BMI’s Bradley Collins, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Spirit Music’s Billy Lynn, Sea Gayle’s Jake Gear and Triple Tiger’s Norbert Nix, who offered a shout out to the promotions team for “batting 1,000.” Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson announced a donation to MusiCares on behalf of the songwriters. Others making glowing remarks included CMA’s Brandi Simms and Country Aircheck‘s Lon Helton.

MusicRow Magazine’s owner/publisher Sherod Robertson called the chart-topping success a “case study in how to perfectly execute a hit song.”

“In an industry where perception and image is 99 percent of it, sometimes a good song wins,” Criswell said.

The song marks the second chart-topper for indie label Triple Tigers Records, which recently notched the  “Yours” for Russell Dickerson. The label launched in 2016 as a collaboration between Triple 8 Management’s George Couri and Bruce Kalmick, as well as Nix and Thirty Tigers’ David Macias.

McCreery reflected on the long journey from his former label home, to regaining the rights to his music and ultimately teaming with Triple Tigers Records and topping the music charts.

“I learned patience, goodness gracious,” he said. “This story is about a team. I appreciate you accepting me and fighting for me. This is about a song. If this was a song I would be my career on, it would be this one. We initially put out a song with no label. What were we thinking? We were crazy, but it worked out,” he said with a smile, before personally thanking each member of his team, as well as his soon-to-be wife, Gabi, whom he will wed next month.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Triple Tiger’s Norbert Nix, ASCAP songwriter Frank Rogers, Scotty McCreery, BMI songwriter Monty Criswell, Spirit Music’s Billy Lynn and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Photo: Steve Lowry