Country music stars and fellow American Idol alums Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina came together for a heartwarming reunion during the show’s 20th-anniversary special on Monday night (May 2). The pair performed a beautiful rendition of Keith Whitley’s classic 1988 hit “When You Say Nothing At All,” showcasing their undeniable chemistry and musical talents.
McCreery’s signature southern drawl and Alaina’s powerhouse vocals captivated the audience, bringing the iconic song to life with their heartfelt performance.
The two first shared the Idol stage back in 2011, both competing in season 10 of the show. McCreery, at just 17 years old, went on to win the competition, while Alaina took second place. Fast forward 11 years, and both artists have made impressive strides in their careers, dominating the country music charts and earning critical acclaim.
Before their performance, the longtime friends reminisced about their Idol days.
“I was a fan of the show before I even got on it,” McCreery shared. “Life was pretty normal, just going to high school, until we were on the show.”
Alaina echoed the sentiment, saying, “I loved American Idol so much, it was punishment for me to miss an episode. I’m just excited to be back and represent our season.”
Since their Idol days, McCreery has scored four consecutive No. 1 hits (“Five More Minutes,” “In Between,” “This Is It,” and “You Time”) and sold over 4 million albums. Alaina, too, has seen tremendous success, with multiple CMT and ACM nominations, and platinum-selling records to her name.
“You can’t turn on the radio without hearing Lauren, and you can’t turn on the TV without seeing her,” McCreery joked backstage.
Alaina teased back, “You’ve had a bunch of No. 1 hits now, so you’re beating me!”
In their Idol days, the duo also performed Randy Travis’ “I Told You So” together. Check out their 2011 performance below.
Earlier this year, McCreery made his Country to Country festival debut in London, Dublin, and Glasgow, and performed a sold-out tour across Germany and the Netherlands. Now, he’s gearing up for a U.S. tour, including a stop at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas.
Meanwhile, Alaina is hitting the road for her Top of the World Tour, which kicks off this month. For more details, head over to her website.
The 20th-anniversary special also featured appearances from past Idol contestants and judges, with host Ryan Seacrest saying, “Tonight we are opening the Idol Yearbook.”
Other notable appearances included Tamyra Gray, Pia Toscano, Anthony Federov, Brooke White, Justin Guarini, and William Hung.
