Country music star Scotty McCreery and his family are facing an unthinkable heartbreak. On July 9, Scotty lost both of his beloved grandmothers — Janet Hunter Cooke and Paquita McCreery — just hours apart. The double loss has left his family in shock, and fans everywhere are offering their prayers and support.
The heartbreaking news was first shared by Scotty’s mother, Judy McCreery, in an emotional Facebook post. “Here is a post I hoped I wouldn’t be making for several years,” she began. “My precious mom, age 85, passed away yesterday at WakeMed, shortly after 1 p.m.” Judy explained that her mother, Janet, had been fighting a tough battle with norovirus and the flu, which led to complications.
Later that same day, her mother-in-law, Paquita McCreery, also passed away at the age of 93 after a steady decline in health. “This is hard to fathom,” Judy continued. “We also lost Mike’s mom, Paquita, yesterday, a few hours later at 4 p.m.”
Both women were strong pillars in the McCreery family, remembered not only for their love and warmth but also for the special memories they created with their children and grandchildren. Scotty has often spoken about the influence of his grandparents — especially his Grandpa Bill, who gave him his signature deep voice, and Grandma Paquita, who appeared with him on Celebrity Family Feud.
Scotty opened up about the loss in his own heartfelt message, sharing that he’s still trying to process it. “My heart is absolutely broken,” he wrote. “Yesterday, both my Grandma Janet and my Grandma Paquita passed away. I’m choosing to remember the beautiful memories we made with them — on the farm in Elizabeth City, at the backyard pool in Pinehurst, and even visiting Puerto Rico.”
He added, “Both of them taught me what love truly looks like. I’ll miss them so much. Please keep my family in your prayers.”
A celebration of life for Grandma Janet will be held on Monday, July 14. Services for Grandma Paquita are still being planned.
In the midst of this sorrow, fans are rallying behind the McCreery family with love, support, and prayers. At a time when words often fall short, Scotty’s memories speak volumes — and remind us all how powerful family bonds can be.
