Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery will release his much-anticipated debut album, Clear As Day, on Oct. 4.

He released the news exclusively to fans via emai on Thursday and it was announced nationwide earlier today on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” where he performed. He is featured on the American Idols Live! Tour that runs through September and stops in Atlantic City, N.J., on Saturday, Aug. 13.

“We’ve been working hard on this album not only in Nashville, but in studios across the country because I’ve been on the Idol tour,” he says. “We’re putting what I believe are the best songs we could...

How do u amp yourself up to perform every night?

“It's definitely the feeling of knowing it's a different crowd every night. u try to get the best reaction from them and it's just a lot of fun to go out there and sing for them. We're playing in arenas which is a big step up from the coffee shops I'm used to playing at home. It's definitely a lot of fun.”

What's the biggest change in your life post-Idol?

“It's definitely still my normal lifestyle. I'm a pretty average kid. I'm just a normal teenager doing normal stuff. Going out to eat, trying to hang out with the boys back home. It's...