Scotty McCreery Earns North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award

Scotty McCreery has received a special honor from his home state of North Carolina: the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award.

On April 4, McCreery was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award shortly after performing his song "Five More Minutes" at the Grand Ole Opry. The award is given to recipients "for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina," according to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society's website. Past recipients include Maya Angelou, Shirley Caesar, Phil Donahue, Dale Earnhardt, President Gerald R. Ford, Senator John Glenn, Tipper Gore, Dr. Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Mia Hamm, Jesse Jackson, George Jones, Coretta Scott King and more.

“Everyone knows how proud I am of being from North Carolina and that I’m always glad to help out when my state needs me,” says McCreery in a press release. “It’s a great feeling to know that my state is proud of me and has recognized me with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award."

On hand at the Grand Ole Opry to present McCreery with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award were Andy Lancaster, the vice president of MWC Advocacy for McGuireWoods Consulting, who was representing former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory; Sally Williams, the senior vice president of programming and artist relations for Opry Entertainment and the general manager of the Grand Ole Opry; and Charlie Daniels, a former recipient of the Order of the Long Lead Pine Award, a Grand Ole Opry member and a Country Music Hall of Fame member.

"Having [the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award] presented to me here at the Grand Ole Opry, which is my favorite stage to perform on, is fantastic," McCreery adds. "Then, receiving it in front of one of my musical heroes and a fellow native North Carolinian, Charlie Daniels, is beyond awesome. This is a memory I will treasure.”

McCreery has a handful of upcoming shows on his calendar. Visit his official website for more information.

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