Scotty McCreery’s Tender Rendition Of “The Old Rugged Cross” Leaves Listeners In Awe
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Scotty McCreery has always been an open book when it comes to sharing his faith with his fans.
“My faith is everything to me,” McCreery said around the time that he released his sixth studio album, Rise & Fall, in 2024. “It’s held me up during my lows, and it’s been with me when I celebrate my highs.”
McCreery’s first album, 2011’s Clear As Day, ended with a song about a family Bible, titled “That Old King James.”
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The American Idol champion followed up by releasing a Christmas album in 2012, which contained his covers of faith-based songs such as “First Noel,” “O Holy Night,” and “Mary, Did You Know?”
Years later, on Easter Sunday in 2021, McCreery shared his rendition of a beloved Christian hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross.” The song, which was written in 1912, has been covered by numerous other country artists, including Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and Johnny Cash.
McCreery delivered his performance from his home, with nothing but the sound of his own acoustic guitar to back him up. The tender, touching performance reached over 315,000 fans on Facebook, leaving them in awe. The clip received over 2,000 comments, with many thanking McCreery for sharing it.
Watch the video of Scotty McCreery singing “The Old Rugged Cross” below. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tearing up mid-song.
Scotty McCreery Recently Covered Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me, Lord”
Another faith-centered song many country stars have added to their catalogs is “Why Me, Lord” (also known as “Why Me”). The song was written and originally recorded by Kris Kristofferson, and has since been covered by artists such as Conway Twitty, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, and Scotty McCreery.
McCreery’s recording of “Why Me, Lord” appears on his latest album, 15. The album is a retrospective project that includes nine of McCreery’s prior hits, one brand-new song, and three covers: “Hello Darlin’,” “Your Man” (as a collaboration with Josh Turner), and “Why Me, Lord.”
“Why Me, Lord” is the last track featured on 15. A press release about the record states that McCreery felt the song “sums up how he feels about the last 15 years.”
Those feelings are captured in the lyrics Kristofferson wrote over half a century ago:
“Why me, Lord, what have I ever done,
To deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known?
Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do,
That was worth lovin‘ you, or the kindness you’ve shown?“
You can listen to Scotty McCreery sing “Why Me, Lord” in the audio clip below.
