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'American Idol' Scotty McCreery performs in Raleigh

Scotty McCreery and the rest of the "American Idol" Top 11 performed Wednesday at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — "American Idol" Scotty McCreery took the stage Wednesday night in the area where he had many times been a spectator. 

"It's pretty insane. This is the arena I grew up in, watched a lot of Hurricanes and Wolfpack. Who would have thunk it a few years ago?" McCreery said Wednesday, a few hours before he was scheduled to perform at the RBC Center alongside the other "American Idol" Top 11 contestants. 

As the Idol winner, McCreery performed at the end of the Wednesday's concert. He entertained the crowd with his unofficial theme song – “Your Man” by Josh Turner – and his single "I Love You This Big." 

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The 17-year-old McCreery is a Garner native who won the 10th crown from the Fox television show in May. Just last year, he was a regular high school student on the baseball team and bagging groceries at the Lowes Foods in Garner.

McCreery had a little time to visit his home on Wednesday, saying he took an hour-long nap in his own bed. "It was nice to see the dogs and be normal," he said. 

McCreery also planned to indulge with some local fast food. 

"All the top 11 idols are getting Bojangles' tonight. You cannot come to North Carolina and not get some Bojangles'," he said. 

Judy McCreery has been on tour with her son – since he is a minor, he has to travel with a chaperone. She said it has been a lot of fun and she still has to ask herself every night, "Is that my baby boy on stage?" 

Fans piled into the RBC Center to see their favorite Idol. 

"He's amazing, and we're as a family obsessed with him," Hannah Davenport said. 

Brent Brockschmidt said his family is hooked on McCreery. "My daughter fell in love with him, and we've been fans ever since." 

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