As one of eight remaining contestants on the program, McCreery sang the George Strait ballad “I Cross My Heart” from the film “Pure Country" on Wednesday's show.

In Thursday's night show that revealed the results of fan voting from the Wednesday competition, contestant Paul McDonald was voted off, leaving McCreery one of the lucky seven remaining.

McCreery, a 17-year-old high school student from Garner, is the grandson of Aberdeen residents Bill and Paquita McCreery.