The season 10 winner was the first Idol champ since Ruben Studdard to have his first album, Clear as Day, debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He was named New Artist of the Year at the 2011 American Country Awards (on, ahem, Fox) and sang the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series that same year. After releasing a Christmas album, McCreery graduated from high school and is currently attending North Carolina State University.