Scotty McCreery is an American country music singer who gained fame by winning the tenth season of American Idol in 2011 at age 17, becoming the show’s youngest male winner. Since his Idol win, Scotty has released several successful country albums and earned multiple awards and accolades, including the Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year in 2012. He remains one of the most popular contestants to emerge from American Idol.
In June 2018, Scotty married his longtime girlfriend, Gabi Dugal. The two met in kindergarten and began dating in their senior year of high school before Scotty left for American Idol. They maintained a long-distance relationship while Scotty was on Idol and in college, eventually getting engaged in September 2017. Scotty and Gabi’s wedding was a private chapel ceremony followed by an outdoor reception with family and friends.
Who is Gabi Dugal?
Gabi Dugal was born Gabriela Dugal in Garner, North Carolina in 1993. She grew up with Scotty McCreery, attending the same elementary, middle and high school. Gabi participated in cheerleading and dance in high school while Scotty was involved in choir and baseball.
After graduating from high school in 2011, Gabi attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she studied nursing. She graduated with her BSN in 2015 and began working as a pediatric nurse.
During college, Gabi was in a long-distance relationship with Scotty as he pursued his music career in Nashville after winning American Idol. The two had begun casually dating toward the end of their senior year of high school. Even as Scotty’s fame grew, he remained committed to his relationship with Gabi.
In September 2017, after nearly six years of dating, Scotty proposed to Gabi. Their engagement excited Scotty’s dedicated fanbase, who were happy to see him settling down with his childhood sweetheart.
Scotty and Gabi’s relationship timeline
1993: Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal are born in Garner, North Carolina. They meet in kindergarten.
2004-2011: Scotty and Gabi attend elementary, middle and high school together in their hometown. They are friends throughout school.
2011: In their senior year of high school, Scotty and Gabi begin casually dating. After graduating high school, Scotty tries out for American Idol while Gabi starts nursing school at UNC Charlotte.
May 2011: Scotty wins Season 10 of American Idol at age 17. His music career takes off and he moves to Nashville.
2011-2017: Scotty and Gabi maintain a long-distance relationship while he is pursuing music and she is in nursing school. They remain committed to each other.
2015: Gabi graduates from UNC Charlotte with a BSN degree. She begins working as a pediatric nurse.
September 2017: After nearly six years of dating, Scotty proposes to Gabi. They get engaged.
June 2018: Scotty and Gabi get married in a small chapel ceremony in North Carolina followed by an outdoor reception.
Scotty and Gabi’s wedding details
On June 16, 2018, Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal were married in the mountains of North Carolina, near Grandfather Mountain. The wedding was kept private, with only close family and friends in attendance.
The Ceremony:
Scotty and Gabi exchanged vows in a Christian ceremony held at Triple Falls Chapel, a small white chapel set against a scenic backdrop of waterfalls.
Gabi wore an elegant sleeveless wedding dress with a tulle skirt and beading on the bodice. Scotty wore a black tuxedo.
The chapel ceremony lasted about 30 minutes and included the couple reciting traditional vows, lighting a unity candle, and sharing a first kiss as husband and wife.
The Reception:
After the chapel ceremony, the wedding party and guests traveled to the Fearrington Barn for the reception. The barn was decorated with string lights and greenery.
Approximately 100 guests attended the outdoor reception, including Scotty’s American Idol family. The menu included North Carolina barbecue and local craft beer.
For their first dance as newlyweds, Scotty and Gabi danced to his song “This is It” from his album Seasons Change.
Instead of a big tiered wedding cake, the dessert was a smaller two-tier cake with classic white frosting.
Overall, Scotty and Gabi’s wedding day was an intimate celebration focused on their faith and love. They enjoyed celebrating their marriage surrounded by their closest family members and friends.
Married life and starting a family
Scotty and Gabi McCreery settled into married life together while balancing their respective careers in music and nursing. They split their time between Nashville, where Scotty is based for work, and North Carolina, their home state.
In October 2020, Scotty released his album “You Time” which included several songs inspired by his relationship with Gabi, including “You Time” and “Why You Gotta Be Like That.”
In 2021, Scotty and Gabi announced they were expecting their first child together. Gabi gave birth to their son, Avery, in October 2021.
Becoming first-time parents has been the couple’s biggest adjustment so far in their married life. They relish getting to raise their son together in Nashville.
Professionally, Scotty continues to tour and record new music. Gabi works PRN as a pediatric nurse while focusing on motherhood. The couple maintains a low-key lifestyle centered around faith and family.
Fans who have followed Scotty’s career from the start have enjoyed seeing him grow into a devoted family man who found love with his childhood sweetheart. Scotty and Gabi McCreery’s relationship stands as an example of lasting love that began in the humblest of places.
Scotty’s comments on married life
In interviews, Scotty McCreery has shared some insightful perspectives on married life with his wife Gabi:
On balancing marriage and music: | “It takes work, as any marriage does. But we’re really a team. And I think that helps when we’re apart and I’m on the road touring. We know we’re in this together.” |
On learning to live together: | “Learning each other’s buttons and pet peeves, that kind of thing, when you move in together. It’s a different dynamic. But we really enjoy just having time together at home.” |
On adding a baby to the mix: | “Going from a family of two to three has been an incredible journey. Having Avery has brought us even closer together.” |
On keeping their relationship strong: | “We have date nights when we can. And we enjoy big and little moments as a family, like taking our son to church or playing board games.” |
How Scotty’s fans reacted to his marriage
Scotty McCreery has a devoted fan base that has followed him since his American Idol days. Many fans, nicknamed “McCreerians,” were overjoyed when Scotty announced his engagement to Gabi in 2017. They viewed the couple’s long-term relationship as genuine and romantic.
On social media and fan forums, reactions to Scotty and Gabi’s wedding were overwhelmingly positive. Fans expressed happiness for the couple and noted they seemed well-suited for one another despite Scotty’s fame.
Many fans admired the love story of Scotty and Gabi connecting in kindergarten and staying together through the ups and downs of life and career. Some fans jokingly called Gabi their “future best friend in law.”
The McCreerians fandom fully embraced Gabi as Scotty’s wife. They adore the couple’s Instagram photos showing behind-the-scenes moments from their tours, date nights, and life as new parents.
While Scotty has teenage and female fans who crush on him, most respect his devotion to Gabi. Their relationship restores faith in true love for fans.
How Scotty has balanced marriage and his music career
Balancing marriage and family life with the demands of a thriving country music career requires work for Scotty McCreery. Here are some ways he maintains marital harmony while touring:
– Communicating daily with Gabi via text and phone calls while traveling
– Scheduling blocks of uninterrupted time at home between tour legs
– Arranging for Gabi and Avery to meet him on tour when possible
– Making time for date nights and family activities when home
– Involving Gabi in music decisions when feasible
– Setting boundaries and not overextending himself on the road
– Prioritizing his faith and relationship with Gabi above his career
– Recognizing Gabi’s sacrifices and expressing appreciation
– Relying on his team to help manage his schedule
Scotty has proven it’s possible to nurture a strong marriage despite the travel demands and temptations in the music industry. His all-American love story with Gabi continues to provide inspiration about lasting relationships.
Conclusion
Scotty McCreery is luckily married to his kindergarten sweetheart turned pediatric nurse wife, Gabi Dugal McCreery. The North Carolina natives have balanced Scotty’s thriving country music career with raising their infant son Avery.
Scotty and Gabi’s long-term relationship demonstrates that true love can stand the test of time and fame. Their wedding was an intimate mountain ceremony befitting their faith and privacy as a couple.
The McCreerian fandom overwhelmingly supports Scotty’s marriage to Gabi. Fans respect their devotion to each other and live vicariously through the genuine love story. Scotty’s marriage provides an uplifting example of relational success in the fickle music industry.
Going forward, fans look forward to seeing the McCreery family grow. Scotty and Gabi’s priority on their faith, family, and marriage relationship should continue allowing them to thrive as life and career partners.