“I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now.”
Scotty McCreery is opening up after losing both of his grandmothers on the same day.
The 31-year-old country music star, who rose to fame after winning season 10 of “American Idol” in 2011, took to Instagram on July 10 to share the tragic news with his fans.
“My heart is absolutely broken,” McCreery wrote in the post. “Yesterday, both my Grandma Janet and my Grandma Paquita passed away.”
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The “Five More Minutes” singer admitted that he was “still in a bit of shock” as he typed the caption, which was shared alongside a photo of him and his wife, Gabi Dugal, sandwiched between Janet and Paquita.
He went on to share some of his fondest memories he had with the two matriarchs of his family.
“From being on the farm in Elizabeth City or visiting the Outer Banks with Grandma Janet. And then the incredible memories we made at the backyard pool in Pinehurst,” he wrote.
“I’m choosing to remember the great memories we all made with both of them,” he continued. “There really are too many to count.”
McCreery credited his grandmothers for teaching him “what love is all about.”
“I will miss them dearly. If yall could keep my family in your prayers I’d appreciate it,” he added.
His comments came hours after his mother, Judy, confirmed the two deaths on Facebook.
“Here is a post I hoped I wouldn’t be making for several years,” she wrote before revealing that her mother, Janet, “had been battling norovirus and the flu, which led to dehydration and pneumonia.”
“My heart is broken. I have to accept it was her time,” Judy wrote of her mother, who she says died at around 1 p.m. on July 9. She was 85.
Paquita, 93, who “had been declining in health,” per Judy, died a few hours later at 4 p.m.
McCreery performs ‘Five More Minutes’ hours after confirming news
In 2017, McCreery released his breakthrough hit song “Five More Minutes,” which was dedicated to his paternal grandfather, Bill, who died in 2015.
On July 10, mere hours after confirming his grandmothers’ deaths, McCreery performed that song in front of a packed crowd at the Country Concert festival in Fort Loramie, Ohio.
A video shared by a fan on TikTok shows McCreery’s emotional performance coming to an end.
@mattrickkkk Scotty singing Five More minutes tonight at country concert was saddening, heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time! Prayers for Scotty’s family during this hard time… #countryconcert @Country Concert ‘25 @Scotty McCreery ♬ original sound - mattrickkkk
In the song, McCreery sings:
“At eighty-six my grandpa said, 'There’s angels in the room.' All the family gathered ’round, knew the time was comin’ soon. With so much left to say I prayed, Lord, I ain’t finished. Just give us five more minutes.”
McCreery’s grandfather, Bill, was the husband of Paquita — who fans might remember from a 2018 episode of “Family Feud,” when McCreery and some of his family competed on the show.
McCreery was joined by his father Mike, wife Gabi, her father Merrick and Paquita.
The family ended up winning the main game before cruising through the “Fast Money” round en route to winning $25,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
But it was Paquita who stole the show when she started flirting with host Steve Harvey.
Harvey was walking over to ask her the question for the round when she quipped, “I’m old, please be good.”
Harvey joked that she doesn’t look old, to which she replied, “Lie, lie, I’ll take it.”
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He then told her that he’s here for you because he loves her, which resulted in another epic response from Paquita: “Aw, well I’m single!”
