Scotty McCreery and wife Gabi are officially parents!
The couple welcomed their first baby together, son Merrick Avery McCreery, on Monday, Oct. 24, at 4:34 a.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina, they announced on Instagram Tuesday.
The infant, who will go by Avery, arrived 11 days early, weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz., and measuring 21 inches at birth.
"Never known a love like this🥹 Merrick Avery McCreery joined us 11 days early on October 24th at 4:34 a.m.! 7 lbs., 13 oz. of nothin but love💙," the couple captioned a joint post sharing Avery's arrival. "Thank yall for all of your prayers during this exciting season of life! Healthy baby and a healthy mama! Praise God🙌🏼🙏🏼."
Baby Avery is named after Gabi's father, Merrick (Tre) Dugal III, according to a press release.
"Next to his mother, he is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Scotty, 29, said in the release. "We have been waiting and preparing all year, and now we are so excited to have our little man here with us. We have begun a grand new adventure that will continue for the rest of our lives."
"Gabi was a total rock star during Avery's birth. I could not be more proud of her," he added. "She has already taken to motherhood like a champ. Part of my joy as his Dad is watching Gabi already crush it as his Mom."
The star also noted that he's excited that his baby boy will carry on his family name. "I'm no longer the last male McCreery. It's up to Avery now," he shared.
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The couple confirmed their exciting baby news to PEOPLE in June.
"We got a little man on the way," Scotty joyfully told PEOPLE at the time.
Detailing how he and Gabi have "always talked about" having children together, Scotty said, "We always knew we wanted kids, but we always knew we wanted the first few years to travel and have time on the road, to see things and experience life."
"We've gotten to live a lot of life and do some cool things, so seems like now's a good time to settle down a little and expand the family."
Scotty and Gabi McCreery. Sidney Ashton PhotographyThe singer, who tied the knot in June 2018, admitted he was surprised to discover they'd be welcoming a baby boy.
"I was the only boy on both sides of my family, the last McCreery boy out there," Scotty explained. "Gabi's from two sisters in her family, so I just figured it would be a girl. But we got a surprise of a boy."
And though the pair would've been "stoked" with either a boy or girl, Scotty said he's looking forward to all the moments he and his son will share together.
"I grew up playing sports, so getting to introduce him to baseball, which was my first love right there with music, and golf are just little things that [will be great]."
Scotty McCreery and his wife, Gabi, have welcomed their first child, a son named Merrick.
The former “American Idol” winner announced the news Oct. 25 on Instagram.
"Never known a love like this. Merrick ‘Avery’ McCreery joined us 11 days early on October 24th at 4:34am! 7 lbs 13oz of nothin but love," the 29-year-old country singer wrote alongside several pics of Gabi and Merrick in their hospital bed.
He added, "Thank y'all for all of your prayers during this exciting season of life! Healthy baby and a healthy mama! Praise God."
McCreery, who won Season 10 of “American Idol” in 2011, announced in June that he and Gabi, a pediatric nurse, were expecting their first baby together.
“Baby boy McCreery coming soon!” he wrote on Instagram next to photos of the couple holding ultrasound images and an adorable pair of baby cowboy boots.
McCreery told People at the time that he and his wife were surprised to learn that their first child would be a boy.
“I was the only boy on both sides of my family, the last McCreery boy out there,” said the singer. “Gabi’s from two sisters in her family, so I just figured it would be a girl. But we got a surprise of a boy.”
The couple tied the knot in June 2018 after dating for six years — and knowing each other since kindergarten.
“I think it’s one of those fate things that we ended up together,” McCreery said in May during an appearance on the “Skip Happens” podcast.
Though they were just kids when they met, it seems Gabi always had a hunch that McCreery was the one.
“We met when we were 5," recalled McCreery. "We went all through elementary, middle school and high school. We didn’t date until senior year, we were always friends, but in her kindergarten diary she literally has her name and my last name in hearts like all over."
Gina Vivinetto is a writer for TODAY.com. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she spends her free time hiking, reading and snuggling with her "Friends" box set. She and her wife, Molly, are the proud moms of two formerly stray cats, Sophie and Pierre, and a rescue dog named Gracie.