Scotty McCreery has earned his first No. 1 hit with "Five More Minutes," despite not having a major record label to push it forward.

"Five More Minutes" sits atop both the Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts this week. It's the lead single from his forthcoming album Seasons Change, signaling more great things are on the horizon.

"There was a time I thought this song would never see the light of day," McCreery admits. He signed with Triple Tigers Records last summer, a little more than a year after parting ways with label giant UMG Nashville in early 2016.

"Five More Minutes" Had a Deep Impact on Scotty's Dad

"Seeing this song, inspired by my Granddaddy Bill, go gold and then become my first number one means the world to me! After writing it with Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell, I tweeted out that ‘I think I just wrote my favorite song I’ve ever written,’ and that still holds true today," the American Idol winner adds. "Thank you to my fans, country radio, Triple 8 Management, Triple Tigers Records, my band and crew, and everyone on my team. A big thank you to Bobby Bones for bringing national attention to the song. Gabi and I have been celebrating all day!"

McCreery wrote the song in 2015 and first performed it on the Grand Ole Opry in June 2016 during CMA Music Festival. He received a standing ovation. Taking it to No. 1, however, is a major accomplishment, and the singer thanked fans via Twitter shortly after he learned the news on Sunday night (Feb. 25):

McCreery's 11-track album, Seasons Change, will be released on March 16.

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