Reigning 'American Idol' king Scotty McCreery tells Billboard he's pleased with the progress of his debut album, which he's been recording this summer on off-days from the Idols Live! Tour.

McCreery is working on the album with producer Mark Bright, who has also collaborated with previous 'Idol' winner Carrie Underwood. Bright produced McCreery's debut single, 'I Love You This Big.'

The album will be country music, but McCreery says it will have some variety: "It's got different vibes on each song. We're trying not to make it all ballad-y or all up-tempos. We're getting a good mix of everything in there. It's got a good ol' country feeling on some songs, and it's got a contemporary feel in some songs."

McCreery has thought about including remakes on the album but says he's leaning against it: "We're thinking if we have this one chance to do a whole album of new, original stuff, why take up one slot of the album with a cover song, especially after I just got done with a show full of covers?"

Among the other concerns on the 17-year-old's mind is whether he'll be able to return to North Carolina for his senior year of high school.

"I'm still a kid," he says. "This is a huge thing for me, this 'Idol' thing and starting my career early, but I don't want to miss out on all those memories that everybody has from senior (year). So hopefully I can get back from some high school football games and have a little bit of fun outside of (the music)."

Watch Scotty McCreery Perform On 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno'

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