Scotty McCreery Steps Outside of His Comfort Zone on Tonight’s ‘American Idol’

Scotty McCreery took the judge's words last week to heart and elected to push himself and step outside of his country comfort zone with Carole King's 'You Got a Friend.'

Pre-performance, mentors Jimmy Iovine and R&B crooner Babyface instructed McCreery to keep it smooth, since he would be singing an incredibly romantic song. McCreery needed to woo the audience with tenderness and he opened the song in a way that was signature Scotty, yet full of a restrained, subtle elegance. It was breathtaking.

This performance was Scotty McCreery at his softest and most refined, but he never sacrificed one ounce of depth or what he does best. Midway through the song, when he pulled out his big gun (aka his deep voice), it was that much more powerful, since it was juxtaposed against mellower, beautifully delivered notes. We never ever saw this range from him!

The competition is down to the wire and Scotty McCreery took us on a new journey tonight, all the while reminding us why we have accompanied him since day one!

"You turned the other cheek," Randy Jackson said. "The beginning of that was flawless." Jackson warned McCreery not to let his high notes "fall off" in the future, but he also complemented McCreery's "buttery" tone.

Smooth like butter melting on a homemade biscuit. That was Scotty McCreery tonight.

Watch Scotty McCreery Perform 'You've Got a Friend' on 'American Idol'