Scotty McCreery Asks ‘Where Were You’ on ‘American Idol’

Tonight on 'American Idol,' North Carolina native Scotty McCreery chose to perform Alan Jackson's 9/11 tribute song, 'Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).' McCreery chose this song for his inspirational performance, and it was clear how much the song's lyrics touch the country contestant, especially considering Osama bin Laden was finally taken down by American forces last week.

Seated on a spotlit stool with an acoustic guitar strapped around his back, McCreery gave a beautifully emotional performance, hitting every note at perfect pitch. At one point, the 16-year-old got a bit choked up during the verse, "But I know Jesus and I talk to God / And I remember this from when I was young / Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us / And the greatest is love."

The judges were head-over-heels for McCreery, praising him for his song choice. "I think it's the perfect song choice for where we are now as a country ... You're ready for super stardom," Randy Jackson says. Jennifer Lopez, simply says, "I'm just in love with you," while Steven Tyler also kept it simple, telling McCreery, "Ditto what Randy says." Way to go, Scotty! Keep it up!

Watch Scotty McCreery Perform 'Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)' on 'American Idol'