Strong sales give Scotty's 'Clear As Day' album gold status

As he prepares for Thursday morning's appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Scotty McCreery has received some good news: the "American Idol" winner's first CD has gone gold.

“Clear As Day” has sold more than 500,000 copies in the less than two months since its Oct. 4 release.

“It’s a huge thing,” Scotty said this afternoon from New York, where he'll be riding a float and singing in the parade. "Now we're shooting for platinum."

A platinum single or album has sold at least 1 million copies.

Most Thanksgivings, Scotty and his immediate family – dad, Mike; mom, Judy; and sister, Ashley – are either with his paternal grandparents in Pinehurst or his maternal grandmother in Elizabeth City.

But the McCreerys will start Thursday in the Big Apple. Scotty will be riding on the “Home Baked Goodness” float, from Morton Salt, which features a stove overflowing with holiday goodies. When the parade through Manhattan reaches the Macy’s flagship store at 34th Street, Scotty will sing a shortened version of his latest hit, “The Trouble With Girls.”

The parade airs on NBC starting at 9 a.m. Thursday. In addition to Scotty, other scheduled appearances include Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne, Mary J. Blige and the Broadway casts of “Sister Act” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Scotty says his appearance should be about 10:30.

After that, the McCreerys will fly to Atlanta, where Scotty will be featured Thursday night at the annual Macy’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lenox Square.

Only after that, back at the hotel, will the McCreerys get their Thanksgiving dinner.