Scotty McCreery wants to cut duets with Lauren Alaina

Scotty McCreery wants to cut duets with Lauren Alaina

Don't be surprised to see a duet or two with runner-up Lauren Alaina on American Idol winner Scotty McCreery's first album. He was already making plans with her onstage last night after his victory.

"I said, look, we've been together since Day 1, and we're still together," says Scotty, who talked to USA TODAY's Bill Keveney immediately after the Idol finale Wednesday. "We met the first day in Hollywood, we've been good friends through it all, we've been classmates. I just said this ain't the end and we're gonna keep on working. We sound good together. It'd be nice to get some duets."

Scotty says that he he had no idea how his trip to Milwaukee last summer to audition would turn out the way it did: "We went out there on a whim, just kind of a summer vacation. It's funny what a summer vacation can turn into."

He also made a point of acknowledging the fans who voted for him throughout the competition. "Country fans are great," he says. "They're loyal. I've got to thank them because they're the reason I'm still here."

As for Lauren, she said, "I have gone way farther than I ever expected to go. Everything is going to be icing on the cake from now on."

See photos of: Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery

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