"American Idol" finalists to be bid adieu by Scotty McCreery

(CBS News) It's never fun, but it has to happen. Aside from the winner, this year's "American Idol" contestants will all be eliminated. When they walk off the stage, country artist  and last year's "Idol" winner Scotty McCreery will bid them adieu.

Producers have selected McCreery to perform the goodbye song for season 11 of Fox's singing-competition series.

McCreery has recorded a version of Tim McGraw's hit, "Please Remember Me," as the "goodbye" track that will play after a contestant is booted from the show. The song will debut tonight.

"It's always a sad time whenever this song is played, but it's definitely a really big part of the show," McCreery said in a statement. "I never had to experience that feeling personally, but I always felt the pain because we became such a close family on the show. We were such a tight-knit group of people, so it was always sad to see people go. The send-off song was always a way to stay connected to the show. "

The North Carolina native will perform on "American Idol" later this season.

His debut album, "Clear as Day," was certified platinum three months after its release. McCreery was named No. 1 on Billboard's Top New Country Artists list for 2011.

McCreery is up for this year's Academy of Country Music New artist of the year award. Winners will be announced during the annual ceremony, airing live April 1 on CBS.