July 11, 2025 – Austin, TX

In a heartbreaking turn of events, country music star and “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery is mourning the devastating loss of both of his grandmothers—85-year-old Janet Hunter Cooke and 93-year-old Paquita McCreery—who perished during the catastrophic flash floods that tore through eastern Texas earlier this week.

McCreery, 31, took to social media Thursday to share the emotional news, revealing that both women passed away on the same day after being caught in a sudden and deadly wave of water that hit a retirement community near the outskirts of Houston.

“My heart is absolutely shattered,” he wrote. “I still can’t fully believe they’re gone. Just days ago, they were laughing together on a porch swing. And then the floodwaters came so fast, there was no time.”

According to local reports, the two women had traveled together from North Carolina to visit old friends and attend a church retreat in rural Texas. When flash floods—caused by torrential rain from the unprecedented storm system that has already claimed over 40 lives—swept through their lodging facility late Wednesday, emergency crews were unable to reach them in time.

Family members confirmed that both Janet and Paquita were found together, holding hands.

“They loved each other like sisters,” said McCreery’s mother, Judy. “They had lived full, beautiful lives—and they left this world the same way they lived it: with strength, grace, and deep love for one another.”

Janet, who was known for her Southern charm and endless supply of stories from the farm in Elizabeth City, had been a guiding light in Scotty’s life since childhood. Paquita, born in Puerto Rico, passed down both her Latin roots and her sense of humor—famously winning over viewers with a flirtatious comment to Steve Harvey during her appearance on Family Feud.

In his tribute, McCreery recalled vivid memories of summers at the Pinehurst pool with Grandma Janet, and island adventures in Puerto Rico with Grandma Paquita. “They taught me what love looks like in real life. They were the backbone of our family,” he wrote.

The tragedy has sent ripples through the country music world, with fellow artists and fans offering their condolences. Garth Brooks, who recently welcomed Scotty into the Grand Ole Opry, tweeted: “Hearts broken for you, Scotty. May their memory be a river of strength.”

Scotty, who is set to release his new EP Scooter & Friends on July 18, has not confirmed whether the project will be delayed. His team stated he is currently spending time in private with family and assisting with recovery efforts in Texas.

“In the middle of all this heartbreak,” he said, “I just want to honor them. I want people to remember their names. Janet. Paquita. They were more than my grandmothers—they were my roots. My story. My home.”

As the floodwaters slowly recede, it’s the quiet stories like theirs—of two grandmothers, of love, of loss—that remind us of the fragile and precious nature of life.