‘He deserves it’: Carrie Underwood congratulates her keyboardist, Lehigh Valley native and Saucon Valley alum, in school Wall of Fame induction | Southern Lehigh County

HELLERTOWN, Pa. – A Lehigh Valley man now based in Nashville made his way back home to inspire the future generation.

Saucon Valley High School just inducted the musician into the school’s Wall of Fame. And before leaving his advice to current students was music to their ears.

Lehigh Valley native Scott Sheriff has toured the world with the likes of Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, Bob Carlisle and more.

He currently plays the keyboard in Carrie Underwood’s band while offering background vocals.

With no signs of slowing down, Sheriff did take a beat to visit the place where, for him, it all began: Saucon Valley High School.

“It just kind of all germinated here at Saucon Valley,” Sheriff said. “Through their extended curriculum that kind of showed me there was no boundaries to what I could learn or get involved with.”

Sheriff, along with one other musical alum, were keyed into the school’s 2025 Wall of Fame on Thursday afternoon.

Sheriff’s current boss, Underwood, surprised the auditorium full of students with a pre-recorded video.

“Congratulations to Scott,” she said, “and appreciate you all showing him love. He deserves it.”

“It’s deserved, it’s earned,” Ann Pope, Sheriff’s fourth grade teacher said. “Scott would have been doing everything. It would have been acting, it would have been singing, it would have been dancing, it would have been playing an instrument.”

The class of ’85 alumnus credits the now-retired Pope, with making fourth grade interesting.

“She made me want to come to school,” he said.

He also spoke fondly of his music teacher at the high school, the late Dennis Smith.

“He introduced me to so much great music, so much so that I eventually wanted to be a part of that,” Sheriff told 69 News.

Sheriff became choked up later on, speaking more on Smith in front of the auditorium.

“He became a dear friend and was a constant source of support,” he said. “I was devastated when cancer took him away from us.”

Before the ceremony, Sheriff visited with students, taking time for some Q and A.

“Made me realize that there is music outside of high school and outside of school,” Saucon Valley High School senior, Agostino Randazzo, said.

“Even if you go to a small school in the Lehigh Valley, you can still accomplish big things,” fellow senior, Gabby Silva, said.

Sheriff leaves his alma mater, a school full of inspired students, to continue shaping the music world.