RALEIGH, N.C. — When NC State beat Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday, Scotty McCreery knew he had to find a way to get to the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.
The only thing standing in his way is the Boots in the Park music festival in San Diego, where he's scheduled to perform shortly after NC State's game in a neighboring state. Canceling the concert wasn't an option. "I wouldn’t cancel the show for basketball, but man, would I love to try and do both," McCreery explained in a video posted to social media Wednesday evening.
The game in Phoenix is set to tip off at 3:09 p.m. local time. McCreery is set to perform in San Diego at 6 p.m. "Couldn't make that work," McCreery said, who was a student at NC State after he won the 10th season of American Idol.
The Garner, NC native had an idea. Fellow country musician Lee Brice was also performing at the music festival but at a later time. "Lee is on at 7:35 p.m.," McCreery said. "I thought if there’s any chance we could switch, I could do it."
He reached out to Lee Brice to get his thoughts. "Is there any chance you’d be willing to switch spots with me and go on at 6 p.m.? I’ll go on at 7:30 p.m. so I can get to Phoenix for the Final Four game."
Brice agreed. "He looked at me and said, ‘Scotty, if it’s important to you, it’s important to me, it’s not even an ask, let’s do it,'" McCreery said, with a smile on his face.
"He’s going on at 6 p.m., and I’m going on at about 7:45 p.m.," McCreery said. "And I’ll be in Phoenix for the game at 3 to cheer on the Wolfpack, baby!"
It was a dream come true for a local musician who's waited his lifetime to see his team rise to the level it once was in 1983, the last time NC State won a national title.
"I just love the Pack and love country music," McCreery exclaimed. "So, on Saturday, I get to do both, and it’s all because of Lee Brice."
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