In the electric hum of a packed arena, where spotlights slice through the haze and bass lines pulse like a heartbeat, country music thrives on stories that hit you square in the chest. Last night at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium, during a sold-out stop on Scotty McCreery’s Rise & Fall Tour, the 32-year-old Grammy winner delivered more than just chart-toppers and soul-stirring ballads—he gifted fans a slice of unfiltered family magic that had 5,000 strong roaring with delight. Midway through his high-energy set, McCreery paused mid-strum, darted backstage, and emerged cradling his three-week-old son, Merrick Avery “Avery” McCreery, in one arm while clutching his guitar in the other. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of “awws” and cheers as the tiny bundle, swaddled in a soft blue blanket emblazoned with a miniature cowboy hat, became the undeniable star of the night. “This little man’s first full concert, y’all,” McCreery beamed, his North Carolina drawl thick with pride. “And he’s already outshining his old man.”

The moment unfolded like a scene from one of McCreery’s own heartfelt anthems, blending the raw vulnerability of fatherhood with the communal joy of live performance. It was during an acoustic interlude in his cover of John Michael Montgomery’s 1994 classic “Be My Baby Tonight”—a cheeky nod to new-parent life—that McCreery made his move. As the band vamped on the chorus, he set down his guitar, jogged offstage to the wings where wife Gabi Dugal McCreery waited with a knowing smile, and scooped up Avery. Returning to thunderous applause, McCreery adjusted the mic stand with one hand, nestled his son against his chest, and crooned the bridge: “I ain’t never been nobody’s baby before… but tonight, this is MY baby tonight!” The lyric tweak, delivered with a wink and a gentle rock of the infant, sent the audience into absolute pandemonium. Phones shot skyward, capturing the scene as women clutched pearls, dads wiped misty eyes, and kids waved homemade signs reading “Avery’s First Rodeo.”

Gabi, 31, a former schoolteacher turned full-time mom and McCreery’s high-school sweetheart, captured the backstage prep in a flurry of Instagram Stories earlier that evening. “Nerves? Nah, he’s a natural,” she captioned a clip of Avery’s wide-eyed gape at the stage monitors, his chubby fists waving like tiny pom-poms. The couple, married since 2018 in a sun-drenched North Carolina ceremony attended by fellow Idol alums like Lauren Alaina and Josh Kaufman, welcomed Avery on September 15, 2025, at 7:12 a.m. in Raleigh’s WakeMed Hospital. Weighing in at a sturdy 8 pounds, 6 ounces and stretching 21 inches, the newborn arrived nine days early after a smooth labor that McCreery later called “the greatest show I’ve ever been part of—hands down.” Named Merrick after Gabi’s late father, Merrick “Tre” Dugal III, who passed in 2019 from pancreatic cancer, and Avery as a nod to family tradition, the boy has already become a fixture in McCreery’s tour tales. “He’s got his mama’s eyes and my questionable taste in lullabies,” the singer joked in a pre-show radio spot.

McCreery’s path to this pint-sized spotlight has been a masterclass in blending stardom with steadfast roots. Hailing from Garner, North Carolina, the former Garner Magnet High quarterback was just 17 when he stormed American Idol Season 10 in 2011, clinching the title with a gravelly rendition of “I Love You This Big” that showcased his old-soul timbre. Overnight, he morphed from high-school kid to country sensation, dropping his debut album Clear as Day—which spawned the platinum smash “The Trouble with Girls”—and racking up three ACM New Male Artist nods in his first year. Fast-forward 14 years: With five studio albums, a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance (“Same Truck” in 2023), and over 3 million albums sold, McCreery’s evolved into a storyteller of blue-collar anthems and tender confessions. His latest, Rise & Fall (June 2025), debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, fueled by singles like the wistful “Red Letter Lessons” and the foot-stomping “Dirt Road Prayer.”

But beneath the accolades lies a man who’s always prioritized family over fame. McCreery and Gabi met as teens in youth group, their romance a slow-burn tale of shared pews and stolen glances at Friday night lights. After a mountaintop proposal in Gatlinburg in 2017—complete with a custom ring engraved “Forever Home”—they settled into a 10-acre farm outside Raleigh, complete with a home studio, a flock of chickens, and their golden retriever, Maverick. The couple’s first pregnancy, announced with a black-and-white sonogram photo in February 2025, was a beacon amid McCreery’s grueling schedule. “We’ve sung about love, loss, and second chances,” he told People magazine in March, “but nothing preps you for the chaos and calm of becoming a dad.” Avery’s arrival capped a whirlwind year: McCreery’s sold-out headlining tour, a duet with Jelly Roll on “Why We Pray,” and a surprise Opry induction in April.

Touring with a newborn? For McCreery, it’s redefining “road warrior.” The Rise & Fall Tour, spanning 45 dates from coast to coast through December, has morphed into a family affair. Gabi and Avery bunk on a custom “nursery bus”—a converted RV with blackout shades, white-noise machines tuned to ocean waves, and a mini-fridge stocked with breast milk and bibs. “It’s a circus, but the best kind,” McCreery shared backstage in Knoxville, where the family rolled in from Asheville that afternoon. Gabi, a certified yoga instructor who’s traded chalkboards for baby wraps, handles the heavy lifting: “Scotty’s got the stage charisma; I’ve got the midnight feedings.” Their dynamic shines in candid moments—Avery’s first tour stop was a low-key opener in Myrtle Beach, where he “performed” from a bouncer during soundcheck.

The Knoxville gig, part of a two-night stand promoting local charities like East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, was primed for heartstrings from the jump. McCreery kicked off with “Five More Minutes,” his 2018 tearjerker about cherishing time, dedicating it to “all the new parents out there stealing extra snuggles.” By the time he hit “Damn Strait,” the crowd—a mix of college coeds in boots, silver-haired couples swaying arm-in-arm, and pint-sized fans in McCreery tees—was locked in. Then came the surprise: As “Be My Baby Tonight” swelled, McCreery’s eyes lit up. “Hold up, y’all—I got a special guest,” he announced, vanishing into the shadows. Seconds later, he reappeared with Avery, who promptly let out a gummy yawn that echoed through the monitors like a mic drop.

The arena lost it. Waves of screams morphed into a collective “Oh my God!” as fans surged forward, some hoisting toddlers for a better view. “He’s cuter than a litter of lab puppies!” hollered one woman from the pit, her phone trembling as she filmed. McCreery, unfazed, cradled Avery like a seasoned pro, swaying gently while finishing the song. The baby, unfazed by the decibels, blinked owlishly at the sea of faces, his tiny fingers curling around Dad’s collar. “Look at him—already got the crowd eating out of his hand,” McCreery quipped, planting a kiss on Avery’s forehead before handing him off to Gabi for a quick lap around the stage. The impromptu meet-and-greet extended to a few lucky front-rowers, who snapped selfies with the duo, one mom gushing, “My boy’s obsessed—he thinks Avery’s the real headliner!”

Social media ignited faster than a brushfire. Within minutes, #AveryTakesKnoxville trended in Tennessee, with fan videos racking up millions of views. “Scotty’s got pipes, but that baby? Voice of an angel—or at least a future backup singer,” tweeted @CountryMamaNC, her clip of Avery’s yawn going viral. Fellow stars piled on: Luke Combs posted a string of heart-eyes emojis, captioning, “Lil’ man’s got the McCreery magic—watch out, Nashville!” Lauren Alaina, McCreery’s Idol sister, shared a throwback of their 2011 finale duet alongside the moment: “From stage kids to stage dads—proud of you, brother. Beni’s jealous already.” Even non-country corners chimed in, with American Idol‘s official account reposting: “Avery McCreery: The tiniest judge we’ve ever had. Verdict? Adorable.”

For McCreery, weaving Avery into the tour isn’t whimsy—it’s legacy. Raised in a tight-knit Garner family where his dad coached Little League and mom baked pies for church potlucks, he’s long sung about the pull of home. Tracks like “In Between” and “This Is It” chronicle his own milestones: high-school dances with Gabi, their 2020 vow renewal amid pandemic isolation, and now, diaper dashes between encores. “Fatherhood’s flipped the script,” he reflected in a post-show huddle with local press, Avery dozing in a carrier sling. “Songs hit different now—’Five More Minutes’ isn’t hypothetical anymore. It’s every second I steal with this guy.” Gabi nodded, adding, “We’re building our own tour bus tales. Avery’s along for the ride, burps and all.”

As the Rise & Fall Tour barrels toward holiday stops in Vegas and Nashville—where McCreery teases an Opry family Christmas special—the Knoxville night stands as a snapshot of country at its core: unpretentious, unbreakable, and overflowing with love. In a genre brimming with heartbreakers and honky-tonk romps, McCreery’s reminding us that the sweetest hits are the ones sung soft, to a sleeping son under arena lights. Avery may not remember his debut, but the crowd? They’ll carry that cuteness overload forever. As one fan summed it up in a sign hoisted high: “Avery for President—He’s Got the Wave!”