In August 2012, Scotty McCreery was 18 years old and opening shows for Brad Paisley. A year after winning American Idol, Scotty McCreery was learning what life on a major country tour involved—including how quickly an onstage mishap could become material for the headliner’s next prank.
During a performance at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York, Scotty McCreery was singing Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” when a step carried the young singer off the stage and into the crowd.
Scotty McCreery climbed back up and continued the performance. The accidental detour also gave Scotty McCreery something to laugh about afterward.
A Joke About the Boss
After the fall, Scotty McCreery posted about the incident on Twitter and jokingly blamed Brad Paisley for changing the dimensions of the stage.
“He narrowed up the stage on me for my last song.”
Scotty McCreery soon clarified that Brad Paisley had done nothing to cause the accident. Scotty McCreery had simply drifted off the edge, adding a joke about probably not being suited for an Olympic balance beam.
That clarification matters to the story. The fall was an accident. Brad Paisley’s prank came afterward.
The Next Show Had New Precautions
At the next tour stop, orange traffic cones and yellow caution tape marked the stage. Brad Paisley had turned Scotty McCreery’s mistake into a conspicuous reminder to watch the edge.
The photograph Scotty McCreery shared showed the unusual setup during a performance. Familiar objects from roadwork had become part of a country concert, and the young singer publicly credited Brad Paisley with wanting extra caution.
Scotty McCreery finished the accompanying message with a straightforward response:
“Thanks Brad!”
For anyone who had seen the fall, the picture supplied the punch line. Scotty McCreery was back at work, with bright orange markers making the stage boundaries especially difficult to overlook.
Scotty McCreery Had Already Joined the Prank Exchange
The traffic cones were part of an ongoing exchange between the two performers. Earlier in 2012, Brad Paisley had used concert screens to display doctored pictures and mock tabloid headlines involving Scotty McCreery.
By February, Scotty McCreery had answered with an impersonation. During Brad Paisley’s performance of “Celebrity” in Springfield, Missouri, Scotty McCreery appeared dressed as the headliner, complete with a white cowboy hat and a goatee.
MusicRow’s contemporary coverage included Scotty McCreery’s account of discovering that Brad Paisley left a hat backstage at shows. Scotty McCreery had considered using the hat earlier but worried about allowing too much time for retaliation.
Scotty McCreery reported that Brad Paisley enjoyed the impersonation, then added:
“So now I am sleeping with one eye open.”
Months later, the accidental fall provided another opening for the tour’s humor. There was no elaborate disguise required this time. A few traffic cones, some yellow tape, and a photograph were enough.
Scotty McCreery had already demonstrated the ability to get back onstage and finish a song. Brad Paisley supplied the reminder of where that stage ended.