Photo: Getty Images
Before Scotty McCreery took the stage, the iHeartCountry Festival crowd experienced the most heartwarming moment of the evening. The 2022 iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One was held at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Saturday (May 7).
“One of the things I love about this festival is we celebrate country music and causes that matter to all of us,” Lunchbox said as he stepped out on stage on Saturday evening. “I’m proud to be here tonight with a special guest named Mabry.”
Mabry, a 10-year-old girl from Tennessee, grinned ear-to-ear and waved as the crowd welcomed her. Lunchbox explained: “Mabry has been a patient at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and I got great news for you: She has been cancer-free for two years. Two years!” Mabry continued to smile and wave to audience members, who erupted with celebratory applause and cheers.
Photo: Daniel Cavazos
“When St. Jude first opened their doors in 1962, the childhood cancer survival rate was 20%, and now, they’ve got it all the way up to 80%. But St. Jude’s not gonna stop now, until they reach 100%,” Lunchbox continued, directing festival goers to a QR code to help donate to St. Judes. “This next artist doesn’t just play packed houses in the States. Earlier this year, he played sold out shows in Europe. I would introduce him, but I’m not good enough. So, I think we should let Mabry introduce him…”
That’s when Mabry proudly announced into the mic: “Here’s Scotty McCreery!”
The young cancer survivor got to meet McCreery backstage during the festival. When he took the stage, the American Idol alum performed some of his biggest hits throughout his career, including “In Between,” “Damn Strait,” “Five More Minutes” and “You Time.” Relive some of McCreery’s best moments of the iHeartCountry Festival below:
Photo: Jesse Knish