Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter - 69 - CMC Rocks

The sun was shining bright over the festival grounds as Georgie made her way backstage, her heart racing with excitement. It was the day she had been preparing for—her first headline show at CMC Rocks. The festival was in full swing, and the energy from the crowd was palpable even before she stepped out of the car. The distant hum of live music filled the air as artists took to the stage, and Georgie couldn't wait to take it all in.

She had arrived early on purpose. One of the things she loved most about festivals was the chance to watch other artists perform. Today, she wasn't just the headliner—she was also a fan, and there were a few names on the lineup she was eager to see live.

"I want to catch Lane Pitman's set," Georgie said to Morgan as they walked backstage. "I've been following him on TikTok, and he's incredible."

Morgan nodded, smiling. "I've heard you talk about him. Let's check him out."

They made their way to the side of the stage where Lane was performing, and Georgie immediately felt the excitement in the crowd. Lane Pitman, a rising star in the Australian country scene, was belting out his latest hit, and Georgie couldn't help but feel a connection to the way he owned the stage.

As the set ended, Georgie approached Lane backstage. He looked surprised but thrilled to see her.

"Georgie Day!" Lane said with a wide grin. "I can't believe you're here."

Georgie smiled warmly, pulling him in for a quick hug. "I've been dying to see you perform live! You were amazing."

Lane chuckled, still in awe. "That means the world coming from you. Thank you."

They took a quick picture together, which Georgie immediately posted on her Instagram story with the caption: Go check out this rising star, y'all! @lanepitmanofficial #CMCRocks #AussieCountry

Fans quickly took notice, and within minutes, the post was flooded with comments from both Georgie's fans and Lane's growing Aussie fanbase.

After catching Lane's performance, Georgie wandered backstage again, eager to see Brad Cox, another artist she had discovered while scrolling through TikTok.

"Brad Cox is up next," she said, glancing at the schedule. "I've heard his music, but I want to see what he's like live."

They found a spot near the side of the stage again, and as soon as Brad Cox started playing, Georgie knew she'd made the right call. His deep, gravelly voice filled the air, and the crowd was eating up every word.

Georgie stood backstage, eyes glued to the stage as Brad Cox launched into his set. From the first note, it was clear that Brad had something special—his voice, raw and gravelly, cut through the air, capturing the attention of everyone in the audience. But it wasn't just his voice that had Georgie hooked; it was his energy. He had a way of commanding the stage, a confidence that drew the crowd in, making them feel like they were part of something bigger.

As he moved from one song to the next, Brad interacted effortlessly with the fans, cracking jokes between verses and encouraging the crowd to sing along. Georgie couldn't help but smile as she watched him work the stage like a seasoned pro. She leaned in toward Morgan and whispered, "He's got that kind of stage presence you can't teach. It's like he's been doing this his whole life."

Morgan nodded in agreement, watching as Brad took a swig from his beer mid-performance, his voice never faltering. "Yeah, he's definitely got the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand."

When Brad finished his final song, the crowd erupted into cheers, and Georgie felt a surge of excitement. She loved seeing an artist give everything they had on stage, and Brad Cox had just done that.

Backstage, Brad was catching his breath, sweat beading down his forehead as Georgie approached him with a grin. "That was amazing," she said, offering a high-five. "You absolutely killed it out there."

Brad chuckled, still catching his breath. "Thanks, Georgie. I've been following your stuff too—can't wait to see what you do tonight."

They exchanged a few pleasantries before Brad gave her a mischievous smile. "Hey, since you're headlining, there's something you've gotta do. You've gotta do a shoey on stage."

Georgie raised an eyebrow, completely unfamiliar with the term. "A what?"

Brad laughed, clearly amused that she didn't know. "A shoey! It's an Aussie tradition. You pour a beer into a shoe—could be your own or someone from the crowd—and then you drink it. Right there on stage."

Georgie's eyes widened in disbelief. "You drink beer from a shoe? On stage?"

"Yep," Brad said, nodding enthusiastically. "Trust me, the crowd loves it. It's a bit gross, but it's all in good fun. If you do one tonight, they'll go wild."

Morgan, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh. "I'd pay good money to see that."

Georgie shot him a playful glare before turning back to Brad. "I don't know... that sounds pretty intense."

Brad grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "You do that, and you'll be a legend here in Australia. Just think about it."

Georgie laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Alright, alright. I'll think about it."

As they parted ways, Georgie couldn't help but keep replaying Brad's performance in her head. He was the real deal—a true entertainer who left it all on the stage. And while the idea of doing a shoey was outrageous, she had to admit, it was kind of tempting. If there was any place to try something like that, it was here at CMC Rocks, in front of thousands of Aussie country fans.

They snapped a picture together, which Georgie also shared with her fans, promoting Brad as another artist to watch out for. Y'all, @bradcoxmusic is the real deal! What a voice.

Georgie's day of watching incredible talent continued with Casey Barnes, another artist she had been eager to see live. As Casey took the stage, Georgie couldn't help but admire his polished, energetic performance. His interaction with the crowd was electric, and Georgie knew the fans were loving every second of it.

After Casey's set, Georgie caught up with him backstage. "You've got such great energy up there," she told him. "I loved watching your set."

"Thank you, Georgie," Casey replied, smiling. "It's been a wild ride, and performing here at CMC is a dream."

They chatted for a bit before taking a quick picture together, which Georgie, of course, posted on social media. Had to get a pic with the amazing @caseybarnesofficial! #CMCRocks #AussieTalent

As the afternoon rolled on, Georgie made her way back to the artist area where Cooper Alan had just finished his set. She had known Cooper for years, and it was always a joy to see him perform. The crowd had loved his high-energy show, and by the time she found him, Cooper was still buzzing with adrenaline.

"Hey, superstar!" he called out when he saw her. "You ready for tonight?"

Georgie laughed, pulling him in for a hug. "I think so. How was your set?"

"It was amazing," Cooper said, still beaming. "These Aussie fans are wild! But it's your show they're really waiting for."

Georgie shook her head, trying to suppress the nerves building inside her. "I'm just trying to keep it together. You know how it is."

"You've got this," Cooper said confidently. "It's going to be epic."

They caught up for a bit, reminiscing about old times and laughing about how far they'd come in their careers. It was moments like this that grounded Georgie, reminding her of the journey she had taken to get here.

By the time the evening rolled around and the festival grounds were packed with tens of thousands of fans, Georgie felt ready. Watching her fellow artists perform had given her the energy and inspiration she needed to hit the stage with everything she had.

As she stood backstage, peeking out at the sea of people, the nerves began to creep in. But then she spotted Morgan standing nearby, giving her a reassuring nod.

"You've got this," he mouthed to her.