It was a trip full of champagne, country music, and a few unexpected backstage visitors for Carly Pearce as she made her long-awaited return to Australia.
The country star traveled Down Under to perform at the CMC Rocks festival—marking her first visit to the country in nearly seven years—and she made it clear the wait was worth it.
“Australia, 7 years was too long… but you made it worth the wait!” Pearce shared on Instagram. “You’re the only people I’d drink champagne out of my boot for. I promise I won’t take that long to come back this time.”
And yes—she meant that literally.
Pearce fully embraced the Australian festival spirit by taking part in the classic “shoey” tradition, drinking champagne straight from her boot. The moment was captured in a series of photos and videos she shared with fans, giving a behind-the-scenes look at her time at the festival.
But the shoey wasn’t even the most unexpected highlight of her trip.
While backstage, Pearce discovered she wasn’t alone in the bathroom area—finding a possum and its babies hanging out throughout the day.
“My favorite thing of this festival is the bathroom backstage has a little possum and its babies hanging out,” she said in a video. “It’s been there all day. Hi! Are you OK?”
Of course, the trip wasn’t just about viral moments—it was also about the music.
Pearce took the stage at CMC Rocks and was joined by fellow country artist Riley Green, where the two were spotted performing their duet, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”
Her return to Australia highlights just how global country music has become, with artists like Pearce continuing to build strong fanbases far beyond the U.S. And judging by her reaction, the connection with her Australian fans hasn’t skipped a beat.
Between the high-energy performance, unforgettable fan moments, and a backstage run-in with some unexpected wildlife, Pearce’s return to Australia was anything but ordinary—and it sounds like she won’t be waiting another seven years to do it again.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
