Country Star Carly Pearce Details Dental Nightmare After Bloody Fall

The beloved Grand Ole Opry member suffered a severe dental injury just days before the 2020 CMA Awards.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Country music star Carly Pearce, 35, is opening up about a frightening accident that happened just days before the 2020 CMA Awards. Pearce revealed she suffered a major dental injury that required immediate attention after taking an unexpected fall down a flight of stairs. The fall knocked her unconscious and left her with chipped, bloodied, and loose teeth. Pearce had to undergo emergency dental work, stitches, and plastic surgery in the days leading up to the awards show, but she still managed to perform and win her first-ever CMA Award.

Why it matters

Pearce's story highlights the challenges that performers can face when dealing with unexpected injuries or health issues right before major events. Her determination to push through and deliver a strong performance at the CMAs despite her dental trauma is a testament to her professionalism and resilience as an artist.

The details

Pearce says the incident happened on Halloween 2020 when she was going down stairs at a party and took a hard fall, landing directly on her mouth. The impact knocked her unconscious, and when she woke up, she realized the severity of the damage to her teeth. Pearce had to undergo emergency dental work, including getting a 'fake piece' put on each of her front teeth, as well as plastic surgery to her face. She had to visit the dentist and plastic surgeon daily in the week leading up to the CMAs to get her face and mouth ready for the show.

  • On Halloween 2020, Pearce fell down stairs and injured her mouth.
  • The 2020 CMA Awards were just days away when Pearce suffered the injury.

The players

Carly Pearce

A 35-year-old country music star and member of the Grand Ole Opry.

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What they’re saying

“I've never talked about this publicly, but I'm ready.”

— Carly Pearce (TikTok)

“I ended up spending a very long time the next day with a sweet dentist and a sweet plastic surgeon who came in on their off days after Halloween to help me with my face.”

— Carly Pearce (TikTok)

“At one point during the show, my friend leaned over to me and told me my lip was bleeding. So I performed my song. When I was singing, I had a lisp. My teeth were that freakin' loose, but I did it. I made it, and I was all fine.”

— Carly Pearce (TikTok)

What’s next

Pearce continues to need ongoing dental care and procedures to address the long-term impacts of the injury, including having to wear Invisalign braces for the past five years.

The takeaway

Pearce's determination to push through her dental trauma and deliver a strong performance at the 2020 CMAs, where she won her first-ever CMA Award, is a testament to her resilience and professionalism as a performer. Her story highlights the challenges that artists can face when dealing with unexpected health issues before major events.