Dan + Shay star has root canal surgery ahead of CMA Awards

Dan + Shay star Shay Mooney is recovering from emergency dental surgery as he prepares for the 2014 CMA Awards.

The 19 You + Me hitmakers are up for Vocal Duo of the Year at the annual prizegiving on Wednesday (05Nov14), and Mooney was noticeably absent from pre-awards show interviews the day before (04Nov14).

His bandmate Dan Smyers told Taste of Country that Mooney was missing in action because he had to fit in a last-minute procedure to fix a problem with his teeth.

Smyers revealed, "It's crazy. Shay, he's in the dentist right now. We've been on the road nonstop and he's had a little toothache. But we actually got back today and he had an early dentist appointment and they were like, 'Boom. Emergency root canal,' so he couldn't make it today."

And Smyers is glad Mooney is finally taking time to get the surgery, since the toothache has been lingering for a while.

He added, "He's been complaining about it for a year I think. It's gotta be bad... But he's been sending me pictures in the dentist's chair... I think he's got a little novocaine."