February 19, 2004, was a very special day in the State of Kentucky. It was the 2004 Music Hall of Fame Induction Awards held in the capital city of Frankfort. Among those being inducted - they also present Ambassador Awards. The two Ambassador awards this year went to cousins - Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell of the singing group, The Backstreet Boys.
Because the event was held so close to where I live - I was able to attend along with several other friends. It was a truly special evening.
We all met at Darlene's home - having come from work, etc. and changed into our dressier clothes for a special evening.
The event started at 6 pm and I think we arrived at The Convention Center around 6:10 p.m. - all of us were anxious by this time. We got inside and found our table and then found the way to the Buffet as none of us had eaten dinner and some not even lunch.
We got to the buffet line and I'm just talking to a couple of my friends and the one nudges me and says - hey that's Brian right next to us. Well, sure enough it was. I looked over and we said hi to each other. I said, hey we're part of a crazy group that your mom has gotten to know a little bit. He winked and said, I know - trust me I "know" about you guys. It was cute.
Brian looked better than I had EVER seen him look in a long time. He had the hair a little longer, highlighted some but more natural too -and it had lots of flips and curls. He had on a dark pinstriped suit with a gold tie and of course his blue eyes popped right out at you. A few moments later his mom and Grandma Ena found all of us and we exchanged lots of hugs, laughs and conversation.
My friends and I did manage to go through the buffet line and put some things on our plate and I don't know if I speak for all of them but after seeing Brian and Jackie, I really couldn't eat any longer - was just too excited. We all took our food back to the table and put it down but quickly returned so we could do the pictures and gift giving, etc.
We got back to the area we called the "mingle" area and we were able to really talk to Brian and Kevin for quite a while. They were both in great spirits and were having a good time. Leighanne, Brian's wife was there, looking absolutely, positively radiant. We had pictures taken with the two Kentucky cousins and got lots of pictures of them by themselves too.
My friends and I had made a throw blanket for Brian (as his birthday was the next day - Feb 20). The blanket was the University of Kentucky on one side and the University of Georgia on the other. Nancy made it - but it was an idea she and I came up with one night while chatting to do both UK and UG. Brian told us a story last year on the phone at HHC offices about the fact that when he and Leighanne watch the two teams play each other - he meows for the UK Cats and she barks at him for the UG Bulldogs - hence the idea to have a two-sided blanket for both teams. We were able to watch Brian open the blanket and his eyes got wider as he took it out and when he realized it was two sided he and Leighanne just went nuts and howled. A couple days later, we later heard from Jackie - Brian's mom - that they truly did love it and had already used it at her house watching tv. So that was a thrill. I also had the opportunity to give Brian a hand-held computer golf game. I told him he did not need to open my gift there - too much going on - but later again I was told by his mom that he loved it and played it all day. So that was fun to know.
The best part of the night by far was when Nick Clooney (George Clooney's father introduced Kevin and Brian) and gave them their Ambassador Awards. He said they were two-fifth's of one of the most popular groups in the world and who knew they hailed from Kentucky when they first came out. He said their popularity was like a meteor hurled across the nation.
Both Kevin and Brian became VERY emotional at different times during their acceptance speeches. Brian told Kevin he had to go first because he was the oldest. Kevin thanked his family and his mom who was in the audience for the part she played in his love of music and his deceased grandfather for teaching him to dance. He said no matter where they go or travel, Kentucky is home and they will try to be good ambassadors. He said he grew up listening to much of the type of music (country and bluegrass) that was honored there that evening - but he also thanked his brothers for the influence they had on him by listening to many of the popular rock bands. I could try and remember which groups he said but I am afraid I would forget one or two. After Kevin finished, he started to exit the stage but again Brian said - no you need to stay here with me.
Brian also thanked his family for the part they played and his brother especially for encouraging him and helping him to be the man he was today. When he talked about his brother Harold - he choked up and had to quit speaking temporarily. He said his brother taught him love and also the gift of competitiveness. He talked about his father and became choked up when talking about his service in the Navy and the example he was. In an article a while back, Brian slated his father as his hero and you could see he truly feels that way. He thanked his wife of almost four years and the mother of their 14 month old son. He said you aren't supposed to have girlfriends and wives in a pop group but how much he loved her. He looked at our table of fans and thanked us for coming -that just really meant so much to us that he singled us out like that. He thanked his Heavenly Father and said how much he appreciated and loved to be in the company of the other entertainers who were honored there that evening. Brian looked over at his cousin Kevin standing on the stage next to him and proceeded to tell the story of how "this one here" (looking at Kevin) I have to thank for the part he played in Brian becoming a Backstreet Boy. I think most fans know the story by heart. At the end of Brian's speech - Kevin kissed him on the cheek and they hugged. I wish I could remember every single syllable each of them spoke because they did such a great job and I think they loved being able to publicly thank their family like that. And they truly seemed so touched and honored to be given the awards. Brian joked at the end that it was cool that they could actually take the award home with them. He said some award shows they hand you the award and then take it away from you backstage to mail to you later. He was talking even as the band started to play I'll Never Break Your Heart - at least I think that was the song but he said no, keep playing, I like that song - back to the comical, animated Brian at this point. He also sang a little piece of one of their songs on stage but then quickly stopped and said - nah, we're not allowed to sing. I know he didn't mean not allowed from the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame - I think he meant their record company does not allow that. As the organizers of the event told me they actually told them they could sing "if" they wanted to. That would have really been a treat.
After the event Brian talked to Ricky Skaggs and then disappeared while his wife and parents tried to make it to him through the crowd to leave with him. We did get a chance to say bye to his parents and Leighanne but Brian was gone haha. Kevin stuck around and talked and signed autographs and we got to talk to him and his mom for a little bit.
I know there is probably so much more I could say but it was just a magical night and I am so grateful I was able to be there and take it all in. I can't think of two guys more deserving of the award.
The only downer of the evening for me was getting several great close-ups of Brian etc. and my camera got dropped and broke - no pictures. But it was fun to talk to Brian and Kevin about the new CD - they confirmed they do have 5 songs done. Leighanne talked several times about Baylee and how much fun he is now but that she was missing him so bad that night it hurt - she's a true mommy at heart now - that's for sure. Brian's parents hugged us at the end and again thanked us for coming.
Peggy from KY
Thank You Peggy for allowing me to use this account.
