I Can’t Believe Charlie Worsham Asked Me!

If you remember during my Stars N' Skypes interview with Charlie Worsham, I told him how much I loved his banjo cover of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson! What he did with that info when I met him in person, was nothing shy of a dream come true for me!

I was so blessed last weekend with getting to scratch off a bucket list item by running  our Insane Inflatables 5K race.That was such an awesome sense of accomplishment! Afterwards, all stinky and worn out, I got the call from my backstage guy, Hank, at the Rock Island County Fair. Charlie Worsham had arrived. I was not about to meet him all stinky and crazy from the race, but I knew if I didn't, I'd regret missing sound check.

I drove straight out to the Fairgrounds and followed my Charlie Worsham-fan-girl-arrow and there he was! He walked over to me right away and said, "Hey! There's my Skype-buddy!" After a great big hug, we chatted about what we were in store for at the concert that night, he shared he was replacing all of the guitar strings on his instruments and then I stayed long enough for a few pics. I knew time was running out for me to get home and get ready.

When I returned, fans were starting to enter the grandstand, I saw Charlie long enough to wish him a great show and it was nearly time to get the crowd pumped for his performance. The lovely Rock Island County Fair Queens helped me throw out t-shirts to the crowd and the anticipation of hearing all my favorite songs was in the air.

The concert was like listening to your favorite CD and driving. There wasn't one moment where I didn't feel blissfully happy! As I looked over at the set list, I tapped Charlie's manager on the shoulder and smiled. "Excuse me, but I don't see Billie Jean on the set list!" He said, "Oh, I don't think he's playing it tonight." I started to get a little panicky and asked him a little louder, "What do you MEAN he is NOT playing Billie Jean?"  Charlie heard me and came over to assure me he'd play it. LOL!

As he switched to the banjo, I secretly hoped I'd hear it soon and he wouldn't forget. I heard him strum the first few notes to Billie Jean and my heart skipped a beat. I must have danced and sang to that song a million times in my bedroom and in the back yard. I wore out my cassette tape. Getting to see it live with Charlie Worsham on the banjo was going to be the icing on the cake of my weekend, or so I thought.

Charlie looked over at me and as I smiled the biggest smile I could, he motioned me over to perform it with him. My body was on the stage long before my brain could comprehend what was happening. I was internally freaking out all while trying to stay calm so I could sing the words.  The WORDS! Where'd they go?! The words to one of my favorite songs ever left my brain. I danced when I forgot them, thinking it would somehow distract people (and Charlie) from noticing I didn't know them. *blush*

Not to quote a Dirty Dancing song, but I truly, had the time of my life in that moment. What Charlie didn't know, was that the 17 year-old girl with country-singing-dreams was fully completely re-birthed and fully present. All I ever wanted to do was sing back up vocals with a country artist. I love harmony and performing but never got the chance. Charlie was like my personal Dionne Warwick and somehow tuned into the psychic-friends-network with this one. He took a chance with inviting me into his space and on-stage, not even knowing how much it meant to me. I am forever grateful and will never-ever forget that night.