Grandmother Reina shared an unforgettable night with a world-famous pop star…
As my family and I gathered on the sofa after dinner, talk turned to the best concerts we'd been to.
‘Mum, you saw
Elvis play live twice!’ my son Luc said. ‘What’s so great about Harry Styles?’
I was used to my brood teasing me about my love for the former One Direction star. After all, I was a 78-year-old great-granny, not a screaming teeny-bopper.
But I’d always appreciated beautifully-crafted songs and charisma — two things that
Harry had in spades.
‘If you read his lyrics, it tells you everything about the man,’
I said. ‘You can see how smart and caring he is. He’s very talented and a great entertainer, but he’s still humble and a nice person. To me, that’s a star.’
As I went on, I hadn’t realised that my granddaughter Renee had been filming the conversation for her TikTok.
A couple of weeks later, she came to see me.
‘I’ve managed to get us two tickets to see Harry in Los Angeles,’ she said. ‘But the family are worried about you flying because of Covid.’
'What's so great about Harry Styles?'
‘Thank you!’ I whooped, hugging her. ‘I don’t care what anyone says, I’m going!’
Luckily, Renee and my hubby Dan — who knew how much I adored Harry — convinced my family I’d be fine.
Then, just a few days before the gig, Renee had more
amazing news.
The TikTok video
of me gushing about Harry had gone viral and caught the attention of a Grammy Awards producer.
‘They want you to go to the Grammys as Harry’s superfan!’ she said, explaining that they had chosen a lucky handful of fans of the nominees to attend.
‘That’s unbelievable!’ I cried.
Days later, Renee and I flew out and found ourselves in a packed stadium in LA, singing and dancing to Harry’s hits.
We’d wrapped pink feather boas around our necks, in homage to 29-year-old Harry’s flamboyant style.
I was on cloud nine for days afterwards.
The weekend before the Grammys, nine other superfans and I gathered around a table in a TV studio, and told a director why we were each
of the artists’ number one fans. They were pre-recording it to broadcast during the awards.
I was definitely the oldest, but everyone made me feel so welcome.
When it was my turn, I knew exactly what I was going to say.
‘Aside from being good-looking, I love everything about him. I love his outlook and lyrics, and with Harry, he has that thing that draws people to him,’ I said. ‘If the Grammys
did their job, he’s getting that Album of the Year award.’
The day of the Grammys soon arrived. Renee and
I checked into our hotel, and I changed into my finery before a car came to collect me and the other superfans.
‘I can’t wait to hear about it,’ Renee said.
‘It’s thanks to you I’m here,’
I beamed.
I’d brought a card for Harry with some words of grandmotherly advice.
‘Will you try to get this to him?’ I asked a producer, not thinking I’d be anywhere near him.
‘I will,’ she said.
But when we walked into the venue, it was so vast and busy,
I didn’t think there’d be time for her to hand it to Harry.
Later, settling into my seat,
I soaked up the buzz of the ceremony.
When they played my pre-recorded video about Harry, the crowd lapped it up.
Shortly after, when Harry was announced as winner of Best Pop Vocal for his album Harry’s House, I cheered wildly.
'I'm no showering again!'
As he was coming off stage and passed me, all of a sudden, he turned around.
‘It’s you!’ he said.
He gave me a peck on both cheeks and held my hand.
He was so friendly and humble.
I couldn’t believe my idol had recognised me — and given me a kiss! I felt as if I was dreaming.
During an ad break, I got up to go to the bathroom.
I was standing in line, when I saw Harry again — and to my shock, he made a beeline for me.
‘I want to thank you for the beautiful card,’ he said, taking my hands in his.
Back in my seat, I was still floating on air from my second brief encounter with the superstar.
Towards the end of the show, a producer came to usher me and the other superfans on stage.
At first, I didn’t register what was going on.
As we lined up around the podium, I tried to keep it together.
I thought of Renee in our hotel room and my family back home, watching TV open-mouthed.
Suddenly, presenter Trevor Noah opened the envelope that contained the winner of the Album of the Year — the biggest award of the night.
Then, he looked straight at me.
‘You can read it,’ he said.
Stunned, I just assumed he must have thought: She’s the oldest, let her do the honours.
It didn’t dawn on me that Harry had won.
Then, remembering I didn’t have my glasses on me, I started to panic.
What if I read the wrong name? What if it’s not Harry?
I squinted and moved the card closer, until I finally saw
his name.
Somehow, I managed to get the words ‘Harry Styles’ out, and the room erupted.
I spotted him in the audience, jumping for joy.
I was so happy for him.
As he ran on to the stage,
he gave me a massive hug before I could hand him his award.
It was a really genuine hug and made me think he must have been close to his grandma.
‘You deserve it, enjoy it, Harry!’ I blurted out.
He was saying something back to me, but I was deafened by the roar of the crowd, so sadly I didn’t catch it.
My heart was thumping out of
my chest.
Things like this didn’t happen to people like me!
The producers had kept it a surprise — and it was probably just as well, as if I’d known,
I’d have been a nervous wreck.
When I got back to the hotel afterwards, I was still pinching myself.
In our room,
Renee was on the phone.
‘It’s gone crazy, I’m talking to American TV!’ she squealed, embracing me.
When I looked on our bed, I couldn’t believe it. There was a basket full of Harry Styles merchandise — from T-shirts
to nail polish, autographed photos and more.
It was so kind of him.
Renee and I sat up talking
late into the night.
‘Can you believe it?’ I said. ‘Thank you so much for making
it happen.’
It was her TikTok video that had led to this adventure.
She asked me how it felt to hug Harry.
‘Amazing,’ I laughed. ‘I’m
not showering again!’
Since my unexpected brush with fame,
I’ve had messages from around the world.
His wonderful fans have even elected me Queen of the Harries, the name they call themselves.
‘This has added 20 years to my life,’ I joked to my husband one night, as I went to sleep with Harry’s song Golden playing through my earphones.
He was thrilled for
me — and happy to share me with another man!
I’ll remember my special night with Harry for the rest of my life.
Reina Lafantaisie, 78