CHAPTER 3 "Travels with Kerri"
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portions of it, or delete it and don't tell the author)
As most of you know, Kerri was asked to host the annual Gospel Music Award pre show in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry on April 5th . Since that was quite a big deal she wanted dad and mom to be there to see her and to see the show as well. The only problem with this scenario was that Dick thought he should be the one on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, but having Kerri up there was a close second.
I have to begin by saying that even though this was an honor to be asked to host this show, no money changed hands so everyone had to pay their own expenses. I’m sure that wasn’t a problem for Amy Grant and Randy Travis, but Kerri being on a budget arranged our hotel reservations over the internet. I was a little skeptical when she told me the name of the hotel where we would be staying and I had never heard of it, but she assured me that it was a nice hotel, and that Dad and I had a suite. Also it was convenient to airport and GOO (Grand Ole Opry). Dick and I arrived on Tues. afternoon before Kerri and Ron and Kerri’s publicist (Rhonda). The hotel (you notice I’m not mentioning the name in case some of you have stayed there or have stock in the company) was on hotel row and didn’t look too bad from the outside, but when we entered the lobby and were over powered by disinfectant odors we knew this wasn’t the Ritz. It just looked old and worn. I had asked for a room on first floor as I’m not into elevators (claustrophobic) or climbing stairs, but our room was on the 3rd floor. However, Kerri and Ron and Rhonda were on the first floor.
Since we had so much luggage (we don’t travel light) we had to take the elevator, and after one trip I decided that it would be the stairs from now on and forget about my bad back. I didn’t want to be stuck in that tiny creaky elevator.
I will say that our suite was roomy and that’s about all the positive comments I can make.
I think when Kerri found 2 roaches in her room, she agreed that maybe the Homewood Suites would have been a better choice. However she did get a free night’s stay. At first I was glad we were on the 3rd floor because maybe roaches couldn’t climb that high, but unbeknownst to me, Dick killed one in our bathroom. Just as well I didn’t know until we checked out as I might have stayed dirty the whole 3 days.
Dick and I waited at the hotel for Kerri and Ron to check in before they had to meet Rhonda and then have dinner with one of her agents and an author (Matthew Turner) who has written6 books and wants to collaborate with Kerri on his next one. They did in fact agree to write the book and already have a publisher so just to have sign final papers and get started. There were also representatives from the World Vision Organization (check their web site) who want to set up a tour for Kerri and Matthew to promote the book.
Well back to hotel arrival. Kerri and I have on going discussions about her being on the cell phone or computer most of her waking hours even when she’s with her parents which annoys her mother but dad understands. So would you believe before she came up to our room to say hello she has to go check email. (“It’s business, Mom”) I was pretty cool though and managed only to make a small and not big deal about being second to email. They spent about 30 minutes with us and then were off unpack and go to dinner.
Since Rhonda (publicist) birthday was the next day Kerri asked us if we could get a small cake and we would celebrate when they got home that night. Of course Dick had brought presents for Rhonda as well as for Kerri and Ron (the reason for so much luggage).
Ron and Kerri also bought nice presents for us which was very thoughtful.
Having our priorities in order we went to the Opry Mills Mall to shop for 2 hours and then had dinner at the Alabama (the group) Grill. It was a huge restaurant with memorabilia from every big country star from the present and past, so Dick loved it. Plus they had live country music. The food didn’t live up to the ambience but that was okay.
Then we had to try and find a place that was open at 9 to get a birthday cake. Found a Kroger’s, got a cake, and walked all around the store looking for candles and matches. Then realized we needed plates and forks so made another round of the store. That was not the same as walking a mile around the shopping center and certainly not as much fun.
As we were getting in the car with all this birthday stuff, Kerri called and said they were on their way back to the hotel and since they had eaten a huge meal with dessert, we didn’t need a birthday cake after all. Too late I said keeping my tongue in check as best I could. Dick and I hadn’t eaten dessert so we could just have the whole cake for ourselves which we pretty much did for the next few days.
Did I mention that our hotel was next to a major freeway and that we had opened windows when we arrived because of the disinfectant aroma in the room? So you can imagine trying to sleep to the sound of semi trucks in a convoy right outside the window. We must have slept because at 3:00 A.M. there was what sounded like an explosion outside our window and we both jumped up to see what it was. Would you believe the garbage truck emptying the huge garbage bins from the hotel which happened to be outside our window? That happened 2 of the 3 nights we were there. Do they not work in the day time?
The next day was April 5th, the big day of the GMA show. Kerri, Ron, and Rhonda had to be at the Grand Ole Opry auditorium at 2 so Kerri could rehearse, get made up etc. She was excited but also nervous and I think I was as nervous as she was. Imagine being on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry even if Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams wouldn’t be there in person (maybe in spirit).
Dick and I were told to arrive at 5 as the show would begin at 5:30. As we approached the GOO we were astounded to see people in lines with seemingly no end in sight. We had no idea how many people would attend the pre show or the main show for that matter. Dick found the end of the line while I sat on a bench in the shade (after all it was hot). Being one of the stars of the show, Kerri was given free tickets so we were seated in the center section on the main floor ($200 each) and had wonderful view of the stage. By show time the auditorium was probably half full and people continued to arrive throughout the first hour. Eventually the whole auditorium was full. So Kerri’s task of being funny and entertaining as well as introducing presenters was especially difficult with a continuous moving audience. She handled the situation exceedingly well and the audience laughed, applauded and seemed very responsive to her. The most popular presenter was Pele who got a standing ovation. He’s married to a gospel singer; thus the reason for him being there. Kerri made a joke about being able to kick higher than he could and proceeded to demonstrate.
She told us later that the only time she got a little rattled was when she looked down and Amy Grant was sitting in the front row.
The pre show lasted about 2 hours and ran very smoothly as far as we could tell and Kerri didn’t appear nervous at all although Ron was backstage and said he had to keep telling her to calm down and breathe. A press room with photographers from different magazines and TV shows was set up back stage and Kerri said they all wanted to take pictures of her. Rhonda said they are now posted on 9 web sites but I haven’t seen them.
So on to the main show and a long evening. Kerri, Ron, Rhonda, and 2 of Kerri’s agents came back and sat with us and told us all about backstage at the pre show. Needless to say Kerri was feeling very good but relieved that her part was over.
The two hosts were Kirk Franklin and Rebecca St. James; both singers and multi award winning artists. However since the show wasn’t live, the format was like making a movie with retake after retake and breaks to set up band equipment for each group performing. Kirk Franklin might be a wonderful singer but he couldn’t read the cue cards and had to do each introduction at least 3 times. Kerri didn’t get to do retakes, but thankfully she could read.
Dick and I were unfamiliar with most of the nominees except for the few country stars like Randy Travis and Allison Krause who had made gospel albums. We now have a better appreciation or (I should say knowledge since we don’t understand this kind of music and its appeal) of the young contemporary gospel artists. There was one rock gospel group who used pyrotechnics. Almost every one stood clapping hands and dancing when these groups performed, so just to impress Kerri with how hip her mother is I joined in. Unbeknownst to me, her agent taped this performance on his cell phone camera and it’s now on Kerri’s web site. It was just an excuse to stand up and move around after sitting for so long and of course wasn’t beneficial to my bad back. The things we do for kids.
At around 11:00 Dick and I looked at each other and said we were ready to leave even though the show was still going strong. The rest of the group was tired as well since they had been there 3 hours longer than Dick and me. It had been an exciting and interesting evening to say the least and of course we were very proud of Kerri.
There are other tidbits I could add, but I imagine you’re all ready for this to end. If you have read this far you’re all now members of Kerri’s Fan Club of which I am President so I will update you on several exciting ventures in her future.
First of all the Producer of the GMA Show called Rhonda the next day and said they were so impressed with Kerri’s performance that they want her to come back next year and be a part of the main show. Don’t know in what capacity but made her feel very good.
As I mentioned she will co-author a book about single dating with Matthew Turner and possibly tour with him.
She is writing a monthly column in a new Christian Women’s magazine called Radiant which premiers in April. We have an advance copy but it can be purchased in Christian bookstores soon.
She was interviewed last week on the largest Christian radio show in Canada (Drew Matthews Show) and he called Rhonda and said she was the funniest and one of the best interviews he’s ever done and wants her as a regular. Some of his guests include Bill Gaither, Pat Boone, B.B. King, Kathie Lee Gifford, Stephen Baldwin, Rick Warren, Tim LaHaye, to name a few so that was quite a compliment. He also wants to promote her work in Canada.
She will be on the cover of “Today’s Christian Woman” magazine in November.
Meanwhile she doesn’t have a free weekend until the end of June to come and visit her parents. So please keep her in your prayers and especially her health as she deals with serious allergy issues which aren’t helped by all the stress in her life.
If you have made it this far, you either have a lot of free time or are a true friend. Thanks and Happy Easter.
— Number One Fan (Mom)
