Hooray for Underwood (Carrie, that is)
Yesterday morning, "American Idol" alum and country singer, Carrie Underwood received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It really was the quintessential Hollywood day - small town girl once again makes the big time. It's the underdog story we've rooted for.
"How did a girl from Checotah, Oklahoma get her star on the Walk of Fame?" she asked the crowd. "I will tell you how...Belief."
She thanked those who believed in her along the way, from her family to her husband, Mike, and son, Isaiah, as well as the fans who have been there from the beginning.
I am included in that group who has been there from the start.
From the moment she walked into that "American Idol" audition back in 2004, I was a fan. In fact, it became a family thing as my parents were fans, too. My mom and I voted every week, cheering her on from our couch, hoping that Carrie would advance to the next week, but it was obvious she was already a star.
Over the years, my family and I have traveled to Nashville for her fan club parties and a few Opry performances and have driven a couple hours for special appearances in the Los Angeles area. We've attended every tour and have also had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. And as much as I love her as an artist and performer, I love her as a person even more for her faith, her humility and the way she lives her life.
Being able to see her receive one of the highest honors of her career in person was one of the best experiences I've ever had. It was also a reminder of what it means to follow your dreams and what God can do when you follow His plans for your life.
As a fan, it has been so cool "getting to know" her and seeing the transformation of this shy, small town girl with a big voice completely grow into a superstar.
Tips for Attending a Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony:
Arrive early
I'd read online that it was important to get there early, because they give out wristbands around 10 a.m. My dad and I left close to 7 a.m, but ran into a bit of traffic (because LA) and made it in front of Capitol Records just in time - around 9:30 a.m. We got in line, which didn't look too deep, and a few minutes later, security started passing out wristbands. It seemed like they still had quite a few to give out, too. It really just depends on who is receiving the honor and the fan base, so time of arrival will differ with each ceremony.
A few minutes later, we were escorted to the "fan" section just behind the family/friends section of the tent, where we waited until the ceremony began at 11: 30 a.m. They were playing Carrie's latest album, "Cry Pretty" over the loud speakers while we waited and details were being finalized. I passed the time by taking pictures with my camera for practice and tweeting any updates that were going on. This was one of the shortest amounts of time I've had to wait for an event, so it passed off pretty quickly.
Soon, the small space in front of us was filled with Carrie's band members and other VIPs. We also saw the Underwood/Fisher families and a couple of Carrie's best friends, Mark and Ivey Childers, as they entered to take their seats!
It's always astonishing how crazy and chaotic a Hollywood event can be. You should see the red carpets!
Ceremony
The ceremony lasts about 30 minutes with two guest speakers and the guest of honor. In this case, Brad Paisley and Simon Cowell both spoke about Carrie, and then Carrie said a few words and gave a few thank you's. Afterwards, it was mostly just a photo session for about 10-15 minutes of Carrie with her family and friends by the star.
Fans stayed by the gate hoping that Brad, Simon, and of course, Carrie would come over to sign and take pictures afterwards. At each of these events, there are always the "paparazzi" guys who come prepared with their stacks of photos and turn around and sell on Ebay. They tried calling Brad over while the ceremony was still going on, and he rightfully ignored them. The day was about Carrie, not him, and he was respectful of that. I wish he would've come over after, just because I'm a big fan of his, too, but it's all good. Carrie was ushered off to the reception held after in Capitol Records, but waved and said she was sorry she couldn't stay.
Simon Cowell himself actually walked over to the fan area and took selfies and talked with everyone. I was able to get my picture with him. That was exciting for me since I've been a huge fan of "American Idol" and he was one of the original judges. He seemed very nice! Or maybe it was because he was hungover....I'm not sure. HA! Either way, it was cool.
We tried hanging around for a few minutes, but security started encouraging everyone to leave, once Carrie had exited. We were able to snag one of the Variety magazines they'd left on the guest's seats before they arrived. Little did I know, there was a big spread of Carrie and congratulatory messages to her from Creative Artists Agency, Simon Cowell, Mike Fisher and more. Great photos and an article on Carrie! I hope to get it signed if I meet her during her tour. Definitely a great keepsake item either way!
They also gave us bottles of Hint water, with flavors like blood orange and lime. Very refreshing after waiting in the sun for a few hours.
Getting a Photo with the star
Of course you want to be able to get your own photo with the star once the ceremony has wrapped, because the star is still in exceptional condition and very clean. However, it does take a bit for them to strip the area of the tents and equipment set up. One of the security guards mentioned that we'd have to wait three hours and I'd also heard someone else say "after 2:30." My dad and I went to lunch and stopped by about two hours later and the area was empty. We also ran into another couple we'd stood next to during the ceremony who had the same idea.
Look how pretty it is! It felt like I was posing next to one of my friends' stars. I'm always proud to be a fan, but moments like this just make it even more exciting.
Other Tips:
Dress comfortably - you are not the one attending the event or receiving the honor, so it's okay to dress as such. Depending on the weather, which is generally in the 80's, you should dress cooler and wear comfortable shoes as you will be standing for at least 2-3 hours either in line or in the fan section.
Hydrate! Make sure you drink water, especially if you're standing directly in the sun. You might not feel like you need it at the moment, but you will feel it later. I bought a water bottle from Starbucks, but didn't drink any. Don't be like me!
Wear sunscreen. Again, this was something I forgot to do that morning. Depending on where the location of the star is and how the setup is, you might be directly in the sun.
Bring something for the recording artist or actor to sign. They might not have time for selfies or posed pictures, but an autograph can often be quicker. It's better to be prepared (Again, I forgot about this one, too).
Do scope out the area first to know where to park. Luckily, we drove by the area on Sunday and knew there was a parking lot next door, but there are often cheaper solutions. We just didn't have much time to drive around and see what else was available. Depending on the area of the star, there might be a few options.
I would 10/10 recommend attending a ceremony, especially if it's for someone you really love. Everything seemed to be very well organized and on time and it really does get you up close and personal with your favorite stars! It's very quick and a fun way of hopefully meeting your favorite actor or musician.
That's all for now,