My mother as my guest, I attended the Good Morning America show yesterday featuring Randy Travis as the musical guest. When we arrived outside, Randy was wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt while rehearsing with the band.

My mother and I, along with four others, were allowed in first and closest to the stage for the show. We were fortunate to see 'Digging Up Bones' being played live as the bumper before going to commercial. We were so close to the stage that when the guitarist picked up his guitar, I had to literally lean back to avoid being poked in the eye.

Randy then proceeded with 'Dig Two Graves', 'Forever and Ever Amen', and then an Internet-exclusive performance of 'Everything I Own (Has Got a Dent).' All three songs were performed with such power and emotion that it was purely tangible. The audience coordinator then came over to us, and told us to be relaxed and 'chill' with the band after it went off the air, and we may have the opportunity to take pictures with Randy and potentially get a few autographs. We were incredibly excited.

Then it all came crashing down. A woman named 'Peg' (you probably saw her on TV with the black cowboy hat if you watched the show) literally had the nerve to jump up onto the stage as Randy was putting his guitar down after the final song. She handed her camera to the guitarist and threw her arm around Randy and took a picture with him. Then she asked the guitarist to take another. Peg's friend then ran up on the stage and started pestering Randy for a picture. Soon enough, inevitably, the ABC crew saw these two on the stage and became irritated. What right did anyone have to jump onto the stage and ambush Randy anyway? The audience coordinator told us we all had to leave and directed us toward the exit, while they took Randy out a different way. What a shame.

The performance was amazing, and my mother and I enjoyed it. However, it did place a damper on the day by not even obtaining a picture or autograph because of the ridiculous actions of an adult woman who was acting out of line. Every one could have had a little meet and greet if Peg didn't snap, run onto the stage, and upset ABC security.

Forever and ever amen,

Anthony Maurizio
anthonymaurizio2k2@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/kid_dynamite85