Nearly four months ago, word got out that the megastar Backstreet Boys'
U.S. tour would include a Thanksgiving weekend visit to Rupp Arena, the
first major homecoming for Kentucky natives and cousins Brian Littrell and
Kevin Richardson.
The news unleashed a frenzy of ticket sales, contests and mass, raw fan
fervor not seen for years.
Yesterday, Backstreetmania '99 in Lexington began to wind down.
For Littrell, a Lexington native, the day started early. About 13 hours after
Friday night's concert, Littrell was at St. Joseph Hospital. He visited with
children enrolled in the Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids, the
program he founded in 1998, in partnership with the hospital.
The program offers education, exercise and nutrition for children with
congenital heart problems or those at risk to develop heart conditions.
Littrell was born with a heart defect and had successful corrective surgery in
1998.
During the visit, Littrell accepted a $14,000 check for the Heart Club from
iGive.com, an online shopping service that allows its members to support
their favorite causes.
``I could talk all day and never explain how I felt,'' Brian said describing the
Friday concert. ``It was an unbelievable experience. ... I've been preparing
for the show ever since the tour started. I knew I had to be prepared
physically and emotionally for it, because I knew a lot of my family and
friends were going to be watching us. It's hard enough playing for people
you don't know, but your peers, people you went to school with, your aunts
and uncles you can't mess up in front of them.''
And he still had one more show to go. While it lacked the emotional
electricity of the Friday night show, last night's concert was still a
homecoming celebration for Richardson, Littrell and their families.
``It's been great; it's been a dream come true,'' Littrell's brother, Harold
Littrell III, said after the show. ``Our family is so proud, and everyone is
overwhelmed.''
The biggest change in the second show was that Littrell and Richardson did
not bring their mothers on stage during Perfect Fan, a song Littrell wrote
for his mother, Jackie Littrell. But the connection between mother and son
was still strong.
As Brian sang the line, ``Mom, you always were the perfect fan,'' he
pointed to his mother, who sang along to every word and fought back tears
until she broke down at the end of the song.
The Brian Littrell Healthy Heart Club for Kids will eventually be housed
at the Beaumont Centre Family YMCA. For more information on
donations, call 313-1705.
Heather Svokos and Rich Copley
KFCAU ~ Kentucky's Finest Cousins' Admirers Unite
- Established Jan 1999-