SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2009 – Lucy and I went to get coffee and went to talk outside. We couldn’t believe the day was finally here and just in awe of how things connected us. After that, we went to get dressed and then got a taxi about four blocks from the Staples Center, where the Grammys were going to be taking place. We showed our IDs and Grammys access letters and then given a purple VIP wrist band. Suddenly we were put into groups and escorted inside the Staples Center. No phones were allowed, but we saw people bring them in. Pfft!
The inside looked spectacular with the lighting and colors. The interior was spectacular with all of the lighting and colors. Talent and other people arrived from different angles, so our escort had to take behind the seating area before we were to sit with the celebrities. Did I mention that these seats were $3,000-4,000 a piece? Insane! At that moment, the biggest of the news broke that Chris Brown had hit Rihanna, and it was the talk of the night!
When it was time to be seat fillers, Lucy and I sat on the 4th row, and Brandon got to sit three rows behind us. We could see the stage color stage being set up, and the stairs were lighting up. As I turned to my left to see who I was sitting next to, I realized I was face to face with Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles. His wife sat next to him and asked me if the seat I had taken was mine. I told her that I was a seat filler, and I’d move once an artist was going to go present on stage. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 was sitting in front of us, and behind was Natalie Cole. On the first row, Lucy and I saw Paul McCartney and his wife standing in the first row. Lucy pointed and smiled at Paul, and he reciprocated the gesture. Lucy was glowing from ear to ear. In that same row was Nicole Kidman and her husband and on the center row was Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Myley’s mom. T.I. was behind them. Zooey Deschanel was five rows back. We were right with the stars!
Then everything came into place, and Coldplay opened the show with a ballad-like number on a piano and then sprinted down toward the stage. Lucy and I smiled at each other and saw everyone dancing in their seats. Taylor and Miley stood up and grooved to it. I looked around the arena, and it was indeed a spectacular view of people celebrating this special night.
On the first break of commercial, which in real life lasts about 45 seconds, artists who were about to present on stage ran toward the side, and new seat fillers get to sit in their place. Lucy and I didn’t know if to move, so we stayed one more round to see how things worked. Thankfully, Timothy of The Eagles called out to Taylor and waved at her to come over. She and Miley immediately came to where we were, and Adam Levine high fived them before they got to Timothy. Without second thinking it, I high-fived Taylor and mouthed, “you guys are awesome!” She smiled, high fived me back and talked to Timothy and his wife for a few seconds. Then I see Chris Martin, lead of Coldplay, came over Adam and kneeled beside him to tell him something. Then the narrator of the show informed everyone it was time to go back to their seats.
As the show went on, Lucy, Brandon, and I got to fill in random seats. I saw Justin Timberlake and got to shake his hand as he ran toward the stage. I yelled out, “Jackie Guerra gave me your DVD autograph!” and he smiled. By the half-hour of the show, I was on the third column (right side), and The Jonas Brothers were at the very front. Across from me was Katy Perry (she looked stunning!) and Kid Rock. Before the show ended, Katy Perry took her mom’s hand, and they left the arena. It took me a while to find Lucy and Brandon, but we went out to eat once we did. No after-party of us as we needed a ticket to get in, but it was so much fun!