Columns In The Tennessean

Miley Cyrus sighting is exciting.

Follow up:

Click here to see pictures.

A couple of weeks ago Marcy, Darcy, Cricket, and I went to the mall for shoes for Darcy. She had seen a TV commercial and wanted to see what they had in her size.

On our way into the mall, Darcy returned some things at Claire's. That's when I received a "Father of the Day" award.

While at Claire's, Marcy and Darcy were looking at the wall of Hannah Montana merchandise. I was looking out the door at the people passing by. A trio (mom, teen boy, and teen girl) passed and I heard the girl say something. I got Darcy's attention and told her, "If that girl is not Miley Cyrus, she looks and sounds just like her."

The trio had already passed Claire's, but Darcy walked quickly ahead of us, following them into Sears, looking to see if it was her. By the time we caught up with them, Darcy was posing for a picture with Miley Cyrus.

Darcy later told me that when she caught up to Miley in the Sears store, Miley was looking at the Hannah Montana comforter on the bed on display. She was trying to talk her Mom into letting her buy it for herself.

I introduced our family to the mom - Tish Cyrus - and told her of the time Billy Ray came up to us and introduced himself after a movie at our theater. Tish said she remembered him telling her about us, including Cricket. She told Darcy she should come by the movie set sometime and gave Darcy her email address. Darcy also got Miley’s autograph.

Darcy was literally trembling for 15 minutes after the meeting and couldn't wait to get home to email Tish to find out when and where she should go to visit the set. I thought there was a good chance that Tish Cyrus was just blowing us off - a sort of “have your people call my people,” Hollywood thing.

But Darcy emailed, Tish answered, and less than a week after we met them in the mall, we were on the closed set of “Hannah Montana - The Movie” seeing and talking with Miley, Billy Ray, Emily, Jason, and what looked to be a hundred other movie professionals. (If you don’t recognize those names, you’re not close to any young girls.)

Linda, Miley’s on-set teacher, was our guide for the visit. She was very courteous of the other working people’s time, but managed to introduce us, take our pictures with them, and get autographs. Everyone there treated us – especially Darcy and Cricket – like a rock star.

Even when I saw them at the mall, I thought it was nice that Miley’s Mom was with her. Marcy and I watch a lot of TV and see the celebrity news about misbehavior in “Young Hollywood.” We have also seen and heard reporters contrast some of the wild kids with Miley Cyrus. And we heard Miley on TV at the Kids’ Choice Awards acknowledge Jesus Christ as the reason she was receiving her award.

In the Gospels Jesus is likened to a rock – the strong foundation on which we should build our lives. I believe that Darcy knows and practices that. And it’s great to know first hand that at least one of her favorite entertainers also knows the true rock star.

If you know someone in need, find a way treat them like a rock star. Your example could help them build on the right foundation.