Parker: Already basking in afterglow, Ace Young to meet John Elway

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 5, 2006 at midnight

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Fairview High School grad Ace Young feels like he's been dealt a royal flush. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter skyrocketed into the limelight while competing on American Idol. Winning wasn't in the cards for Young, but making it to the final seven suits him just fine.

"Seven is not a bad number for Colorado," Young said, alluding to Broncos great John Elway's number.

The cutie-pahtootie Young is in town this weekend. He'll party with friends and fans, as well as talk to Children's Hospital officials about the best place for the $7,777.77 donation that his fan club, The High Rollers, raised in his name.

Young has volunteered on Christmas Day at Children's Hospital for seven years singing to kids hospitalized on the holiday. ("Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is a smash," he said.)

On Thursday he lunched with Elway's peeps at the Colorado Crush, where Young agreed to sing the National Anthem and perform at a halftime show during Memorial Day weekend - plus meet his idol.

"(Elway's) been an icon to me my entire life," Young said. "For me to be a normal guy and hang out with another normal guy who has done amazing things is going to be a mountain I never thought I'd climb in my life."

Young has been pounding the media trail since departing American Idol last month. He says he's relieved to be off the show.

"I don't have to worry about any more cover songs," he said. "Before Idol I was opening for New Edition and Brian McKnight on tour performing as a solo artist. It was really hard for me to put my own twists on cover tracks."

Now, he's working with "A-List" songwriters on his own album. In the meantime, Young says he's having a blast.

"I'm having the time of my life. Everyone has been so sincere and so nice. I've received more heartwarming hugs in the past two weeks than in my total life."

CINCO SASS: Sammy Hagar (more precisely, his Cabo Wabo Tequila) will be on the rocks at the Hard Rock during a Cinco de Mayo fiesta beginning at 9 tonight in the Denver Pavilions. During the event, sippers can sip on cocktails and dive into dishes infused with Hagar's signature tequila. No cover charge.

WE ALL WIN: It mattered less who won the Mask Project challenge than the fact that the money went to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Cherry Creek mall challenged 9News anchor Kim Christiansen, Denver Post travel editor Kyle Wagner and me, media types touched with breast cancer, to raise the most money for our mask being auctioned last month as part of a massive fundraiser for Hospice of Metro Denver.

My friends don't like to lose. In the end, my pal CRL Associates associate Roger Sherman made the winning bid of a whopping $350 for my mask, painted by local artist Rob Wood. Thank you, Rog, and thank you, Cherry Creek mall, for the generous donation in my name.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman at the Marriott Denver Tech Center: "She's experienced yoga, I've experienced yoga teachers."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-892-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

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