Parker: Ace Young gets all hug-happy

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Thursday, September 7, 2006

American Idol's Boulder boy, Ace Young, got a warm welcome home on Tuesday night.

It was clear from the crowd reaction during the American Idols Tour at the Pepsi Center, and it was clear from the more than 100 family, friends and fans who waited in line (some more than an hour) to get their souvenirs signed and pictures taken with the home- grown overnight sensation.

"Give me a hug," Ace must have said a jillion times during the post-concert meet and greet after the performance.

The well-behaved crowd waited patiently for their turn in Ace's afterglow. Ace's proud papa, Jay Young, entertained the troops with stories about his son, the youngest of five boys, while the crowd waited.

Sam Sabine and her gaggle of giggling girls were the last to get autographs and pix with Ace. Sabine was the night's hero to her five friends because her mom, 9News weather woman Kathy Sabine, snagged six tickets.

"We worship her," one of the Ponderosa High School yearbook staffers said, laughing. "Just kidding." Some of the gigglers - April Morris, Whitney Korach, Katie Kethcart, Melanie Lowery and Alyssa Shuman - still had homework waiting after they left close to midnight.

"He's really cute, he's from Denver, he always wears a beanie," the gal pals said about their interest in Ace. "I don't like the beanie," Kethcart countered, but was immediately shouted down by her cohorts.

By the time they met Ace, the girls were approaching meltdown. They each gave him a hug, and posed for pictures individually and together, but a few were rendered speechless from their brush with fame.

"Have you ever met someone famous before?" one of them asked in mock disgust. "You guys are such amateurs."

NO HIDEAWAY: When I walked into Herman's Hideaway near midnight after the Idols' concert Tuesday, the place was packed with fans awaiting the arrival of Taylor Hicks. His band, The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, had warmed up the crowd in anticipation of his arrival.

Anticipating the crowd crush, Hicks must have gone in through the back entrance. But Ace and his equally gorgeous 6-foot-7 older brother, Ryan, were stopped at the curb outside the front door by fans waiting for pix and autographs.

Ryan said, "Stick with me," so a staff member could steer us through the maze of people to a table where I sat with Young's parents, Jay and Kay, and other guests. I filed in behind Ace and in front of Ryan and stepped inside, where the flash of cell phone cameras was blinding.

"I can't see where we're going," I shouted to Ryan.

"I'll show you," he said, placing a guiding hand on my shoulder.

While the rest of the entourage escorted Ace into the green room, Tim, the nice Herman's staffer, took my hand and led me to the table.

As many of these "red carpets" I've covered, I've never walked the walk. When the flashes cleared, the first person I saw was CBS 4 reporter Jodi Brooks, a huge Idol fan.

"It figures you walked in with the family," she said, laughing.

BOY BAND: There was no question that it was Hicks' night with Hicks' band at Herman's. LIMBO (Little Memphis Blues Orchestra), booked on club dates to coincide with several Idol tour stops, ran through their Hicks'-led playlist including Ain't Nobody, Rockin' Pneumonia and The Boogie Woogie Flu, It's All Right, Dance to the Music, Mustang Sally and Take You Higher.

While fellow Idols Ace, Bucky Covington and Elliott Yamin jumped in on familiar songs and added background vocals, Yamin was the only other AI contestant to share Hicks' spotlight with a soulful rendition of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.

HUGHES AND HUBBY: CBS 4 anchor Molly Hughes and hunky hubby, John Butler, were also hanging at Herman's. They had seen the concert, but didn't dare tell their children.

"They wouldn't speak to us for a month," Butler said.

"They're the ones who got us hooked on American Idol," Hughes explained.

Since I'm pretty sure neither boy reads the paper, I think their secret is safe.

EAVESDROPPING: on an "older" woman after the American Idol concert: "It's past my bedtime. In fact, I think it's past the bedtime of most of the people here."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.