It has taken her 83 years... but a determined pensioner has finally met her hero after he personally invited her to his concert.
Gladys Smith has always loved the pop rock singer Michael Bolton, and has wanted to meet him for years.
Staff at Milton Lodge Care Home in Colchester, where Gladys, 83, lives with her husband, Dick, 85, wanted to make it happen.
He gave Gladys a special shout out, inviting her to his show at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend.
She attended the concert last night, where she met her hero and he even gave her a kiss.
Trudi Snee, manager at the home, said: “Her daughter Maxine and son Mitch went along, as well as Dick.
“At the beginning it was a bit touch and go as Gladys wasn’t feeling well, and we didn’t know if she was going to be able to sit through the whole concert.
“But on the way back she was even more awake and alive than before, she was so happy.
“She absolutely loved it, at the meet and greet he kissed her on the lips and she said she is never washing her face again.”
The party arrived at the theatre in time for a nice cup of tea before the show.
There was a support act before Michael Bolton came on stage.
Trudi said: “When he first came on you should have seen her face, she was mesmerised and she just kept staring at him. She was so engrossed.
“At the end she went and met him, we managed to get her to the front of the queue and there must have been about 40 people waiting to meet him.
“When she came out she just kept saying ‘he kissed me, I can’t believe it, I never thought he would kiss me’. When I asked her what her favourite song was, she said she loved every single one.”
The staff filmed Gladys singing along to the favourites, including When a Man Loves a Woman and How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.
Even her husband Dick, who has never been a Michael Bolton fan, had a great time.
Trudi said: “Dick absolutely loved it, when we were in the taxi home he kept asking where we were going next. We were all surprised at how much he enjoyed it.”
Gladys left with a mug with Michael Bolton’s face on, and a banner, but her favourite thing to take away was the kiss.
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