To Johnny Van Zant,

I don't know how else to contact you, and I hope you see this post quickly. I want to personally thank you for acknowledging my mom in the second row at Blossom Music Center and shocking all of us by giving her your hat! At 87 years old, she is surely your oldest fan.

My mom, who we affectionately call Mother Outlaw, has been a HUGE fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd for years. Your music has been especially helpful with helping her to carry on since we lost my father in 2002. She watches for you guys on every possible channel and show, including Hannity and Huckabee. She has several Lynyrd Skynyrd concert DVDs and watches your Vicious Cycle concert no less than three times a week!

For the last few years, we have wanted to bring her to a show and, for whatever reason, we never did. This year I decided that I didn't care what it took or how much it would cost, but I was going to get her to the show at Blossom. I wanted her to have seats as close to the stage as possible so that she could see all of you up close. At 87 my brother, nephew and I realized this could very well be our last chance to do take her to a show. I paid an arm and a leg for the second row seats, but it was the best money I ever spent to see her smiling, singing along and laughing. Life just doesn't get any better than making my mom as happy as she was on July 8th.

I truly, truly want to thank you and the entire band from the bottom of my heart for noticing and acknowledging her during the show. Johnny, she had the time of her life that night - and you made it so extra special when you blew her a kiss and later made sure that your hat was passed to her after the show. We were all speechless and our hearts touched. She cried a few happy tears once she recovered from the shock. The only thing that would have made her even happier would have been having the opportunity to meet all of you before or after the show and hug all of you as I know she'd love to do, but we're not greedy people - we'll take this one and absolutely relish the memory!

Thank you ever so much Johnny and Lynyrd Skynyrd for helping to make a dream happen for your oldest fan! I hope that one day I do get to personally thank you and, better yet, bring Mother Outlaw to another show soon! We wish all of you safe travels on your tour and God Bless!

Sincerely,

Lori Prementine
Streetsboro, OH

I HAVE TO COMMENT BROKENWING............... THAT............. IS ONE OF THE MOST MOVING POSTS I'VE READ, AND BELIEVE ME, LIKE YOU, I HAVE READ & READ................ WHAT A SWEET & DEAR THING YOU & YOUR FAMILY HAS DONE FOR "MOTHER OUTLAW"................ WILL YA DO SOMETHING FOR ...... ME?.... WOULD YA GIVE "MOTHER OUTLAW" A BIG OLE SKYNYRD NATION HUG!.................. MAY GOD BLESS YA'LL.............. AND YA NEVER KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS ON THIS HERE SITE.............. WE TOO, HOPE & PRAY THAT JOHNNY CATCHES WIND OF THIS, OR 1 OF THE BAND MEMBERS TELLS HIM ABOUT THIS POST.............. KEEP THE FAITH!.......... AND I'M WEARIN' THAT SAME SHIRT "MOTHER OUTLAW" IS SPORTIN'!

Fabulous! I hope to be rocking just like Mother Outlaw when I am her age! (only 37 years to go!)

Lynyrd Skynyrd has class! ♥

That is AWSOME what is her favorite tune???10-4 rodgger over outs

@workdaze: i almost asked that!............. great minds ay!

=mcskynyrd said:@workdaze: i almost asked that!............. great minds ay!

How long has she been a fan?
The power of music almost never ceases to amaze me lately.

that was great i was standing right behing her. she looked so happy.

@KingAlanI: love that personal line ya have at the end there, aint it the truth! that bein': “Some people said he was useless – them people are the fools."...................... Keep the Faith!

Yeah, I really like that "Ballad of Curtis Loew" quote, so I was quite inclined to choose it for my signature.
Ronnie said it about Curtis of course, but it fits with how some people just don't understand Skynyrd, whereas we do.

@mcskynyrd: Hello mcskynyrd, thank you so much for your reply - it brought tears to my eyes. Johnny and the band will never know how much that night meant to all of us but especially to Mom...there are just no words to describe the heartfelt gratitude we feel. I think she is still wondering if that night was real or a dream. It is so important for me to know that HE knows the wonderful difference he made in someone's life that night! I promised my dad that I would always take good care of Mom and "things" - I can only hope he is happy with what I am doing, and I hope he was watching her having such a ball that night.

Getting someone her age to a crowded concert is no easy task, but the Blossom staff were totally awesome and made it so much easier than we could ever imagine. We kept waiting for that one thing to go wrong, and it never happened. We were so concerned about her being in the extreme temperatures, but our Mother Outlaw was a trooper and stood through the entire show happy as a lark! I promise you that I will give her that big hug!

Again, thank you for your thoughtful post. I sincerely hope the band sees my post or that someone relays it to them. Lynyrd Skynyrd has become a huge part of our family, and we want them to know how much we love them!