Ken and Kerry's Garth Brooks 30th anniversary

The date: Feb 17th, 1994. The Place: The Providence Civic Center.

Kerry was excited to see her favorite artist Garth Brooks perform live for the first time, however, the mood was slightly spoiled. You see, Kerry was expecting a big surprise just three days earlier for Valentine's Day, a big diamond-shaped surprise. Trying not to let irritation of attending this concert with her apparently not-fiance, she dawned her matching Brooks and Dunn flame button-down and headed to the arena in attempted good spirits. But you see, all was not lost, for Ken had an even better proposal in mind!

Just a few weeks earlier, Ken had stood in the line at the mall (back when you had to get concert tickets at the mall) and managed to snag 2nd row floor seats for the upcoming Garth show! His engagement plans were coming up daisies! In addition to his seats, he was able to help 10 of their closest friends and family snag concert tickets as well, planting them sneakily in the stands with a big "Kerry, will you marry me" banner. Now all he had to do was wait for intermission, and that was it, he would pop the question!

Prior to the show starting however, Ken had succumb to the most instinctual of bodily functions, and headed off the floor to find the restroom. Coming up to the bathroom, he saw a crowd forming around someone, waving merch. Walking over, he saw none other than Garth's manager! He was offering to take merch backstage to have Garth sign it. A man on a mission, Ken strode over and shimmied his way to the front.

"Hey man, I'm sorry, I don't have any merch on me, but I'm actually planning to propose to my girlfriend tonight during the show! I've got my family out in the crowd with a banner and everything, I was going to do it during intermission! Do you think you could mention it to Garth?"

The manager looked Ken up and down and said, "Garth is going to love this man, hold tight. I'll let him know."

After a few minutes, the manager came back and said, "Ok man, Garth knows. He's not sure when or if he can fit it in the show, but he's going to try."

Dumbfounded, Ken bounded back to his seats to tell his friends the intermission proposal was off, don't roll out the banner! We have to wait, Garth knows it's happening.

Now the anxiety begins. 1/2 of the show done, and not a whisper of a proposal from the man on stage. Ken's starting to sweat. He already called off the mid-show proposal. Was this all coming crashing down, was the show going to end fiance-less? Intermission came and went, and now all Ken's faith was placed in Garth.

But why would anyone doubt the magic of Garth Brooks himself? About three-quarters of the way into the show, Garth finishes a song and starts addressing the crowd.

"You know, tonight's a night of love and hope and new beginnings. I heard there's going to be another new beginning happening right here, in this room. Kerry, I think Ken's got something to ask you."

Kerry, enraptured in Garth and the moment starts frantically looking around the crowd to see who Garth could possibly be talking about. It wasn't until the spotlights hit and she turned to see Ken on his knee, that it finally sunk in.

"Kerry, will you marry me?"

...

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read my favorite love story! It's almost 30 years to the day that Ken and Kerry's love story started with a country singer, a question, and some Friends in Low Places. What I would have given to have seen this magic in person! And with your help, I just might be able to!

Garth is returning to the stage again for his Las Vegas Residency, and what serendipitous timing! It's my dream to fly Ken and Kerry to Vegas this coming spring (April/ May), book them a romantic room, and get them amazing seats to remind them of the night that started it all! I've pulled the Brooks and Dunn shirts out of storage, and I'm ready to ride!

If you've been fortunate enough to experience their love story as well, please consider donating! I am putting this together on my own, and will be sending them on this trip no matter what, but if you'd like to contribute, truly anything helps! Thank you in advance for your generosity, and I can't wait to finally see Garth with my parents!

All my love and gratitude!

Ken and Kerry's Daughter,

Shealyn