From Deseret News archives:
Megastar Miley adding sizzle to Stadium of Fire
Here, let's give it a go.
Miley Cyrus and her Hannah Montana alter-ego are a pop-culture meteor.
Duh. Come on, try harder.
This girl is burning as brightly as the Beatles or Elvis, though they had longer runs and older fans.
OK. Getting there.
She might just be bigger than Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Tom Brady combined. At the height of their powers. And you know Woods and Jordan are guys who made $100 million a year, right?
Now you're talking.
Miley Cyrus could be that kind of megastar, if the 15-year-old with the smoky Southern voice can maximize what could be a short window of opportunity and avoid the increasingly familiar crash-and-burn slides painfully produced by Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears.
And she's coming to little ol' Provo, Utah, on the Fourth of July.
In March, she sold 72,000 tickets in less than a half-hour to a concert in a Houston football stadium. And last week she sold 58,500 tickets in even less time to the Stadium of Fire, the crown jewel of America's Freedom Festival at Provo.
No such problem this year, and the date wouldn't have mattered. Only Tiger can rival Hannah Montana right now.
Pelo and the folks at the Stadium of Fire have pursued her for 18 months. They invited her to headline last year's show and courted her people for the past eight months.
Years of networking with agents and managers of other Disney talents helped, but Cyrus couldn't commit to Provo this year until she learned shooting on her movie would halt for a Fourth of July vacation.
Pelo said the Stadium of Fire had other talent lined up if the answer to prayers that is Cyrus hadn't materialized. Of course, Pelo said, "I think it's safe to say that Miley is the hottest ticket in town, so I can't imagine anyone selling out more quickly than she did."
Some looked at the Stadium of Fire prices and thought they were steep, but Pelo said the event has had a surplus only twice in recent years. When that happens, the money goes to support the free events staged by the Freedom Festival. Pelo is a volunteer, one of about 300 who are the heart of the event along with sponsors who pay much of the freight.
Recent comments
i lived thru the beatles and back then there weren't as many options...
don | July 4, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.
If the Freedom Festival can pay 1.5 million plus to have Miley Sirus...
Kirby C. | April 20, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.
Saw the show in Denver last October. WOW! TO say that she has no...
Ryan | April 14, 2008 at 10:00 p.m.
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Y. focused on 10-win season
74 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...


