He just might be N.L.'s biggest Shania Twain fan, and he got to meet her backstage - Action News
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He just might be N.L.'s biggest Shania Twain fan, and he got to meet her backstage

Shania Twain superfan Lukey Whelan met his idol backstage during this past weekend's Churchill Square Music Festival and she dedicated a song to him.

Lukey Whalen gave the country superstar flowers and a friendship bracelet

Young in blue shirt and jeans man standing next to woman in a black shirt and black skirt.
Shania Twian superfan Lukey Whelan gave his idol flowers and a bracelet backstage. (Submitted by Lynn Palfrey)

While legendary musician Shania Twain was on stage at the recent Churchill Square Music Festival, she dedicated one song to a Newfoundland and Labrador superfan in the crowd.

"This one's for you, Lukey!" she called out at Friday's concert, dedicating her performance of Up! to Lukey Whelan.

For the concert,Whelan had donned a cowboy hat that lit up and held a sign that read "Hi,Shania! I'm Your Biggest Fan in NewfoundlandLukey."

Whelan has Down syndrome but he said he likes to call it "Up syndrome" because he's "reaching for the stars," which is also hismotto and something he toldTwain when they met backstage, set up by festival organizers after Whelan and his mother, Lynn Parfrey, contacted them to tell them Whelan has been a big fan since he was young.

Whelan told her, "'There's nothing down about me,'" which Palfreysaid Twain called "brilliant."

WATCH | Lukey Whelan on the thrill of Shania Twain dedicating a song to him:

Shania Twain superfan Lukey Whelan busts out his moves

13 days ago
Duration 1:44
Lukey Whelan was able to meet his idol musical legend Shania Twain at the recent Churchill Square Music Festival and even had a song dedicated to him.

Whelan also had gifts for his idol: flowers, and a bracelet that featured pink, white and green beads, two lucky charms, and the message "I You." And he came away with a hat featuring Twain's signature, reading, "To Lukey, love Shania."

A young man holding up a sign and wearing a cowboy hat. A woman standing besides him with a cowboy hat doing the peace sign.
When Whelan and his mother, Lynn Palfrey, heard Twain was coming to perform in St. John's, they contacted concert organizers to tell them what a big fan he is. (Jonny Hodder/CBC)

Palfrey, said that when Up! started to play, Whelanbusted out his dance moves.

"Lukey Whelan's known for his moves, hey? And he showed it there when Up! came on. All the crowd came right around Lukey," she said.

Two people wearing cowboy hats and smiling
At the concert, Twain dedicated a song to Whelan. (Submitted by Lynn Palfrey)

Palfrey added she also held up her son's sign throughout the concert, and the big, blue glowing singbecame something of a landmark for other festivalgoers.

"When we were dancing away, some of the girls there would go to the washroom and they said, 'The only way I could find my husband in the crowd was I looked for Lukey's sign because it was all lit up,'" Palfrey said, laughing.

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With files from The St. Johns Morning Show