Northern Ont. woman reflects on meeting Harry Styles and her magical night at Grammy Awards
A northern Ontario woman had the rare opportunity to meet her favourite musician at the Grammys, thanks to social media platform, TikTok.
Reina Lafantaisie, 78, of Sudbury attended the Grammys as Harry Styles’ super-fan and was shocked when she was invited on stage and asked to read the winner of ‘Album of the Year.’
Lafantaisie’s granddaughter, Renee Grenon, said it all began during a family get-together during the holidays.
Grenon said the family began discussing their favourite artists and her grandmother spoke at length about Harry Styles.
“She went on a 10-minute speech to the entire room about how Harry Styles is the ultimate entertainer, he’s got it all, he’s humble, he’s a kind person and she was just speaking so passionately,” she laughed.
Grenon said she couldn’t help but secretly record the conversation and put the edited the 10-minute clip TikTok.
The next morning, the video had gone viral.
Lafantaisie said she was upset at first that her granddaughter had posted the clip to social media, but quickly changed her mind.
A few weeks later, a Grammys producer invited Lafantaisie to the show as Harry Styles’ Superfan, while Grenon was allowed to accompany her as a guest -- but wasn’t allowed to attend the show.
They said they weren’t given a lot of information about what was going to happen.
When it came down to the moment for ‘Album of the Year,’ Reina Lafantaisie said she had no idea she was going to be asked to read the winning name. (Photo courtesy of Chris Pezzello)
“We were told to tell our families to watch the Grammys, but that was it,” said Grenon.
Lafantaisie didn’t expect to meet Styles at all, let alone three times.
She had brought a card with her to give to Styles and she gave it to a producer who she’d been in touch with. She said Styles had just accepted his first award when he came walking in her direction.
“He saw me and came up to me and did a double take and said, ‘it’s you!’” she said.
The second time she saw him was when she was waiting in line to go the bathroom.
“He saw me again and came up to me and touched my face and said ‘thank you so much for the beautiful card,’” Lafantaisie said.
“How much can one woman take?!”
When it came down to the moment for ‘Album of the Year,’ Lafantaisie said she had no idea she was going to be asked to read the winning name.
“I certainly didn’t know I was going to give the award to Harry Styles,” Lafantaisie laughed.
She said she didn’t bring her glasses up on stage out of shock, and had trouble reading the name.
“I couldn’t see that well and I’m looking and there’s big enough letters and I couldn’t really see it at all,” she said.
“But then I got the focus enough and I saw it said ‘Harry’, and then I was OK and I shouted it out as hard as I could.”
Grenon, who was watching from her hotel room next door, said she was shocked to see her grandmother up on stage.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
When it came down to the moment for ‘Album of the Year,’ Reina Lafantaisie said she had no idea she was going to be asked to read the winning name -- Harry Styles. (Supplied)
“I was like, ‘what is happening right now?’”
After Lafantaisie called his name, Styles came up on stage to accept the award, giving her a big hug.
“I never expected he’d run up to me and give me a hug like that,” she said.
“And when he did that, I don’t know how my knees didn’t buckle.”
Lafantaisie said there are a number of reasons why she likes the musician so much. She said she’s seen Elvis Presley twice, and Styles’ magnetism and star power remind her of him.
He’s also what she expected.
“He’s so caring and a warm human being. He is such a good human being.”
At her granddaughter’s place in Toronto before heading home to Sudbury, Lafantaisie said it’s a moment she won’t soon forget.
“I’ll remember that until the day I die,” she said.
“You’re talking to a very happy, very fulfilled grandmother.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Security guard shot, critically injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.