A Dream Come True with Barry Manilow [PHOTOS]

It was a night I'll never forget, a memory that will be cherished and a moment that will never be topped.

Barry Manilow made a stop at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. I have been a Barry Manilow fan since the 70's. I would listen to my sister's albums and sing the words to "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana." I had never seen him in concert and this was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

During presale, I bought two 3rd row seats. I was absolutely fine with that. I was going to be there and I was going to be pretty darn close.

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A week and a half before the show, they released front row tickets that had been part of a fan club package, which happens a lot (Paul McCartney fans - take note - keep checking Ticketmaster!). They were the same price I had paid for 3rd row ($169). I called Ticketmaster and was able to exchange my 3rd row tickets for FRONT ROW CENTER! I honestly didn't think things could get any better, but they did.

Dave Koz opened the show with a 1/2 hour set. What an amazing saxophonist, and pretty easy on the eyes, too. He was fantastic and a great warm-up for Barry, but this Fanilow was ready for some Manilow!

I don't even know what time Barry came on stage, maybe 8:30 PM. I believe it was an hour and a half show.

Time pretty much stopped when he stepped on stage. He played most of his greatest hits, including "Weekend in New England," my absolute all-time favorite Barry Manilow song. He recently released an album called "My Dream Duets" which celebrates his own musical heroes that are no longer with us like Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, John Denver and Andy Williams. He sang a "duet" with Judy Garland, "Zing! When the Strings of My Heart." Many of his hits were included in a medley.

He finished the show with "I Write the Songs," "Copacabana" and "It's a Miracle." The Augustana Choir came on stage and backed Barry for those songs.

I heard he had a 13-piece band. I honestly wasn't focused on them, so it may or may not be true. There were a lot of musicians on stage. He also had 3 backup singers who were super talented.

So, now for the highlight of my night. My friend Christy and I are both huge fans of Barry Manilow and we were ecstatic to be sitting in the front row, singing the songs and taking in every minute of this unbelievable night.

During the show, Barry said to the crowd, "Who wants to dance with me?" Well, heck yeah, I do!

I raised my hand and said "I do, I do!" Barry had me come up on stage with him!!!  (o.k. seriously, there are not enough exclamation points in the world to put after that sentence!) He sang part of "Could It Be Magic" to me.  Things like this NEVER happen to me! I'm not sure how all the stars aligned on April 6, 2016, but they did and no moment will EVER top that moment. ~ Drop mic ~

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