I love my daughter more than words could possibly express. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her… except, perhaps, spend 144 hours hugging a statute of “Hannah Montana.” Actually, I’d probably do that too. Thankfully, though, I haven’t been put in that position.
Which is more than can be said for Jody Powell. The 35-year-old soon-to-be step father of a die-hard “Hannah Montana” fan hung on to a 12-foot statue of “Hannah Montana” for the better part of six days to win tickets to a sold-out concert by Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel TV series.
The Tampa resident entered the contest in an effort to get his hands on four tickets to the mega-popular show for his fiancée and her 7-year-old daughter who happens to share the same first name as the beloved Disney Channel star.
Powell was one of twenty contestants who put their lives on hold last week so they could place their hand on a 400-pound “Hannah Montana” statue in the parking lot of a local radio station sponsoring the contest. Each contestant was given 12-minute breaks every three hours. They also received catered meals, but weren’t allowed reading material or access to cellphones or iPods.
The contest began last Thursday and ended yesterday afternoon when Powell was declared the winner. Powell caught a break when his competition (the other remaining contestant), Lara Padgett, became distracted and let go.
Man, you’ve got to feel for that woman.
Hours after Padgett was eliminated from the contest she was admitted to a local hospital and later released.
“That sun really got to me today,” said Padgett, who later said she was feeling much better. “I took my hand off the fur-lined boot.”
Lucky for Padgett she learned a thing or two from watching “Survivor” and “Big Brother.” According to the heat exhausted mom, she and Powell struck a deal when they got to the final two. Powell would get the concert tickets; Padgett settled for the two backstage passes that were part of the prize package; and they will split the $5,000 cash prize.
Not bad.
Would you have done the same for your kid?