Diana Ross fan gets surprise concert tickets before superstar gives him shout-out in show [VIDEO]
This is the heartwarming moment a teenage Diana Ross fan was left in tears when he was surprised with tickets to one of her concerts.
Louie Ranieri, from Rhode Island, is one of the Motown legend’s biggest fans and could barely contain himself when his mother told him he was going to see Ross perform nearly 2,000 miles away in Austin, Texas on Saturday, April 2.
Footage of the moment the 14-year-old was given the tickets went viral and was seen by the superstar who gave him and his mother Kayla a shout-out during the show.
Louie, from Rhode Island, could not believe his eyes when he saw his parents had bought him tickets to see Diana Ross in concert in Texas
Ms Ross, pictured here in 2019, was performing in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, April 2, at a show for the benefit of Austin Children’s Guidance Center
It marked the end of a manic 42 hours for Louie, starting on Friday, April 1, when he was woken up early by his parents.
In the video, which has been viewed more than 4.4 million times on TikTok, Louie’s mother Kayla gives him a new T-shirt of the superstar as a gift.
She asks him if he wants to go to a Diana Ross concert, at which point he freezes and glances at the camera.
‘You’re kidding, it’s April Fool’s,’ he says confidently. He’s initially told it is an April Fool’s joke, before Kayla tells him to check a text message she sent the night before.
When Louie reads the message his eyes go wide as he sees they have tickets to a Diana Ross show.
He looks over and asks if they’re kidding, unwilling to accept the news.
Louie had been woken up early on Friday, April 1, by his parents to be told the news and initially thought it was an April Fools joke
Louie hugs his mom Kayla in thanks for the tickets, and was told he had to leave as they had to make a nearly 2,000 mile journey to Austin, Texas, for the show
His mother then reveals the show is in Texas and they have to leave at that moment to make it, at which point Louie breaks down in tears.
The teenager gets to his feet and gives his mom a big hug, thanking her for the incredible gift.
As it sinks in Louie begins to well up again and his mom says it was ‘worth every penny’.
During the show the 78-year-old, pictured here performing on Saturday, gave Louie a special shout-out after seeing his video
It was a dream come true for Louie, who began listening to Ross when he was a child with his great-grandfather, who has since passed away, reports Newsweek.
Even the prospect of a nearly 2,000 mile journey from Rhode Island to Texas couldn’t dampen his spirits, and things got even better at the concert in Austin on Saturday, April 2.
The show was being held to raise money for Austin Children’s Guidance Center, which reached out to Louie and offered him front row seats after the original video of his reaction prompted an influx of donations.
Footage shows Louie at the concert, wearing his brand new Diana Ross T-shirt, when the superstar gives him a shout-out.
The 78-year-old talks about the video and tells Kayla ‘it really is about a mother’s love’ and dedicates a song to Louie.
She then signs a poster for the ecstatic teenager, who is dancing along to her hit song Upside Down.
On her TikTok later, Ross said: ‘The story of this young man and his mother really touched me.
‘A mother’s love is beautiful and a very special love indeed. Kayla and Louie, keep shining and smiling!
‘It was so lovely to see you at the show. Thank you to all who sent me their viral video.’
