I was scanning the web this morning looking for new country music news and ran across this precious story of a 9 year old Rascal Flatts super fan.

While most kids her age are fanning themselves over the likes of Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers, 9-year-old Samantha Reick has acquired quite the crush on country supergroup Rascal Flatts.

And for good reason.

Nine-year-old Samantha Reick of Channahon will have her special pink and sparkly cowboy hat on when her mom, Michelle, takes her to Saturday’s Rascal Flatts concert.

Reick will join her mom, Michelle, this weekend as they take the short drive to the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park to attend the girl’s 21st Rascal Flatts concert.

“We took Samantha to her first Rascal Flatts show when she was just 4 years old and she has been hooked ever since,” Michelle said.

Brown-haired, blue-eyed Samantha, who hails from suburban Channahon, gushed, “I have pictures of them all over my bedroom. I have a bunch of drumheads and drumsticks that their drummer has given me. And I can’t sleep without my pillowcase that has a picture of me and the band.

“I started making signs for this concert months ago. The one I’m bringing this time says, ‘I love Rascal Flatts, Love, Sam from Chicago.’ They will definitely know who ‘Sam from Chicago’ is!”

In fact, it’s hard to miss her.

“I’m pretty sure the guys in the band always seem to find me in the crowd because of my cowboy hat. It’s pink and sparkly.”

Her concert stats are enough to make any groupie envious. She has been brought up onstage by lead singer Gary LeVox eight times, including during last year’s sold-out performance at Wrigley Field. She has met the band four times, including one night where she was serenaded with a “Happy Birthday” tune by the country threesome as she waited outside the band’s tour buses at 2 a.m.

“I don’t get nervous at all,” said Samantha, also a fan of country crooners Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Darius Rucker and Lady Antebellum. “They are always nice to me, and I love waving to the crowd when I am up onstage. If I’m having a bad day, all I have to do is hear the guys and it makes everything better!”

Mother and daughter first saw the band at the Illinois State Fair, and “it was a nightmare,” Michelle recalled. “Torrential rain, mud on the cowboy boots and a 4-year-old made for a long night. But you could see in her eyes how much she loved them and their songs.”

Soon after, the duo became members of the Rascal Flatts Fan Club and, in exchange, would score the best seats in the house for every concert, enabling Samantha and her pink cowboy hat to be within eyeshot of the band. Through the years, her concert adventures have taken her everywhere from Tennessee to Michigan and everywhere in between to see the country group, known for songs such as “Life is a Highway” and “Bless the Broken Road.”

And not only do friends and family get a kick out of listening to her post-concert stories, but so do the teachers at Pioneer Path Elementary School in the far southwest suburb, where Samantha is a student.

“They always spend Monday asking Samantha to tell them all of her stories,” laughed Michelle. “I just love seeing how excited she gets. These guys are big in country music. They certainly don’t need to pay her such attention. But they do. I thank them every chance I can.”

Author:  Tricia Despres

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

{source}