The Potty Mouth Granny

Three years ago, I went to a concert solo—and I had an absolute blast! I went to see Duran Duran, one of my favorite 80s bands of all time. And of course, the night was made even better by the fact that one of my many “don’t-know-they’re-my-men” crushes was there: the band’s lead guitarist, John Taylor.

Chile, I had a ball—but it also hit me that most of the musicians I love aren’t young anymore. And truth be told, I’m a grandmother now! So I made a pact with myself: to see as many of my favorite artists as I possibly can, while I still can.

So far, I’ve checked quite a few legends off my list: Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, Janet Jackson, Martha Wash, MC Lyte, Raheem DeVaughn, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Big Daddy Kane, Usher, Karyn White, Eric Roberson, Res, Maxwell, and more. Whew—sometimes I feel like I deserve a Lifetime Achievement Award just for keeping up with all these shows!

And I’m not slowing down either. In the next few weeks and months, I’ve got Charlie Wilson, Babyface, El DeBarge, Raphael Saadiq, and Erykah Badu on the calendar. Let’s be real: I might be a grandmother, but I’m also the grandma who’ll leave a babysitting gig early if it means catching Usher hit the stage. The way I see it, if these artists sang me through my teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s, the least I can do is scream for them in my 50s.

Being single hasn’t slow me down either. I’ve learned I don’t need a date to dance, sing my heart out, and celebrate life. These concerts remind me that joy isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create. And this concert-going granny plans to keep on creating it, one show at a time.