Local Teen Battling Cancer Gets Shout Out From Taylor Swift At ACM Awards
By Crystal Cranmore
VOORHEES, N.J. (CBS) - A New Jersey teen who is battling cancer and was unable to attend The Academy of Country Music Awards with his date Taylor Swift Sunday night, received a special shout out from the musician.
"My date tonight was supposed to be a high school football player named Kevin McGuire and he's not here, but I promised I'd give him a shout out," Swift said after accepting her Entertainer of the Year award. "Kevin and all your family and all your friends, thank you for wanting to take me to the ACMs."
Eighteen-year-old Kevin, a senior at Sterling High School, has been undergoing treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and initially hoped to take the pop star to his senior prom. Kevin's sister, Victoria, created a Facebook page for Kevin to help get the word out about his prom date idea and to his surprise, he got a response.
Swift couldn't make the prom, but instead invited McGuire to the Academy of Country Music Awards (see related story).
McGuire accepted Swift's invite but reportedly fell ill Friday night and was hospitalized, unable to make it to Las Vegas.
Fortunately, McGuire's health improved and he was later released from the hospital. He and his friends were able to watch Swift's shout out on television.
