Getting Kevin Bacon to come to Payson, Utah, was no easy feat. Just about anyone who has spent the past year trying to get his attention will tell you that.

There’s been letter-writing campaigns, a 1980s-themed homecoming dance, a town screening of “Footloose,” a video from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Mr. Bacon pageant, a #BacontoPayson social media effort and website, community outreach to raise money for his charity SixDegrees, and so, so much more.

To make a long story short, it worked.

On a warm spring Saturday, Payson High School students — many wearing their green-and-white student government sweaters and Bacon to Payson T-shirts that they designed themselves — gathered on the football field to welcome the movie star back to his “Footloose” roots.

From Caitlin Clark to Utah Jazz commentary, Utah alum Holly Rowe is covering it all

Speaking at the Parry D. Sorensen Distinguished Lecture at Red Butte Garden on Friday night, University of Utah alum Holly Rowe recalled how $25 changed her life.

While at the U., Rowe was hired as a stringer for a Chicago radio station to get postgame sound from the Chicago Bulls locker room when they played the Utah Jazz.

For a total sum of $25 for the night’s work, Rowe interviewed Bulls stars, including Michael Jordan.

Though she cashed the check — “I did cash the check because I was super poor,” she said — Rowe saved the pay stub, which is framed in her office.

“I was getting paid to interview Michael Jordan,” Rowe said.

Read more about Rowe's experiences covering sports.

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