Of all the distinctly American pastimes, idolizing celebrities might just be the strangest. Granted, I’m certain other countries have their share of beloved figureheads and entertainers (i.e. the Royal Family), but it’s hard not to feel that the majority of celebrity worship has directly descended from America’s pop culture boom of the 50s.
This phenomenon could honestly extend back to the days of classic Americana heroes like Charles Lindbergh or Davy Crockett. Still, it seems that we Americans love idolizing our celebrities more than ever. Whether they are famous singers, athletes, actors, or (God forbid) politicians, there are probably some Americans out there worshipping them right now.
I can only speculate as to why this fascination maintains such a prominence in our culture. Perhaps it’s because we feel that these often-beautiful people are not just entertainers, but living, breathing proof that the American Dream still exists. Maybe it’s some sort of meek substitute for religion as our society continues to distance itself from traditional spirituality.
Either way, the rise of social media influencers and ever-expanding media consumption only confirms that celebrity worship is an obsession Americans won’t drop anytime soon. You only have to look around you to realize this as celebrities are promoting products on television, being commodified on coffee mugs, and finding themselves plastered on every possible type of outlet.
Yet, that’s just fine for most of us. We love to swim in the lazy river of pop culture, consuming as much as we possibly can. Even as I type this, I’m wearing a shirt with four mop topped Liverpudlian faces on it, which is a celebrity phenomenon that has spanned over six decades.
In fact, it was my own celebrity obsession that initially led me to probe why we Americans love these famous people so damn much. Seriously, I’m just about as bad as everyone else. Besides my many Beatles shirts, I often paint my favorite singers, follow a bunch of actors on Instagram, and have started collecting everything I can find with Audrey Hepburn on it. Like any good American, I am fully enthralled in celebrity culture. Of course, my celebrities are super niche, but I’m ensnared all the same.
Now, this obsession didn’t really become so apparent until I attended an event this past year. Last June, I had the pleasure of experiencing a concert by one of my favorite singers, Zella Day (and yes, I’ve painted her).
For those unfamiliar, Day’s an up-and-coming Indie singer with a strong sixties sound. My sister and I both saw her perform at Union Stage in Washington DC. This show continued her Hot Summer Dreams tour, which itself was promoting her newly released album, Sunday in Heaven. As a major fan of Day for over five years, this was a dream materialized at last.
When she finally took the stage, I still couldn't fully comprehend that that one of my favorite songwriters (and overall people) was singing just fifteen feet away. But she was, and what a performance she brought.
The stage was small, but she utilized every inch of it, always swinging and grooving along to the heartbeat of her songs. She also rocked out relentlessly by shredding on a white guitar and feeding off the appraising energy the crowd constantly fed her.
It was an amazing experience and her performance left me speechless. Sadly though, the night was hardly perfect. At some point, the stage had technical difficulties and Day had to leave. I won’t place any blame because I couldn’t rightly say who (if anyone) was at fault, but the result was about a thirty-minute delay. While the night wasn’t ruined, my dream was starting to feel the cusp of disappointment.
However, that all dissipated as the show ended, as Zella Day announced her intention to meet every single fan after the concert. Sure enough, after an amazing rendition of “Seven Nation Army,” she leaped into the cheering crowd and awaited a massive line of fans who wanted signatures, hugs, and pictures.
Roughly forty minutes to an hour later, I, the most starstruck fan of the bunch, got to meet her. I can honestly say without hyperbole it was one of the best moments of my life. Her kind demeanor, her dedication to her fans, and her inexplicably glowing visage all comprised the amazing person before me, Zella Day.
Now, I know what conventional wisdom says: never meet your heroes. It’s an important caveat to remember, especially as we remain steadfast on idolizing celebrities who are every bit as flawed as us.
I recall reading a story about David Bowie, who was greatly inspired by the creativity of fellow oddball artist Andy Warhol. Bowie even wrote a tribute song to him aptly titled “Andy Warhol” and eventually had the chance to play it for him live at Warhol’s Factory. Reportedly though, Warhol loathed the song, and Bowie was crushed.
Sadly, Bowie’s experience is not an unfamiliar one. There are numerous celebrity encounters ending roughly because, like everyone else, they want to left alone. Sometimes these celebrities even get labeled as difficult for brushing off strangers, such as Jerry Seinfeld. While it’s important to have realistic expectations and remember that celebrities aren’t just here for our pleasure, these encounters can still be devastating for devoted fans.
But when I met Zella Day, I swiftly realized that this would not be a Seinfeldesque encounter. She wasn’t just nice; she was overtly considerate. She didn’t just entertain; she engaged with the crowd in a genuine way. Everything about her just felt magical. Her popularity is nowhere near stratospheric, but her following is strong enough for her to have developed a decent ego. But she hadn’t. Instead, Zella Day was awesome.
Sometime after that surreal night, Zella’s awesomeness got me thinking; what if all this celebrity worship isn’t entirely misplaced? What if it’s even a moderately healthy way to bring joy into our lives?
Of course, there are lines where this could (and tragically has) become unhealthy. Like anything, celebrity worship in excess can destroy you. Your life should never revolve around one singular thing, especially not just another person.
Celebrity worship should also never replace religion or any spiritual center in your life (please don’t pray to Brad Pitt). We need real outlets to think and sort through what we believe as individuals and that doesn’t entail celebrities.
But in terms of loving celebrities because they make us happier in one way or another, I don’t think celebrity worship is that awful. It’s probably not anything new either. I recalled earlier how Charles Lindbergh and Davy Crockett captured America’s hearts by pioneering their way to celebrity status, but they weren’t the first.
Throughout history, artists have been idolized and adorned by the crowds around them. Composers like Mozart and painters like Michelangelo not only developed their talents as artists, but were able to dominate the surrounding culture with their fame and legend.
But even before them, celebrity worship still existed. In medieval times, knights were celebrated as the pinnacle of heroism, participating in jousts and other sporting events before cheering crowds.
Similarly, the Romans had their Colosseum with their own renowned celebrities, such as Gaius Appuleis Diocles, the richest athlete to ever live. As long as entertainment, sports, and art have existed within society, celebrities have been worshipped.
Yet, that’s not to say that celebrity idolization’s centuries old history excuses it as a practice. Humans have acted despicably for their entire history, so there are many practices that should probably be dropped. But I’m not convinced that celebrity worship should be one of them.
Instead, I think that the seemingly bizarre concept can have a positive impact on people’s lives. Afterall, pretty much everyone has at least one actor or athlete that they’re drawn to. Many of these people are not heroes in the traditional sense, but they still make us feel better about ourselves. They simultaneously come off as relatable people, while also exhibiting immense talent.
For many people, they seem to have conquered life and by following them, they can enjoy that success with them. Others just enjoy being routinely entertained by celebrities, whether it be their talent, likeability, or attractiveness. What remains the same is that these celebrities bring a little more joy to us, which is a commodity that seems to become rarer with each passing day.
Lastly, I would like to express why I think celebrity idolization is okay through my personal meeting with Zella Day. After meeting Day and realizing that she’s as fabulous as she always seemed, I felt some level of inspiration. If Zella Day, a twenty-eight-year-old from Pinetop, Arizona, can be popular and successful while remaining a great person, then what’s really stopping me?
I know she has not dominated the music scene, but her face that night, singing an array of beautiful songs, exuded pure jubilation. Zella doesn’t just do what she’s good at; she loves doing it. In many ways, that’s all anyone could ever want from life.
Now, I am not delusional. I know that Day isn’t perfect. She’s not a golden goddess who can do no wrong. She suffers like everyone else. Many of her songs are personal explorations of the very suffering that we all share like heartbreak and loss.
But those faults only inspire me even more. Like me, she has experienced life at its best and worst, yet still chooses to rock the stage relentlessly. So, what’s really stopping me from doing whatever I enjoy too?
Meeting Zella Day is not the most important thing to ever happen to me, but it was a profound moment, nonetheless. While I won’t let it consume me or dictate the rest of my life, I’ll always cherish it as one of my fondest memories. I know many celebrities are not good people and we confuse talent for morality too often. That’s fine, so long as you limit your adoration to a healthy level.
But if you do ever see your favorite actor, athlete, or singer remember that they’re human like you, flawed and all. So, be warned that any interaction might not live up to your expectation and that you shouldn’t meet your heroes (unless they’re awesome).
