I think my Mary Wilson story is perhaps my favorite celebrity meeting story of all of them.

It was April 209. She was regal, witty, warm, and perfect... all at 11 pm on a random weeknight after a full day of activities.

Not a SINGLE hair was out of place. Lipstick? FRESH.

I had arrived in Austin, TX late night, before two talks I have the next day at the LBJ Library at UT-Austin. I was doing a panel and interviewing @ValerieJarrett for their Summit on Race in America.

I took an Uber to the boutique hotel they put us up at. Because I travel so much I’m *super* picky about where I stay. It doesn’t have to be 5 star-I just need it to be extra clean. And boutiques can be hit or miss on that. I walk into ALL of them like Inspector Gadget...

I’m in line to check in and doing my normal looks. Looking to see how clean the lobby is...floors...if it’s a building that’s hiding issues...normal super traveler stuff. My head is on swivel.

But I get completely distracted by this extra distinguished elder Black man.

Brotha is CLEAN. Cleaner than the board of health. Sharp as a tack.

Suit, hat, shoes shined up... I love seeing black elders dressed to the nines

He turns around & I realize: It’s Duke Fakir of the Four Tops. I’m standing next to music royalty. https://www.hourdetroit.com/music-topics/the-four-tops-duke-fakir-is-ready-to-get-back-on-the-road/

At this point I’m like “damn my hotel inspection THAT’S DUKE FAKIR.”

He greets me. Totally kind and pleasant. Million dollar smile.

My internal dialogue is all “be chill, B.” I’m blessed to have met many folks I admire but it’s something about the elders.

My dad was an amateur DJ in his spare time so I grew up with all the greats. I’d flip through his albums and he’d walk me through music history on our long rides to and from church. So despite the generational difference, I knew who I was talking to!

I got up the gumption and spoke back, we chatted for a bit, and he walked to the hotel lounge.

Now, it wasn’t a big hotel, and you know boutique hotels like to charm you with a stylish lounge/bar area.

It’s like, 11 pm, I’m off a long flight, I’m exhausted. But the bar is JUMPIN. I had missed the opening dinner of the conference-from which Duke had just returned-and it was clear the let out was at this bar lol.

I’m exhausted but I’m also like...

As I start to look in the bar, I see that Duke has had a seat on a couch.

Across from him...

Is frigging Claudette Rogers (Robinson) of the Miracles, sitting pretty and perfect. And next to her, in a red one-shoulder cocktail dress with pearls and heels...

Is Mary Wilson.

My daddy ain’t raise no fool, now. If I see someone I admire, I’m gon say so. Politely, of course, but I’m not letting the moment pass just for me to regret it later.

So I pull my carry on luggage over into the bar, looking every bit like I just got off a long flight, and spoke

ALL of them were literally THE NICEST celebrities I’ve ever met. And they’re not just famous. They’re *legends.* If they *had* been jerks, I wouldn’t have even cared cause like...you gave us Motown Magic. You earned it LOL.

But they are SO. DAMN. NICE.

So Mary Wilson (gotta say her whole name. Every time) asks me about myself and we talk a little about the conference. She says the dinner was wonderful and I really missed a good time.

I go to excuse myself and let them get back to it AND SHE INVITES ME TO HAVE A DRINK.

SO NOW IM HAVING A NIGHTCAP WITH A FOUR TOP, A MIRACLE AND A SUPREME.

It took everything in me to be cool. Exhibit A w @kidnoble

They gave me all the good stories. Incredible recording tales. Aretha had just passed the last summer so they talked a lot about her and the days of them all growing up in Detroit. Who loved who. ALL LEGENDARIC TEA. Whole time I’m sitting across from them all just..

(They also told me Otis Williams was supposed to come but couldn’t make the trip. And despite the best biopic ad lib of all time, I *absolutely* woulda come to see Otis.

Exhibit B, also w @kidnoble )

We ended up talking for like a good hour, and I got my whole lil young fan life. We even talked about the movement, from then til now. My dad would have LIVED for that moment.

No I’m mot giving you the stories. I have home training lolololol

I got on the shuttle the next morning where we were all headed to the venue and Ms. Wilson was just as friendly, remembering my name, telling me my yellow suit was fly.

A SUPREME TOLD ME I LOOKED GOODT. You couldn’t tell me nothin else for the rest of the day lmao.

Imagine meeting THEE Jimmy Jam the next day and that *not* even being the most iconic part of your trip because you just got a night full of Motown stories FROM the Motown legends?!?

What is life?!?

I know they tell you beware of meeting the people you admire because they might disappoint you. Not Mary Wilson.

But for all of her iconic achievements and legendary status, Mary Wilson was a sweet auntie from the D and she gave me one of the most memorable nights of my life.

A Four Top, A Miracle, A Supreme, and me.

Thank you for making all the little Black girls feel so special, Mary Wilson. Especially me. Rest In Peace and power. You have more than earned it.

Also it was April *2019* because of course Apple’s hatin self gave me a typo *in the first tweet.*

Edit. Button. Twitter.