LEDUC — A country music legend flew to the Edmonton area on Thursday to reimburse a fan for money she shelled out for tickets to an online reseller.
Charley Pride flew in from his home in Texas after Jaqueline Sharp’s son wrote his office.
Sharp paid more than $1,200 for a pair of tickets worth around $133. She bought the tickets for the June 20 show in Edmonton from an online re-seller.
“It’s just a matter of what’s fair,” Pride said when asked why he felt it necessary to take a stand.
“I wouldn’t want to pay this much money to see myself.”
The singer said he has lobbied for anti-piracy legislation in the past.
“I don’t book me,” he explained of how tickets to his show are sold. “I sing. Ever since I’ve been in the business, I’ve always asked whoever was booking me or whoever was in charge of charging for the tickets, ‘Don’t overcharge my tickets because I don’t want my fans thinking that ... I’m charging too much.’ That’s been my philosophy for over 40 years.”
Not only did Pride reimburse Sharp for the money she paid for the tickets — which were balcony seats — he handed her a pair of tickets to better seats.
Sharp, tearful and smiling, was overwhelmed.
“I looked twice. He hasn’t aged since (a) 1970 concert,” she said of the first time she saw Pride perform.
“I didn’t expect anything like this, I really didn’t.”
Sharp said she’ll likely put the money to good use, making the big night even more special.
“Probably put it back on American Express,” she said with a smile. “Maybe buy something nice to go to the Charley Pride concert.”