How the Obama family fell for the Celtic charms of Twink's girl Chloë
Tony Gavin
STAR TALENT: Chloe Agnew, Twink's daughter, was asked by the Obamas to perform with her group for them.
Panto queen Twink has revealed how her daughter Chloë Agnew wowed the Obamas on a recent visit to the US.
The proud mum told the Herald how the First Family are huge fans of Chloë's group, Celtic Woman.
Michelle even issued Chloë with an open invitation to visit The White House when they next return to Washington.
"Michelle actually came over to say hello to Chloë and shake her hand," Twink explained.
"She asked her would she come and meet her daughters because they are both enormous fans of Celtic Woman, so naturally Chloë said she would.
"She also met the President who said he was very taken with their group and told her they were welcome to come back and perform any time.
"That's the third American President she's met since she and the girls started out. She's also met George Bush and Bill Clinton," she added.
The Obamas personally requested that the group perform at the annual National Christmas Lights ceremony last month.
The event, which took place at the Ellipse just south of the White House last December, saw America's most powerful couple join their two children, Malia (12) and Sasha (9) to officially switch on the lights in front of a packed audience.
Twink, better known as Adele King, explained how Chloë (21) had been approached by Michelle at the event who asked her to do a meet and greet with her two daughters and sign autographs for them, given that they are massive fans of the group.
The veteran Irish actress admits she was disappointed not to make it to the performance herself, as she was committed to being on stage here in Dublin at the time.
Other artists who performed at the event included national celebrities Jordin Sparks, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Sheryl Crow, Common and Ray LaMontagne, all of whom Chloë and her colleagues spent the evening socialising with.
Tour:
The ambitious young talent is set to return to the US with the rest of the Celtic Woman group next Sunday.
Chloë, along with fellow vocalists Lynn Hilary, Lisa Kelly, Alex Sharpe and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt, are set to take off on a 50-state tour of the USA in February and will not return to Dublin until the summer.
Twink admits she misses her eldest daughter terribly when she is on the road and says it has been a pleasure having her around all month after the Christmas holidays.
According to the star: "It's been fantastic having her here for so long. Myself and Naomi miss her terribly when she's away, but of course I'm very proud of her.
"Sure she's having a better time than myself travelling all over the world. You couldn't keep up with her," she added.
By Lorna Nolan
Friday January 22 2010
Herald.ie
Dublin 1 Ireland
