Stacey_Cohan's Blog

It all started with an email from the station. I was on vacation at the beach and received word that the Jonas Brothers were in town, and we had exclusive access. Joe Feeney, the planning editor, asked if I would like to do this story.

Needless to say, the thought of racing off to an intense, all-day shoot as soon as I got back from vacation gave me pause...until the screams of my niece caught my attention. Kristen is ten, well...she would say "ALMOST ELEVEN," and according to her and her 15 year old sister Lyndsey, the Jonas Brothers are "completely awesome". So, unable to resist the chance to impress my nieces, I agreed to this assignment.

Our day began at the White House with an unusual bunch or reporters. Suddenly I was surrounded by Twist magazine, KOL.com, the washingtonpost.com/post rock columnist and a hilarious video producer working with Newsweek. Those of us out of our twenties were taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to the DAY OF THE JONAS...playfully interviewing each other in the White House briefing room. Then, they arrived.

Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas are ages 15, 19 and 20 respectively. And for all of the larger than life hype...they are physically small and personally quite sweet. Even this slightly (okay...more than slightly) cynical reporter had to be impressed by such polite, well-composed young men. They graciously signed autographs for, and took pictures with, a handful of lucky kids in the room. And when one of our small group told them we'd be following them all day, one of the boys..I think Joe...somewhat tellingly said "Good Luck."

I quickly understood what the young man meant. Everywhere they go, a crush of screaming, crying, clawing tween and teen girls were waiting. They were outside the White House and outside Madame Tussauds' Wax Museum...where the wax statues of the brother Jonas were unveiled.

Although my time with the brothers was brief...a few hours...I think I got a relatively good read on them. They appeared more than a little uncomfortable at the wax museum where dozens of swooning girls were only a few feet from pouncing. And they were clearly aware of the need to be humble while standing on the White House lawn. They resisted the gentle prodding of one reporter asking them to make a political statement, and stuck to their well-rehearsed message on children's health and fitness.

But above all, I will remember the moment we stepped out of our press van and into the mass of fans outside the wax museum. We had to be escorted through the crowd who were screaming and grabbing for their cherished idols. As we ran into the garage I felt both exhilarated..and sad. One day shadowing a rock star is fun, but a steady diet of that lifestyle simply can't be healthy. I will continue to wonder about those young men, and to hope they remain as seemingly sweet as they were this day. Although I first scoffed at what I viewed as a silly assignment, I now know was a great opportunity to glance at a lifestyle many envy...but few are able to survive.

In the end...the Jonas Brothers may be happy to know they now have at least one fan...in a slightly older demographic.

Pictures from Stacey's day with the Jonas Brothers