I FEEL VALIDATED BY HALL OF FAME

Country legend Sandy recalls surprise of Late Late's honour

- BY BLATHIN DE PAOR and MIKIE O'LOUGHLIN

SANDY Kelly's name is synonymous with Irish country music - a powerhouse voice that has graced stages for decades, capturing hearts with her unmistakable charm and resilience.

Her incredible career saw her inducted into The Late Late Show Country Music Hall of Fame by presenter Patrick Kielty.

And despite her legendary status, Sandy insists she arrived at RTE that night without the slightest suspicion anything special was planned.

She recalled: “I thought I was going up to sing a verse of Can The Circle Be Unbroken.

“I thought there was going to be no stress. I thought I would avail of the free wine and the free hotel room and catch up with my friends.

“The team on The Late Late Show are fabulous. One of them suggested I bring [grandson] Frank to the dressing room instead, but the dressing rooms are tiny - like cells!

“I was put into the VIP dressing room with sandwiches, biscuits, a big TV and a couch. I asked why I was getting the VIP room... it still hadn't clicked.