The Greatest Showman #1224 – Travel Light

In February, North America catches a glimpse of light as plans intertwine. You can sing, and I will appear. Sometimes, on the same night, both sides will share the stage. The awards season, filled with large and small associations, trade unions, and film festivals, creates a dizzying number of ceremonies and events.

Among the colorful feathers and opulent crowns, the splendor of Vanity Fair has reached an unprecedented peak. It is both desirable and fascinating.

On February 10th, the 55th Grammy Awards ceremony took center stage, creating a wave of conversation. Last year, Adele and Renly dominated the ceremony, rewriting history, particularly with the ballad frenzy led by "Don Quixote," which shifted the landscape of the North American music market.

This year's global music boom has surged even further, pushing the folk and rock genres to their peak. The retro wave has truly reawakened, and this year's four major awards reflect that shift.

Producer of the Year: Gotye's "The Most Familiar Stranger" (alternative rock)Single of the Year: Fun's "In the Mood for Love" (pop rock)Album of the Year: Blessed Son's "Babel" (folk)Rookie of the Year: Fun (indie rock)

For the first time in nearly a decade, the four major awards were dominated by folk and rock, genres that had been nearly forgotten in favor of pop, dance music, hip-hop, and R&B. Last year's "Don Quixote" album sparked an incredible frenzy, which continued into this year, reshaping the market.

Change has arrived.

Notably, Adele and Renly, despite not releasing new albums this year, still found their names on the nomination list with follow-up singles from previous releases.

In the end, Adele won Best Pop Song, beating out Katy Perry and Rihanna, while Renly triumphed in Best Rock Song with "Another Light," besting Mumford & Sons, Muse, and The Black Keys.

Renly, however, missed the award ceremony due to filming commitments. Robin Helzer, manager of the Heather-Cross Foundation, accepted the award on his behalf and read Renly's pre-written speech:

"Thank you to everyone present for supporting ALS and for paying attention to the small lights in life. Each of us is 'another light.' Our existence may brighten someone's soul, bringing warmth—that is the most beautiful thing. Thank you again."

The audience applauded, moved by the moment.

Coincidentally, just before the Grammy Awards, a special segment was dedicated to honoring the fighters of ALS, with "Another Light" serving as the backdrop. This added further significance to Renly's recognition.

After the Grammy Awards, folk and rock music quickly became the hot topics, with Renly's influence growing stronger in the entertainment world. His social impact spread into every facet of life, a testament to his rising status.

However, there remained one curious detail—Renly had yet to perform publicly. Despite his rising popularity, some detractors began mocking him on social media, claiming he was just a "studio singer" who couldn't perform live without heavy post-production edits. The debate gained traction on Twitter and Facebook.

Unexpectedly, Renly's rumored project "Drunken Country Ballads" also began trending. Speculation about the film's plot and Renly's role as a singer-actor added fuel to the fire.

The Grammy discussions faded within days, overtaken by the swarm of new award season topics. More gimmicks, more buzz, more attention—until, at last, the final battle of the season arrived.

On February 24th, the 85th Academy Awards officially kicked off.

The Oscars marked the grand finale of the awards season, and the energy in Los Angeles was electric. The crowds roared as top stars arrived in sleek cars, palm trees swaying under the sun, with the unmistakable beauty of California on full display.

The red carpet dazzled, and the ceremony reached its peak.

"So, is there anything else I need to explain tonight?" Renly asked as he glanced at Andy, Nathan, and Roy, all dressed in black evening attire. While they couldn't attend the ceremony inside, they had received invitations thanks to Renly's influence.

Both Roy and Nathan turned their attention to Andy.

"I believe you can handle it," Andy replied with a smile. "Just being here on time is the most important thing."

Earlier that morning, Renly had landed in Los Angeles—an outlier among Oscar guests. He was late and in no rush, much to Andy's dismay, but they still made it just in time.

Eaton Dormer, who had prepared multiple outfits for Renly, was taken aback by Renly's weight loss and muscle gain, which altered the fit of his clothes. Eaton scrambled to make adjustments in just three hours, running all over Los Angeles to ensure Renly looked perfect. When the final outfit was chosen, Eaton collapsed onto the sofa, joking, "Renly Hall, you owe me a meal!"

Renly, ever the calm figure, simply nodded, acknowledging Eaton's efforts. "I heard you recently attended a photo show in London. We can chat about it over dinner."

As they arrived at the Dolby Theater, Andy briefly reminded Renly about a certain matter before the ceremony. Roy quickly answered, "No, Renly went straight to sleep after arriving. I thought you'd talk to him when he was getting his haircut today."

Andy shook his head. "It's not about Renly. I'm more concerned about her." His gaze was thoughtful, though he wasn't worried about Renly—he knew Renly would handle everything.

As Renly stepped onto the red carpet, his second time attending the Oscars, the atmosphere felt familiar. Tonight, there was no pressure. His only task was to enjoy the event, travel light, and savor the moment.

Renly paused at the start of the carpet, nodding to the audience with a smile, while carefully surveying the area. He wanted to avoid any repeat of last year's red carpet mishap, staying alert and prepared.