PAYSON, Utah — It’s been 40 years since Kevin Bacon yelled “Let’s Dance!”
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Four decades later, Bacon will be returning to Payson High School to once again attend prom, but this time it will be in real life.
Read More Seniors at the Utah school had been trying for months to get Bacon to come back to the area to attend their prom. It all started with a “Footloose” pep rally earlier this year, and then the theater department put on a stage production of the film. Several other events, from taking photos with a cardboard cutout of Bacon to posting video clips recreating the iconic dances from the film, have been part of the push called #BaconToPayson, KSL reported.
On Friday morning, Bacon told students while appearing on the “Today ” show, that he will be traveling to the community to attend the milestone dance.
“I have been so impressed with everything that’s been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” Bacon said via video call from Atlanta, where he’s filming a new show.
“It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me, not to mention the fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org , our foundation, and are trying to figure out ways to give back to your community. It’s really inspirational, so thank you. Thank you. And I’m gonna come. I gotta come,” he said.
Student Council Advisor Jenny Straheli told KSL last month that the prom will be held in the Payson school gym and it will be decorated “like an ‘80′s prom.”
The students are also helping out Bacon’s non-profit Six Degrees by making 5,000 resource kits helping the organization reach its goal of 40,000 kits.
This year’s prom is the last that will be held at Payson High School, which was built in 1967, according to The Salt Lake Tribune . The school, which has photos of Bacon plastered throughout and has even memorialized his character’s locker, will be torn down and rebuilt next spring.
Through the years Portrait of American actor and musician Kevin Bacon, New York, 1980. (Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images) (Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)
Through the years PAYSON - FEBRUARY 17: The movie "Footloose", directed by Herbert Ross and written by Dean Pitchford. Seen here, Kevin Bacon as Ren MacCormack. Initial theatrical release February 17, 1984. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years PAYSON - FEBRUARY 17: The movie "Footloose", directed by Herbert Ross and written by Dean Pitchford. Seen here, Kevin Bacon as Ren. Initial theatrical release February 17, 1984. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years Kevin Bacon and Roger Daltry 1985 (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) (Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Through the years American actor Kevin Bacon poses for a portrait in a jean jacket in Los Angeles, California, January 14, 1987. (Photo by Bonnie Schiffman/Getty Images) (Bonnie Schiffman Photography/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 27: Actor Kevin Bacon and actress Kyra Sedgwick attend the "Illuminations: An AIDS Benefit" Revue for the Northern Lights Alternatives on April 27, 1987 at the Limelight in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years CIRCA 1991: Actor Kevin Bacon, Joe Mantegna, John Malkovich, and Ken Olin on set of the movie "Queens Logic" , circa 1991. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK CITY - OCTOBER 25: Actor Kevin Bacon, wife Kyra Sedgwick and son Travis Bacon attend the Big Apple Circus Special Performance to Benefit the Scott Newman Center on October 25, 1991 at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Kevin Bacon of Bacon Brothers during Bacon Brothers at Bottom Line - 1996 at Bottom Line in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage) (Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage)
Through the years Bacon Brothers (Kevin Bacon and his brother) on 2/5/00 in Chicago,Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) (Paul Natkin/WireImage)
Through the years Kevin Bacon during 'Hollow Man' Los Angeles Premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California, United States. 2000 (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin during Hollow Man Premiere in Westwood, California, United States. 2000 (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Through the years CIRCA 2000: Actress Diane Lane, actor Frankie Muniz and actor Kevin Bacon pose in a scene from the Warner Brothers movie "My Dog Skip" , circa 2000. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD - JANUARY 15: Actor Kevin Bacon accepts the Joel Siegel award onstage during the 15th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 15, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for VH1) (Kevin Winter)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 04: Actors Kevin Bacon (L) and Kyra Sedgwick attend the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Performers Peer Group Emmy reception at Chakra on August 4, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Actor Kevin Bacon attends the "X-Men: First Class" New York Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre on May 25, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 13: Kevin Bacon, Paula Deen and Liev Schreiber perform onstage at Comedy Central's night of too many stars: America comes together for autism programs at The Beacon Theatre on October 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Through the years PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24: Actor Kevin Bacon from "Cop Car" poses for a portrait at the Village at the Lift Presented by McDonald's McCafe during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Kevin Bacon performs onstage at the Second Annual LOVE ROCKS NYC! A Benefit Concert for God's Love We Deliver at Beacon Theatre on March 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for God's Love We Deliver) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for God's Love We D)
Through the years PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Kevin Bacon of the television show 'City on a Hill' speaks during the Showtime segment of the 2019 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 27: Kevin Bacon attends the "THEY/THEM" New York Premiere at Studio 525 on July 27, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: Kevin Bacon and SAG-AFTRA members and supporters protest as the SAG-AFTRA Actors Union Strike continues on Day 5 in front of Paramount Studios at 1515 Broadway on July 17, 2023 in New York City. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union which represents actors and other media professionals, have joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint walkout against the studios since 1960. The strike could shut down Hollywood productions completely with writers in the third month of their strike against the Hollywood studios. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 07: Kevin Bacon performs onstage during the Artist For Action Concert Benefit for Sandy Hook Promise at NYU Skirball Center on December 07, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)