By Carter Williams

PAYSON — Kevin Bacon is coming back for one last prom at Payson High School before the building is torn down.

The actor, who filmed many scenes of the iconic 1984 film "Footloose" at the high school, met virtually with students Friday morning and accepted the student body's nearly yearlong campaign to get him to go to the building's last prom next month, in a scene captured by NBC's "Today Show."

"I've been so impressed with everything that's been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back," he said. "The movie and Payson High School was a big part of my life and I've been amazed at the work that all of you have been putting into this. ... I'm going to come. I've got to come.

"Let's dance," he added, as he signed off from a movie set in Georgia.

Payson High students erupted in cheers as Bacon made the announcement.

"We've worked so hard this year and done our absolute best to make this crazy dream a reality," said Payson High School student body president Rubie Raff. "I can't believe that it's finally happening and that we can say we did it! It was all worth it. We got Kevin back to Payson!"

Payson students began the "#BaconToPayson" campaign on social media last year, ahead of the final school year at the building after it was slated to close and be demolished. Jenny Staheli, the school's student council adviser, said in July 2023, it was a way to give the old building "a big sendoff," while also celebrating the legacy of the film that turns 40 this year.

For months, students posted pictures with Kevin Bacon cutouts and recreated some of the movie's biggest scenes, to ask the actor to come to the building's final prom. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox even weighed in, pleading with Bacon in November to come back to Payson High in a video posted on X.

Students also pledged to create 5,000 essential resource kits for the local area as a part of Bacon's charity organization, SixDegrees.org, on the same day as prom.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50958873/lets-dance-kevin-bacon-accepts-payson-highs-prom-invite-as-footloose-turns-40