A geeky boy with curly hair walked quietly down the school hallway. He carried a heavy violin case. Most kids just ignored him. But Shirlie Holliman saw something special.
She was one year older than him at their local school. She started dating his close friend, Andrew Ridgeley. One day, Andrew invited her to watch their small band practice. The curly-haired boy grabbed the microphone and started singing an early version of “Careless Whisper.” In that exact second, Shirlie knew he was a massive star.
His name was George Michael.
Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley and Shirlie Kemp on George Michael and celebrating 40 years
They officially formed the group Wham! and conquered the entire world together. But their working relationship was never just a job. They were like a true family.
George was her absolute best friend. He was her personal advisor. While the giant stadium crowds screamed for a global superstar, Shirlie just saw the sweet, normal boy who drank hot tea with her. She was his backup singer and dancer, but she also held his total trust. She helped him through the darkest, hardest moments of his massive fame.
George desperately wanted his best friend to be happy. One day, a famous musician named Martin Kemp gave Shirlie his phone number. Shirlie was way too nervous to call him.
George did not let her give up. He literally picked up the phone and dialed the number himself. He shoved the phone into her hand and yelled, “Talk to him!” He even went along as a chaperone on their very first date just to make sure she felt safe.
Why did George care so much about her love life? Because George knew the true, fragile value of love. He eventually found his own true soulmate. But tragically, he lost his beautiful partner to a terrible illness. George felt the deep, dark pain of a broken heart. He never wanted anyone else to be deprived of romance. He spent the rest of his life championing the happiness of his friends.
Martin Kemp’s Beautiful Tribute to George Michael
George sadly passed away, but his friends never forgot his huge heart. On February 22, 2017, Shirlie stood on the giant stage at the Brit Awards in London. She stood right beside Andrew Ridgeley and Pepsi DeMacque to honor their fallen brother.
She looked out at the quiet crowd and told the absolute truth. She said, “The side of George that was unknown was the enormous help he gave to charities. His generosity gave so many people a chance… George was like a brother to me, and I’ll always be so proud of him.”
She proudly shared that Princess Diana loved his music. She reminded the world that he was a funny, adorable friend with a wonderful voice.
The greatest gift you can give the world is not a platinum record. The absolute greatest gift is taking the time to help a nervous friend find their own true love.