WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

Canes, fans remember granny's dance moves

Mar 2, 2013

Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes' biggest cheerleader passed away this week. The woman known as "Dancing Granny" will boogie no more in the aisles of the PNC Arena, and other fans say that will change how they see the game.

Joyce Johnston, otherwise known as Dancing Granny, was more familiar to Canes fans than some of the players on the ice. 

For 12 years and past her 85th birthday, she showed off her moves, celebrating Carolina success.

"She's awesome man," fan James Maudlin said. "Every time you turn around, she was up dancing in the stands. Watching her on the little fan cam, seeing the audience reaction to her, it was fantastic.

"She kind of reminded me of my grandma actually."

Juliette Dalton called Johnston a delight. "She made you want to get up and dance, no matter how bad we were losing or winning."

Jennifer Hester in introduced her own mother to Dancing Granny.  
 
"I used to tell everybody when we go to the games that we would see this lady dance and everything. One time my mother actually got to go to the game, and she got to see her, and she got really tickled at her. It was really funny," Hester said.

Maudlin said Dancing Granny was an inspiration to younger fans.

"You got to admire someone who has got that kind of passion for something and having had that much fun with something, especially something that's not native to North Carolina like hockey," he said. "She was great."

As as a tribute to her, the Carolina Hurricanes will no longer play "Apple Bottom Jeans" at home games. The song is now retired in her honor.

• Reporter: Ken Smith
• Photographer: Greg Hutchinson
• Web Editor: Jodi Leese Glusco