PAYSON, Utah — Let's dance!
After months and months of campaigning to get Kevin Bacon back to Utah for the 40th anniversary of "Footloose," students at Payson High School finally got their man.
WATCH: 40 years later: A look back at 'Footloose' being filmed in Utah
With a gym full of students watching live on The TODAY Show Friday, the actor who shot to fame in 1984 as Ren McCormack announced he is returning to the Beehive State in a few weeks to celebrate the movie that taught everyone that it was OK to dance.
"I'm going to come, I gotta come," said Bacon as the packed gym erupted in cheers.
Students, like Scott Jardine and Liriel Keller, both sophomores and part of the student council at the school were up bright and early for the announcement on Friday.
"He got on the thing, and he said like that he's coming, for real, and I saw his face. That was, that was crazy," said Jardine.
They and the high school student body worked overtime on a #BaconToPayson campaign to get the actor's attention in hopes of getting him to their prom and celebrating the school ahead of its impending demolition.
"Kevin Bacon's face turned up and we were like, oh, cool and then he was like, yeah, I'm gonna come and everybody was like ahh," said Keller.
“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!”
Jenny Staheli, the Student Council Advisor for Payson High School says the work that went into this spanned two school years and several summers trying to get it all put together.
"We really have gone all out and put our heart and soul into it," said Staheli. "We've done flash mobs, but we've played the song in every assembly, We've planned our dances and our activities around Footloose, It's been that kind of a year here."
The excitement for Bacon, or Ren McCormick as he was known in the hallways of the school during the film, has spread across the town.
FOX 13 News sat down with Jeff Smith, the owner of Hot Rod Diner in Payson Friday afternoon.
"Then I went down to the Roller Mills and stuff like that and saw it from a distance," said Smith.
The 80s hit was filmed in several locations across Utah, but mainly in Payson where the school played a prominent role in the movie.
"My parents lived on Main Street here, so I just came up to visit my parents and hang out and watch it," said Smith.
Which is one reason why Smith can't wait to see Bacon make is return.
"It's exciting and he's probably still got the moves," said Smith.
And if Bacon does still have those famous dance moves, the students say they will be ready.
"We're actually going to have workshops before prom to make sure that everybody knows the dance so that we can do it with him," said Jardine.
Current students blasted social media with fun videos, and even got Utah big wigs to help out with their efforts.
Video below shows Gov. Spencer Cox inviting Kevin Back back to Utah:
"I want to extend an invitation on behalf of the Great State of Utah, to have you come back," said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a video. "We need Ren back here in Utah. We're still dancing but we would love to have you at Payson High School."
One year later, the students got their wish as Bacon accepted the invitation in the most Ren-way possible.
"Thank you, guys," Bacon said. "Let's dance!"
