She is never, ever going to forget this.
Taylor Swift surprised an 8-year-old fan with a signed guitar and handwritten note after the childâs viral TikTok video made its way to the singer.
The sweet moment began in April when Cleveland native Madeline tossed a paper airplane over the fence to her neighbor, musician Ethan Hayes, asking if he could play a Taylor Swift song on guitar after overhearing him practicing outside.
Hayes, 26, picked up the note and performed Swiftâs 2008 hit âLove Storyâ from his porch while Madeline sang along from her window.
Madelineâs mother, Natalie Hulec, captured the exchange on video and later posted it to TikTok, where the clip quickly racked up almost 4 million views.
The video, which featured text reading, âOur daughter sent a paper airplane to our new neighbor, and this happenedâŠ,â eventually caught Swiftâs attention.
The Grammy winner sent signed guitars to both Madeline and Hayes, along with a handwritten note for the young Swiftie, People reported.
âDearest Madeline,â Swift wrote. âI just wanted to let you know that it made me SO happy that you asked your neighbor to play my song for you.
âYou brought the biggest smile to my face! I am sending you your own guitar, in case you ever want to learn too! Thanks again and sending you my love, Taylor.â
Hayes told the outlet that Swiftâs team reached out to him directly after the video went viral online.
âTheyâre like, âHey, Taylor saw your video. We want to send you something. Donât tell anyone until it gets there,ââ he recalled.
âI was expecting maybe a signed poster or something. And then she sent us guitars, which is insane.â
Madeline, meanwhile, had a short but sweet response to the surprise gift from her favorite singer.
âThank you,â she said.
Natalie later explained that her daughter came up with the idea after feeling too shy to approach Hayes directly.
âWe had the windows open, weâre making dinner and even Russell [my husband] shouted out a little âWoo!ââ Natalie told People of first hearing Hayes perform outside.
Madeline then asked her mom for paper so she could write a note requesting a Taylor Swift song and send it over the fence as a paper airplane.
Natalie felt like it was maybe âthe cutest ideaâ her daughter had ever had.
Hayes admitted he initially panicked after reading the request because he is not âa die-hard Swiftie,â but he was familiar enough with âLove Storyâ to perform it.
âIâm a musician, so I get requests all the time,â he said. âThatâs one I always usually keep in my back pocket.â
The musician also said he had no idea the moment would explode online.
âMy mom sent the clip to me,â he shared. âSheâs like, âIs that you?â I was like, âYeah, thatâs me.ââ
The TikTok has since amassed millions of views, with Hayes calling the response overwhelmingly positive.
Swift has long been known for surprising fans with personal gifts and gestures.
The âBad Bloodâ singer previously made headlines for tipping stadium workers during NFL appearances and handing out massive bonuses to crew members during her record-breaking Eras Tour.
The singer has also been keeping busy with fiancé Travis Kelce.
Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end recently attended the Knicks vs. Cavaliers playoff game in Cleveland, where Kelce was shown on the jumbotron chugging a beer courtside while Swift reacted with laughter and covered her face with her hand.
The couple, who first sparked dating rumors in 2023, have continued spending time together in New York in recent weeks amid reports they are preparing for their wedding on July 3.
Read the full article here
