Local Nashville artist Sam Hayes never imagined a typical travel day would end with a shattered guitar—and a surprise call from country star Chris Young.
As reported by WSMV 4, Hayes was flying with United Airlines, bringing along his guitar like he had done on numerous trips before. But this time, he was asked to check his guitar at the gate due to full overhead bins. Though hesitant, he agreed after the airline assured him the instrument would be safely handled.
Unfortunately, that promise was broken—literally.
“Somebody in an orange jumper, working on the tarmac, came in holding the guitar case upside down, and it was in a thousand pieces,” Hayes recalled.
The devastation was immediate. For Hayes, his guitar wasn’t just a tool—it was part of his identity as a musician.
“Your heart drops. It’s part of what you do and who you are,” he explained. “You fall in love with these guitars. They become an extension of you.”
While United Airlines did offer to reimburse him for a replacement—after he had already purchased one using his own money—Hayes wasn’t fully confident he’d ever see the compensation. That’s when an unexpected call changed everything.
Country hitmaker Chris Young reached out with a stunning offer.
“He said, ‘Do you want an Epiphone or a Gibson?’” Hayes recalled, noting the huge price difference between the two. “I laughed, and he said, ‘No, I’m not kidding. Which one do you want?’”
Young wasn’t bluffing. Moments later, he told Hayes there was a Gibson guitar waiting for him at Carter Vintage Guitars—one of Nashville’s most renowned instrument shops.
“It’s common for guitars to get smashed by airlines,” said Henry Conlon, Sales Manager at Carter Vintage Guitars. “To see someone lose that part of themselves is tough. It was great to help fix that.”
Hayes later shared his reaction on Facebook in an emotional video, expressing deep gratitude for the unexpected gift.
“Guys, I had an Epiphone, and [Chris] decided that wasn’t good enough. He got me this beautiful cherry red Gibson SJ-200. This is an absolute dream guitar for me. I’m blown away by Chris’ generosity,” Hayes said. “I don’t have the words to explain how much this has impacted me.”
Despite only meeting Hayes a few times before, Young didn’t hesitate to step in. He empathized deeply—because he’d experienced the same pain himself.
“I know what that feels like,” Young said. “I was just trying to help out a friend. In country music, we take care of each other. I hope someone else pays it forward after hearing this.”
To Hayes, the act reflected the true character of the country star—not just his talent but his humanity.
“That just goes to show who Chris is,” Hayes said. “He understands this community, and what music means to those chasing a dream.”
Looking back, Hayes hopes airlines reconsider how they treat fragile items, especially in a music hub like Nashville, where traveling with instruments is the norm.
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