Luke Bryan created an unforgettable experience for Ethan Payne, a Make-A-Wish child, by inviting him to perform a duet during his AT&T Stadium concert in front of 50,000 enthusiastic fans.
This unexpected duet came about after Ethan impressed Bryan during a pre-show meet and greet in Arlington, Texas, where the young musician played one of Bryan’s songs.
During the stadium show, Bryan surprised the audience by inviting Ethan to sing with him. Both of them grabbed their acoustic guitars and performed Bryan’s hits “Do I” and “Here’s to the Farmer” together. Ethan showcased his talent by taking the lead vocal on “Do I” while Bryan provided backup vocals.
The heartwarming duet was captured on video by Make-A-Wish North Texas and has garnered 3.8 million views on their YouTube channel.
Before Ethan took the stage, Bryan shared with the audience, “I swear I did not plan this. But [at the meet and greet] I saw a young man with a Make-A-Wish badge on. He takes his guitar out and he sings me one of my songs and he does it perfectly. And I said ‘Would you like to sing that song in front of 50,000 people tonight?’ and he said ‘Yes sir.’”
Bryan’s claim that Ethan performed the song perfectly was no exaggeration. Ethan, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 18 months old, has proven himself to be a remarkably talented guitarist and vocalist. When he turned 13, he reached out to Make-A-Wish with the dream of meeting his favorite singer, and his wish was granted.
This performance totally captivated millions of people as one YouTube viewer wrote, “Amazing…Ethan just stepped up there and performed his heart out…like a seasoned artist. Great voice and amazing talent!! And Luke you’re awesome for doing that. Fan for life!”