One of Luke Combs’s biggest fans recently received the gift of a lifetime. 22-year-old super fan Dalton Owens of Nashville, Tenn., was overcome with joy when his care family visited him to let him know that Combs mailed him a special present. That gift – an autographed, customized acoustic guitar unlike any other in the world.
The one-of-a-kind guitar made its way to Owens’s living room neatly packaged in a box and gift-wrapped in a polka-dotted styled paper. A video posted to the James Bess Foundation’s TikTok page captures Owens’s touching reaction to the news of the guitar’s arrival. Owens has a huge smile spread across his face throughout the three-minute clip as his friend explains the story behind how the giant box made its way to Owens’s home.
@jamesbessfoundation @lukecombs gifted a custom made guitar to wish recipient Dalton! Luke previously had Dalton to his Atlanta concert back in July 2022 and will be sending him and his family to Dollywood next month. Huge thanks to Luke and his entire team for blessing Dalton and his family! #lastwish #congenitalheartdiseasepatient #joy #hope #life #excitement #lukecombs #countrymusic #nashville
“Before you open this, I want to tell you the reason it took so long to get it here is that this is absolutely custom-made,” the person behind the video tells Owens. “There is nobody on planet earth past, present, or future that will have this same guitar as you.”
Upon hearing that news, Owens wasted no time. He started tearing through the paper and opened up the box to find a card and a pristine, Ombre-designed Epiphone guitar with intricate detailing and Combs’ name in full spread across the front. Two stars flank the bridge of the instrument, and the title of Combs’ 2022 tour, The Stadium Tour, is showcased in big lettering.
“Awesome!” Owens screams overjoyed by what he sees before he reads off the note Combs penned on the instrument. “Great to meet you, buddy. Hope you have fun, and see you again soon.”
@jamesbessfoundation The amazing @lukecombs and team fulfilled Dalton’s dream of meeting him and attending his Atlanta concert on Saturday July 31, 2022! Check out this pic and video collage of Dalton’s amazing night! Huge thanks to Luke and his entire team for rolling out the red carpet for Dalton, we are all very grateful! Next up, Dollywood this October! #lastwish #congenitalheartdiseasepatient #joy #hope #life #excitement #lukecombs #countrymusic #nashville
Before the conclusion of the clip, Owens takes a brief moment to express his gratitude for Combs’s generous heart, saying, “Thank you, Luke! I love it, man. I’ll see you soon buddy too.”
Owens is a terminally-ill wish recipient, who has been battling congenital heart disease. He has been given less than a year to live. Initially, he chose meeting Combs as part of his final wish. He also revealed his second dream of going on a Dollywood vacation. The first of those dreams was granted earlier this year thanks, in part, to the James Bess Foundation. A video posted to the foundation’s page showed Owens in a hospital bed opening up about his wishes. After Combs came across the video, which has since gone viral, he made it his goal to make sure they came true.
“I got you, buddy. We’re gonna make this happen,” Combs commented beneath the video before adding, “I’m gonna give y’all the backstage tour myself, the whole nine yards. I’m [also] gonna pay for that Dollywood trip too bud.”
First, Combs invited Owens to attend his Atlanta concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday (July 31) and offered him VIP treatment. The two met face-to-face and bonded over a love of music. Owens, who claimed he had never been to a real concert before, shared that he loves “Lovin’ On You” and “When It Rains It Pours” as two of his all-time favorite songs. Before the show, the two buddies took pictures together, and Combs gave Owens a backstage tour.
And, it turns out Combs made good on his second promise. Along with the guitar, Combs is sending Owens and his family on an all-expense paid trip to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The family will embark on the trip in October of 2022.
Luke Combs Grants Dying Wish For 22-Year-Old Fan With Congenital Heart Disease: See Photos & Video
“@lukecombs gifted a custom-made guitar to wish recipient Dalton!” The caption reads alongside the most recent TikTok video, posted by the James Bess Foundation. “Luke previously had Dalton to his Atlanta concert back in July 2022 and will be sending him and his family to Dollywood next month. Huge thanks to Luke and his entire team for blessing Dalton and his family! #lastwish #congenitalheartdiseasepatient #joy #hope #life #excitement #lukecombs #countrymusic #nashville.”
Combs is currently in the midst of his Middle of Somewhere tour, which began on Sept. 2.
