SEC members get unexpected surprise during concert
September 2025
(photos courtesy Jessie DeHart)
by Gregg MacDonald, Staff Writer
When 4-year-old Luke DeHart went to a Brad Paisley concert with his parents and younger sister, he had no idea he would be going home with a one-of-a-kind souvenir: Brad Paisley’s signed guitar, handed to him by the popular country music superstar.
“I bought lawn seat tickets for $30 each,” says Luke’s mother, Jessie DeHart, who is a Southside Electric Cooperative member and was recently named Powhatan High School’s Teacher of the Year. “The tickets were a Father’s Day gift for my husband.”
After she bought them, a fantastic series of events happened.
When the DeHart family arrived at the Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront in Richmond, they were asked if they would like to be “upgraded to the pit” at no extra charge. “The pit is the area right up at the front of the stage,” she says.
The family accepted the offer and then during the show, Luke’s toy guitar caught Paisley’s eye. “Luke had asked my husband if he could bring his guitar to play along with Paisley’s songs,” Jessie says. “My husband plays guitar and is a huge Brad Paisley fan. At the show, he told Luke to hold his guitar up in the air so Brad could see it. We were hoping to maybe get it autographed.”
But then something the family never expected happened.
“Brad Paisley made eye contact with Luke and said, ‘I’ll trade you,’” Jessie says, still excited to tell the story. Luke then handed Paisley his wooden toy guitar, and Paisley gave his vintage Fender Telecaster to Luke. “Brad signed it, gave a guitar pick to my 3-year-old daughter Hailey, and then signed Luke’s guitar and handed that back to Luke as well,” she says.
Luke’s response: “This is so cool!”
His father, Daniel DeHart, a volunteer firefighter, says he still can’t believe it. “It was incredible,” he remembers. “What a memory to share with my son!”