The Gist
Taylor Swift responded to a fan’s video by sending her a personalized gift.
8-year-old Madeline Hulec from Ohio requested that her neighbor play one of Swift’s songs in a viral TikTok that went on to amass more than 3.7 million views.
Swift said that the video “brought the biggest smile” to her face.
Taylor Swift showed her gratitude with an “insane” gift after a video featuring an 8-year-old fan went viral. Madeline Hulec’s mother, Natalie, documented the entire saga in a TikTok that’s since been viewed over 3.7 million times. Speaking to People in an interview published on May 26, Natalie said that it all began when her little girl overheard their neighbor, Ethan Hayes, playing guitar in his backyard.
Taylor Swift in Los Angeles in 2023.
Credit: Getty Images
“We had the windows open, we’re making dinner and even [my husband] Russell shouted out a little ‘Woo!'” Natalie, whose family resides in Ohio, told the outlet. Madeline came up with a creative way to ask Hayes if he could play one of Swift’s songs, sending her request over the fence in the form of a paper airplane. He responded in-kind with a rendition of “Love Story.”
“I’m a musician, so I get requests all the time,” Hayes, 26, told People. “That’s one I always usually keep in my back pocket.”
Taylor Swift in New York City on May 14, 2026.
Credit: Aeon/GC Images / Getty
Natalie thought that Madeline’s note was “the cutest idea,” leading her capture it all on TikTok.
“I took a picture of the note,” Natalie said. “Of course I’m going to watch her attempt to get this over the fence. I was like, ‘Let me record this.'”
The morning after she posted the video on TikTok, Natalie was surprised to see how many people responded to it.
“It was about 7:30 and there were already 20,000 views,” she recalled.
Taylor Swift in New York City on May 12, 2026.
Credit: Getty Images
Hayes, who gained thousands of followers as a result of the clip, said that Swift’s team reached out to him directly.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, Taylor saw your video. We want to send you something. Don’t tell anyone until it gets there,’” he explained. “I was expecting maybe a signed poster or something. And then she sent us guitars, which is insane.”
Using her own personalized stationary, Swift also penned a handwritten note to Madeline. In her letter, the pop star said that the 8-year-old’s video “brought the biggest smile to my face.”
“I’m sending you your own guitar, in case you ever want to learn too,” Swift added. She also made sure to sign Madeline’s new instrument, which featured a photo of the “Opalite” artist.
Read the original article on InStyle