Story verified through my conversation with Madeline’s mom, Natalie.
Here are a few extra details that didn’t make the video…
Before Madeline’s package ever arrived, Taylor Nation reached out to Ethan and told him something special was coming. He had to keep the secret for weeks and couldn’t tell anyone.
But Taylor didn’t just send Madeline a guitar. She also sent Ethan his own signed guitar and handwritten letter. Her note ended with: “Sending you another guitar in case you need a backup.”
Ethan said he looked at his mom and just thought, “Are you kidding me?”
Taylor also sprayed her perfume on both envelopes, and Madeline said the smell was actually her favorite part.
And after everything Madeline’s paper airplane did for Ethan’s music career, he surprised her family with Cavaliers playoff tickets as a thank you.
Ethan said the support changed the way he saw himself as an artist:
“There’s times where I’m like, man, I don’t think I’m a good writer. I’m not a good singer. And then to get validation on such a scale has been very inspiring.”
But my favorite part was what Natalie told me about Madeline:
“She has a confidence about her where, if she has an idea, she goes for it without worrying about failure first. That’s what’s going to take her far in life.” 💫❤️❤️
(📸 via: @nataliecaroline_hair & @ethan_hayes01