This Little Boy Inspired Me to Play Guitar Again

I’m forever grateful for this

Meet Kellen.

He’s a huge Keith Urban fan. He spends his days watching videos of his country music idol, listening to his music and impersonating him move by move.

But Kellen’s 6-year-old life hasn’t always been great. In that time, he has battled 10 brain surgeries with his non-life-threatening condition.

That didn’t stop him from meeting his idol.

Kellen Meets Keith

My editor told me about Kellen’s story.

I called his mom, had a wonderful conversation with her and then wrote one of the best stories of my life. During the concert, Keith hugged Kellen and signed his cardboard guitar for him.

Kellen later said: “I got to meet the real-life Keith Urban.”

Here’s Kellen’s story:

His story inspired me to play guitar again.

Noah’s Story

I’ve been playing the same acoustic guitar I received on Christmas morning 2014. It’s led me to writing many of my own original songs and playing shows.

During the spring of my freshman year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I was a noontime performer at the Illini Student Union. Basically, I played an hour of country music each Wednesday at noon and was then paid $50.

I’ve only known how to play one Keith Urban song called “Somebody Like You.” I played it at every show.

Flash forward to Kellen’s story.

I’ve been playing guitar off and on lately. I just hadn’t felt inspired to play.

When I heard and wrote Kellen’s story, it made me want to play the Keith Urban song I know. Better yet, I wanted to play it for Kellen.

The lyrics were fitting for our situation. They go like this:

“Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand, but I’m learning to be a better man. I don’t want to take this life for granted like I used to do. I want to love somebody like you.”

I took them to heart. The song was destined for me to play for Kellen.

I’d been taken life for granted with guitar. Some folks in the world don’t know how to play, and since I do, I have to share my gift with everyone.

I also shared my gift of writing with everyone too when writing Kellen’s story. I’ll never take my writing talent for granted again.

Closing Thoughts

Music has the power to change lives.

Keith Urban changed Kellen’s life just by hugging and spending time with him during the show.

My life was changed writing Kellen’s story and being inspired to play guitar all over again.

Long live music.

Noah Nelson is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with minors in political science and history. He served as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, serves as a writer on Medium and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. His books “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” and “Dana and Me: A Memoir” are both available now on Amazon. Like what you read? You can write for Medium too!