Country Music Star Blake Shelton stopped his run at a sold out Friends & Heroes tour in to sing for an emotional and yet heartwarming story for 12 year old Emily Harper who was at Jimmy Everest Center at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in March 2025.
Emily’s request for her one final wish was to hear her favorite Blake Shelton song — “God Gave Me You” — live. Shelton’s team was contacted by the hospital staff who had reached out to her family. Looking at the request, Shelton wasted no time reordering his schedule and flew to Oklahoma to continue his long association with the center where he contributed $600,000 in 2016.
Shelton arrived at Emily’s hospital room with guitar in tow on March 10, 2025. He looked casual in jeans and black t-shirt; walked in with a warm smile and joked – ‘Hey Emily, heard you were my biggest fan.’ I couldn’t let you down.”
As Shelton sat beside her bed, he performs in a moment of emotion a touching acoustic version of ‘God Gave Me You.’ Physical nubbins being quite thin for months of treatment felt Emily light up as she held on to the stuffed bear she called Blake though she could not remember when she had taken the name from.
But the country star didn’t end there. He then played other favorites like “Austin” and “Honey Bee” before spreading kisses all over Emily before talking about stories from being a contestant on one of Emily’s favorite shows, The Voice, before meeting with her behind closed doors.
“At the time his mom, Sarah Harper, said that moment would be life-changing: “That was the first time in months we’ve seen her smile like that.” Blake put gift on us that we will never forget.”
Even her oncologist, Emily’s Dr. Rachel Carter, agreed: ‘I always hope it’s going to be this way, it really gives hope — when you need it most.’
Moreover, Blake Shelton has always used his platform for more than music, his platform has been used as an instrument of compassion. He has visited patients in hospice, recorded personal videos for fans in recovery, and brought children with serious illnesses on stage to share the limelight with him.
While these are individual gestures, Shelton also supports broader causes, including start the Blake Shelton Cancer Research Program, disaster relief and resources to the rural schools with music education.
It‘s in a 2024 interview, where he reflects on why he‘s so serious about giving back: “Music gave me a reason to wake up in the mornings, many times. That is everything,” she continued if I can give even a sliver of that comfort to a child fighting cancer.”
Emily Harper died on March 20, 2025, after her private performance just ten days ago. And her family says that moment with Blake was one of her happiest memories.
Exactly one day later that same evening in Greensboro, North Carolina, Shelton paused mid set to dedicate “God Gave Me You” in Emily’s honor: “This is for a little girl named Emily”. “She wasn’t here when she’s up there still listening.”
The arena fell silent. It caused many in the crowd to wipe away tears. Beautiful grace, that type of grace for which music was made, it was a shared moment.
There was no reason Emily had to hit headline and publicity for Blake Shelton’s private concert. One girl, one song and one final wish being served. He gave her a moment of joy — something that even medicine couldn’t — in doing so.
Despite an industry focused largely on fame and numbers, Shelton’s act is, more so, about how sometimes the most powerful performances take place quietly, in a hospital room, where love and music are most at work.
If you found this story, please Give to kids’ cancer or think of donating to your local children’s hospital in memory of Emily Harper.
