A third-grade teacher in Maine never expected a classroom activity to catch the attention of country superstar Luke Combs. But after sharing a video of her students singing along to his music during writing time, that’s exactly what happened.
Molly Dalton, a third-grade teacher at Carmel Elementary School in Maine, posted a TikTok showing her students enthusiastically singing Luke Combs’ song “Days Like These” while working on their writing assignments. The video quickly gained attention online and eventually made its way to Combs himself.
Dalton says her appreciation for Combs’ music began after attending one of his concerts in Bangor with her sisters.
“I have three sisters, and those three are really loving Luke Combs,” Dalton explained. “So, when he came to Bangor a few years ago, they got tickets, and I was feeling a little left out. So, I got tickets as well. And from there, we just started loving him.”
That enthusiasm eventually found its way into her classroom. Dalton began playing Combs’ music during writing time, discovering that it helped her students stay focused and engaged.
“During our writing, sometimes having music in the background helps them focus and get their jobs done,” she said. “And just having Luke Combs, it’s definitely a favorite among them. So, building that classroom community as well with having a mutual love for country music and Luke Combs especially has really made them enjoy learning.”
Touched by the video, Combs decided to thank the class in a memorable way. The country star sent the students a record player along with a signed vinyl copy of his album The Way I Am, giving them a special new way to enjoy his music in the classroom.
Dalton later shared another video showing the students singing along to “Days Like These” while the record spun on their new player.
The gift made a lasting impression on the class. One student said his “mind was blown” after watching Combs’ music video for “Back in the Saddle.”
“After they played ‘Back in the Saddle’ on the TV, it blew my mind of how good it was,” he said. “We have a Siri at home, so I’m like, wow, I want to play this song at home and get better at it.”
Dalton admitted she was stunned when Combs personally reached out through TikTok.
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw the message directly from Luke in my TikTok, and he asked me to reach out to his team,” she recalled. “So when I did, I still was a little hesitant, but then we received a package from him directly. We received a signed record of his most recent album as well as a record player so we can listen to it in our classroom.”
The gesture meant so much to the students that some were reportedly disappointed to leave for summer break because they wouldn’t be able to listen to the record together in class.
While the gift itself was special, the experience highlighted the power of music to bring people together. Thanks to one viral classroom video and a generous response from Luke Combs, a group of Maine third-graders now has a story they’ll remember for years—and a deeper appreciation for the country star whose music helped inspire their learning.
@1234abcdxyz8 Replying to @KurtOzan251 @Luke Combs we can’t thank you enough!! My 3rd graders admire you! You have made some fans for life! 🩵 #lukecombs #countrymusic #teachersoftiktok @Luke Combs HQ @NICOLE COMBS ♬ original sound – Molly🍎
