Dad with cancer records songs with Tim McGraw for young daughters’ future weddings
Michael Hugo has two young daughters and stage four brain cancer. As he navigates his diagnosis, he says he’s been planning for his children’s future.
“Something could pop up and go downhill fast, so what I’ve been trying to do as much as possible is give my children all the life lessons I can in a short amount of time,” Hugo, who lives in Wellington, Florida, said in a video on Facebook.
He’s started to preserve small moments for his daughters, now ages 6 and 7, as they grow up — “whether I’m here or not,” he said. Prewritten birthday cards for their 21st birthdays were one idea Hugo had. Planning for their future weddings was another.
Hugo was first diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in April 2022, he said.
“One of my dreams is to be with my little girls for their weddings,” Hugo said in a video, choking up. “But statistically it’s going to be tough.”
That’s why he reached out to one of his beloved country stars, Tim McGraw, for help.
Hugo asked if McGraw would be willing to record some wedding songs with him to keep for his daughter’s future weddings. His family and friends helped him post the video on Facebook and TikTok in the hopes it would reach the celebrity.
Days later, Hugo heard back — and his wife said it felt like “God winked.”
McGraw connected with the Hugos and flew them out to Nashville for a special recording of two songs for their daughter’s future weddings, Vanessa Hugo shared on Facebook. Hugo and McGraw sang “My Little Girl” for his daughters and “I Called Mama” for his mother, according to the post.
“So glad we were able to actually get together in person, meet this amazing family, and make it happen! Mike is saving the videos for his daughters’ future weddings... what a special thing to be a part of,” McGraw said in an Instagram post.
Hugo and his daughters and mom were also able to dance on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, a moment filmed by McGraw’s management team, Vanessa Hugo said.
“The footage will be compiled into a video tribute for our family to keep,” Vanessa Hugo wrote, adding a big thank you to the list of people who helped her husband’s wish come true.
“Our prayer is that Michael will be here to sing his heart out when Bridget and Brooke grow up and get married,” Vanessa Hugo wrote. “But if God has a different plan, Michael’s love will always be here with us.”
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