Brende Lott, a devoted Avett Brothers fan since 2009, is headed to New York City for a whirlwind 24-hour trip to see Swept Away, a Broadway musical featuring the band’s music. The opportunity arose thanks to an unexpected gift from bestselling author Colleen Hoover.
Lott, an Owensboro native and certified nurse midwife, is part of an Avett Brothers fan group where Hoover, also a longtime fan, occasionally interacts. Hoover recently posted in the group explaining she had accidentally purchased 12 extra tickets to Swept Away. Rather than refund them, Hoover offered the tickets to fellow fans.
“Instead of submitting the tickets for a refund, she wanted to gift them to people in our group, which I thought was incredibly cool,” Lott said.
When Hoover asked if anyone could make it to New York for the December 28 performance, Lott jumped at the chance.
“I just said if she had four tickets to give, we’d gladly take them,” Lott said. “She immediately responded, ‘They’re yours,’ which was amazing.”
Now, Lott is planning a quick but meaningful trip with her daughters and new son-in-law.
“We’re flying in for 24 hours, seeing the musical, staying the night, and flying back,” she said.
For Lott and her family, the Avett Brothers have been a cherished part of their lives. Introduced to their music in 2009, Lott attended her first concert at Murray State’s Lovett Auditorium.
“It was a pretty intimate show,” she recalled. “My husband and I have seen them over 30 times in concert. That first show was the smallest, but the biggest was when they opened for the Rolling Stones in North Carolina. We drove there just to see it, and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.”
The Avett Brothers’ music has even played a role in family milestones.
“Our children grew up listening to their music,” Lott said. “When our daughter got married in October, two Avett Brothers songs were part of her wedding — the processional and the recessional. Their music means so much to our family.”
Lott had been following Swept Away for years. The musical, which tells the story of a shipwreck, features songs from the Avett Brothers’ catalog. After beginning on the West Coast, the musical moved to Washington, D.C., before arriving on Broadway in late 2023.
“It’s something my daughters and I planned to see next summer,” Lott said. “But then we found out the musical was closing on December 29. This is our last chance to see it.”
Though Lott and Hoover have never met in person, they share a unique connection.
“We’re in the same fan group, and we actually share the same birthday — December 11. Every year, we wish each other happy birthday in the group,” Lott said. “I know she’s aware of who I am because of the group and photos I’ve shared, but we’ve never met in person.”
Lott said many people in the group have been avid readers of Hoover’s books.
“Her very first book, Slammed, includes an Avett Brothers lyric at the start of every chapter. She’s a huge fan, and our group has supported her from the beginning,” Lott said.
For Lott, the gift is meaningful on multiple levels. Coming right after her birthday and just before Christmas, the timing makes it even more special.
“It’s just incredible to have the opportunity to take my daughters on this kind of trip. That alone feels like a gift — spending that time with them and creating these memories,” she said. “Being able to celebrate this music, which has been so meaningful to us, feels really special. As an adult, you don’t often get big gifts like this anymore, so it feels unique and magical.”
Reflecting on the generosity, Lott is still amazed by the opportunity.
“I have multiple emails from Colleen Hoover,” she said. “How cool is that?”
