Country Singer “Cried Like a Baby” After Locating Stolen Guitar His Father Gifted Him Almost Two Decades Ago

While William Clark Green expanded his career in country music since first stepping on stage during the early 2000s, the singer never forgot about the gift his father gave him. Before releasing his first album, Green received a special gift from his father when he bought him his first guitar. A major milestone in the singer’s career, he held the guitar close. That was until it was stolen nearly two decades ago. Always remembering the gift and hoping to get it back one day, it seemed that Green’s dream finally came true. 

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Just last year, Green spoke about his career on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast. During the conversation, the singer shared details on how his guitar was stolen. During the podcast, Green was advised to put the guitar’s information on the internet, he eventually followed their advice. And it was great advice as it worked. 

Getting enough information he could on the guitar, Green posted a wanted message on Facebook. Revealing it was a Martin Jumbo Cutaway JC16, the singer was even able to describe a “dime sized battle scar between the bridge and the input jack.” Offering $3000 for its return, he could do nothing more than wait. 

[RELATED: Listen: William Clark Green, “I Still Think About You”]

William Clark Green Found The Guitar Only A Few Miles Away

On Wednesday, Green shared the wonderful news that his post had received a great deal of attention, leading to the guitar being returned. “On January 17th 2025, the day before my dad’s birthday, and 17 years after it had been stolen, I got a phone call from my childhood friend Hunter Sanders saying he thinks he has the guitar. His family owns A-Plus Pawn in Tyler, Texas. Sure enough, he sent me a picture and it was mine! It even had my old capo with my initials carved in it.”

Although Green believed he would never see the guitar again, apparently, it wasn’t that far from him the entire time. “The guitar has been in his father’s private guitar collection at the pawn shop all these years. Nine miles from my parents house in Tyler, Texas. Thank you for all the kind comments and help trying to find it. Huge thanks to A-Plus pawn and the Sanders family for only charging me what they bought the guitar for. They refused to accept the $3000 dollar reward.”

With Green reunited with the priceless instrument, he insisted, “I hate a thief, but I love this story. I cried like a baby.”

(Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)