Tom Hanks turned up at Stagecoach, and he was not there for a random celebrity stroll.
The Oscar winner made a surprise appearance during his son Chet Hanks’ set at the 2026 Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California, on April 25. Chet performed with his band Something Out West, and fans quickly spotted Tom standing toward the back of the Toyota Music Den, bopping along as the group played ‘You Better Run.’
It was already a sweet dad moment. Then fans remembered the song’s music video.
‘You Better Run’ is built as a direct tribute to ‘Forrest Gump,’ the 1994 film that won Tom Hanks his second Oscar and became one of the most quoted movies of his career.
Chet’s Song Has A Big ‘Forrest Gump’ Connection
The music video for ‘You Better Run’ fully leans into the ‘Forrest Gump’ universe.
Chet, 35, recreates some of the movie’s most famous scenes while dressed like Forrest. In one moment, he sits on a bus stop bench and repeats the classic line, “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
In another, he runs in the familiar beard and red shorts look from the film’s cross-country sequence.
The video also includes a performance on Forrest’s shrimping boat, named Jenny after Robin Wright’s character. Tom even makes a cameo on the bench, looking confused beside his son while Chet sings.
For Stagecoach fans, seeing Tom watching the song live gave the whole thing an extra layer. The man who made Forrest famous was now cheering as his son turned the movie into a country-rock moment.
Chet First Rejected The Cameo Idea
Chet has said he was not immediately sold on bringing his dad into the video.
“It was our drummer’s idea,” he said in June 2025. “I was like ‘Absolutely not.’ Then after 10 minutes, I was like, ‘That’s genius.’”
His hesitation made sense.
Chet said he has spent his whole life being linked to ‘Forrest Gump’ because of his father’s role.
“People have been talking about ‘Forrest Gump’ my whole life,” he said. “I’ve been called Lil Gump.”
Still, the video became a fan favorite, partly because the reference was so obvious and affectionate. Chet later described the father-son project as a loving tribute.
Chet Is Leaning Into Music
Chet, whose parents are Tom and Rita Wilson, has worked across acting, reality TV and music. Tom also shares son Truman Hanks with Wilson, and Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Hanks with his late ex-wife Samantha Lewes.
Earlier this year, Chet said he sees acting and music as two parts of the same creative life.
“Ultimately, I consider myself an artist, and acting and music are just two different mediums for being able to express myself,” he said.
He added that he had been working on the music for a long time and wanted to tour so people could finally hear it.
At Stagecoach, he got more than a festival slot. He got his famous dad quietly dancing along in the back while fans connected the dots to one of the biggest movies of Tom’s career.
