Tom Hanks Supports Son Chet Hanks for Stagecoach Performance

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Tom Hanks and Chet Hanks are like peas and carrots.

The Academy Award winner was in the audience to support his son and his band, Something Out West, when they played at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California, on April 25, 2026.

I was so thrilled to see Tom enjoying Chet and Drew Arthur’s performance of “You Better Run”! They were playing it in a video online, and he was back there in the Toyota Music Den, totally grooving along to the music. It was a really fun moment!

The experience was particularly special for Tom Hanks, who shares son Truman, 30, with his wife Rita Wilson. He also has children Colin, 48, and Elizabeth, 43, with his former wife, Samantha Lewes. This was because the song’s music video paid tribute to his famous film, Forrest Gump.

Chet imitated Tom Hanks’ famous role as Forrest Gump, perfectly recreating memorable scenes from the 1994 film. He even dressed up in Forrest’s suit and, sitting on a bus stop bench, delivered the iconic line, “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

In one part of the video, the 35-year-old playfully runs around wearing a beard and red shorts, imitating the character Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks also appears briefly, sitting on a bench looking puzzled as his son performs. They both agreed the video felt like a warm and affectionate gesture.

The band honored the famous Oscar-winning movie by recreating its most iconic moments. They even performed on a shrimp boat designed to look like the one from the film, and it was named after Forrest’s wife, Jenny (played by Robin Wright).

Despite being popular with fans, the actor from Running Point said he originally didn’t want his dad to be in the music video.

Our drummer came up with the idea originally,” Chet shared with Entertainment Tonight in June 2025. “I immediately said no way. But then, after thinking about it for ten minutes, I realized it was brilliant.”

The star of Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets didn’t want to be further involved with the project, so he was hesitant about the decision.

Chet said people have always associated him with the movie Forrest Gump, and they often call him ‘Lil Gump’.

Despite everything, he was happy with how much people liked the video once it came out. He’d always enjoyed trying out different ways to express his creativity throughout his career.

I see myself as an artist first and foremost, and both acting and music are ways I express my creativity,” he explained to Esquire last February. “I’ve been developing this music for a while now, and I’m excited to start touring and share it with everyone.”

Chet and Tom weren’t the only famous faces at Stagecoach! Here’s a look at all the celebrities who enjoyed this year’s music festival.

There were no heartbreak moments for the singer of “July.” She spent time with her father behind the scenes before taking the stage to perform.

The Ridiculousness alum said howdy to the DJ during his set.

No one else could do what the country legend did on the Palomino Stage.

You’ll L-O-V-E the “Pieces of Me” singer’s performance in Diplo‘s HonkyTonk tent.

Choosin’ Stagecoach. The “You Look Like You Love Me” artist hit up the T-Mobile Mane Stage.

The San Francisco 49ers had a touchdown time during Dan + Shay‘s set.

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2026-04-27 16:48