Kid Rock pays off $81,000 worth of layaways at Nashville Walmart

Authored by tennessean.com and submitted by Atrampoline

CLOSE Entertainer Kid Rock surprised customers at the Dickerson Pike Walmart store in Nashville by paying off their layaway accounts on Friday. Nashville Tennessean

Kid Rock performs during a rally for Republican U.S. Senate candidate John James in Pontiac, Mich., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Photo: Paul Sancya, AP)

Kid Rock paid off the balances of 350 layaway accounts at a Walmart store in Nashville.

The musician gave the 3458 Dickerson Pike store about $81,000 to pay down all of the accounts, said Tom Meyer, the store's manager.

"Kudos to Kid Rock for making such a gesture in our community," Meyer said. "I think that's a pretty Nashville proud moment."

@tylerperry Great idea! I followed your lead and paid off the layaway at my local Walmart in Nashville. Merry Christmas and God Bless You! — Kid Rock (@KidRock) December 7, 2018

Kid Rock said on Twitter that he was following director Tyler Perry's lead. Perry posted a video on Twitter, saying he had paid off the layaway balances at two Georgia locations.

"@tylerperry Great idea! I followed your lead and paid off the layaway at my local Walmart in Nashville. Merry Christmas and God Bless You!" said Kid Rock, in the tweet.

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Meyer said Rock called the store on Friday morning, explaining that he wanted to spread some good cheer by paying down the balances. Rock's manager later came into the store to make the big payment.

I was trying to do this anonymously but oh well!!! pic.twitter.com/T0dhRHyU66 — Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 6, 2018

It was a shocking, cool moment for Meyer, he said. And he said it has been an awesome experience letting customers know their accounts have been paid off. The items on lawaway are likely Christmas gifts, since the store only offers the program during the holiday season, Meyer said.

The layaway customers, who have been coming into the store as a result of Rock's gesture, were wearing shocked and smiling faces, Meyer said. Each one is being handed a card explaining that Kid Rock made the payment on their behalf, he said.

Kid Rock paid off about $81,000 in layaway balances at a Walmart store in Nashville. Tom Meyer, the store's manager, said employees were giving the account holders' notes explaining that the musician had paid down their layaways. (Photo: Submitted photo by Tom Meyer)

"Merry Christmas from your neighbor!" the cards read.

Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Richie, has property in Whites Creek.

Surprised customers thank Kid Rock for his generosity

Autumn and Woody Nuccio want to make sure Kid Rock knows how grateful they are for his generosity. Without him, the parents would not be able to give their three young children presents for Christmas this year.

Buy Photo Autumn and Woody Nuncio show the Christmas gifts they had on layaway at a Walmart store on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Kid Rock spent about $81,000 Saturday to pay off the balances of 350 layaway accounts, including the one belonging to the Nuncios, at the Dickerson Pike store. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean)

They did not have enough money for both rent and the toys they had put on layaway at the Dickerson Pike store, said Autumn Nuccio, as she waited for Walmart staff to grab her items.

"It's such a burden lifted off of our shoulders knowing that our kids will have Christmas," said Autumn Nuccio, who works at the Walmart location.

@KidRock We were gonna have to give up our kids christmas this year because we needed to pay rent but now, because of you, our babies will have a good christmas!! So thank you so much!! — Autumn Nuccio (@IndicaStonerGrl) December 8, 2018

One of the items in their layaway cart was a guitar for their 3-year-old son, Dustin. They were excited that Rock's gift meant their son would have a fun story to tell about the musician for the rest of his life.

"He bought my son his first guitar," Woody Nuccio said.

Rock also paid for the gifts Henrietta Lewis will give her grandchild for an upcoming fourth birthday.

Buy Photo Kenya Sanders wipes tears away as she heads to pick up the Christmas gifts she had on layaway at a Walmart store on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Kid Rock spent about $81,000 Saturday to pay off the balances of 350 layaway accounts, including the one belonging to Sanders, at the Dickerson Pike store. (Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean)

Lewis received a text that an anonymous person had paid off her layaway items.

"I just want him to know that I'm very grateful that he done this for the community," Lewis said. "I love you Kid Rock. Keep up the good work."

Layaway gift comes on the heels of controversy

The official Twitter account for the retail giant applauded Rock and Perry for paying off the layaways at the three Walmart locations.

"This is awesome! You guys are spreading the Christmas spirit like crazy," the Walmart tweet said.

This is awesome! You guys are spreading the Christmas spirit like crazy. ❤️🎄 #SparkKindness — Walmart (@Walmart) December 7, 2018

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The music star's gesture comes on the heels of a recent dust up.

Rock was tapped to be the grand marshal of the Nashville Christmas Parade on Dec. 1, but that did not happen after he made controversial comments on a Fox & Friends. His remarks quickly caused a public backlash and led Nashville's mayor to threaten to sit out for the event.

Eventually, parade organizers gave the grand marshal role to Waffle House mass shooting hero James Shaw Jr. Now, Kid Rock will be a special guest in the Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade, which starts at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15.

Reach Holly Meyer at [email protected] or 615-259-8241 and on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.

CLOSE Kid Rock pays off $81,000 worth of layaways at Nashville Walmart Michael Schwab, Nashville Tennessean

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jaj504 on December 9th, 2018 at 00:11 UTC »

Gayle Benson (Owner of Saints/Pelicans) just did the same thing in New Orleans. They're making a lot of kids Christmas's great this year.

redshift76 on December 8th, 2018 at 23:17 UTC »

Were they all his?

Edit: Thanks for the gold kind stranger. I turn off my phone and go to my daughters Nutcracker performance. I come back in three hours and find out I got gold for kraken Kid Rock's nuts. God I love Reddit! Thanks for making my day even better.

aeroplane1979 on December 8th, 2018 at 20:34 UTC »

At a glance, I thought the title read "Kid Rock paid off all the lawyers at a Walmart in Nashville"