‘The Piano Guys’ Lost a Daughter Right Before Christmas–so They Wanted to Share This Song

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Music has the ability to both evoke and soothe powerful emotions and can provide comfort and healing in times of grief. The holidays can be a trying time for anyone who has experienced profound loss, but one beautiful medley doing the rounds this Christmas offers solace to anyone who is missing a loved one.

The Piano Guys, a quartet of musicians from southern Utah, recorded “The Sweetest Gift” after the death of piano player Jon Schmidt’s 21-year-old daughter in 2016. As of Christmas 2019, the moving ballad has amassed over 6.1 million views on YouTube.

Schmidt’s daughter Annie went missing on a hiking expedition in the Tooth Rock area near Portland. According to Fox 13, the Schmidt family asked for prayers from their community in Utah while a search for their missing daughter commenced in Oregon.

Tragically, Annie’s body was later found at the bottom of a cliff; her death was determined to be accidental.

Heartbroken pianist Jon Schmidt found a way to channel his grief through music. At the opening of The Piano Guys’ music video for “The Sweetest Gift,” Schmidt explains: “So last year was a really tough year for us. We lost our daughter, Annie.

“People talk about grief, pain, fear, sorrow,” the pianist continues. “All of these words can’t really describe how you feel when you really go through the loss of a loved one. Even though we held onto hope, that we would somehow see her again, it was just a brutal time that we were going through, right at Christmas.

“It felt pretty hard to celebrate. And then I found this song. It was just a video on Facebook by this Christian artist and he was singing about the very struggle I was having. As my wife and I listened to the words of this song; it expressed exactly what we were feeling.”

Schmidt set out to record “The Sweetest Gift” alongside cellist Steven Sharp Nelson and singer Craig Aven, hoping that its message would help others heal as it has his own family.

The first verse of the song encapsulates its powerful message:

I’m not going to lie

Christmas really hurts this time

Cause you’re not here to celebrate with me

Tears fill my eyes

And memories flood my mind

As I place your ornament upon our tree

Although this year I have a broken heart

It gives me hope and joy as I remember where you are. Schmidt goes on to explain that the song gave him and his wife the comfort they so sorely needed after losing their daughter, believing that Annie was finally safe in the arms of “the Son of God.”

“So many people struggle with loss at this time of year, not just me,” Schmidt adds. “If you are missing someone this Christmas, I want to dedicate this song to you.

“I also want to dedicate it to Annie, my sweet Annie, who I miss very much.”

The Piano Guys first shared “The Sweetest Gift” with a worldwide audience in 2017, tweeting:

“Missing someone this Christmas? This song’s for you.”

Many people commented on the song, voicing their appreciation for the band’s comforting holiday message:

“To everyone who’s relating to this song I pray you find peace,” wrote one viewer.

“Feel with you,” wrote another. “We lost our son Christmas Eve, his birthday. Inconsolable. Jesus is our comforter & hope.”

“Heaven seems so much closer when one you love is there,” one person reflected, as many others also came forward to share how faith had given them strength in times of hardship.

Music heals, and the Piano Guys’ beautiful tribute to lost loved ones offers solace to anyone who needs it this Christmas.