• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Family

Deployed dad surprises daughter at daddy-daughter dance

0:39
Deployed dad surprises his daughter at daddy-daughter dance
ABCNews.com
ByNicole Pelletiere
June 13, 2019, 7:59 AM

A 7-year-old girl who attended a daddy-daughter dance without her father got the surprise of a lifetime.

Kevin Matthews, who had just returned from an Army deployment overseas, shocked his daughter, Kylar, when he walked through the doors of Lamkin Elementary School in Texas on March 30.

Kylar Matthews, 7, stands with her father, Kevin Matthews of the United States Army and her step-dad Kerlanders Watson, at Lamkin Elementary School's daddy-daughter dance in Texas, March 29, 2019.
Jordan Clark

"He was in Kuwait for 1 year and 12 days," Kylar's mother, Jordan Clark, told "Good Morning America." "She had been missing him. To see her excitement of seeing her dad it was priceless."

School principal Gale Parker told "GMA" there were about 400 kids and parents who witnessed the event.

Kevin Matthews, who has been deployed for over a year, surrpised his daughter Kylar Matthews, 7, by attending the daddy-daughter dance at her school in Texas, March 29, 2019.
Jordan Clark

"[Kylar] missed her dad and what a great time for him to show up at this dance," Parker said.

While Kevin Matthews had been away, Kylar attended other school dances with her mom, stepmom, brother Tristan and stepfather Kerlanders Watson.

"We co-parent really great," Clark said of her ex. "Kylar was sitting at the table talking to her stepdad and when she looked up and saw [her father] she ran to him."

The touching moment when Kylar leaped into Matthews' arms was captured on video and shared by local news stations.

Kevin Matthews of the United States Army stunned his daughter Kylar Matthews, 7, as he walked through the doors of Lamkin Elementary School in Texas, March 29, 2019.
Jordan Clark

(Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 4, 2019)

Up Next in Family—

What to know about Kobe, Vanessa Bryant's 4 daughters

May 21, 2025

Jimmy Kimmel is a father of 4: What to know about his kids

May 21, 2025

Tips to help lessen summer learning loss

May 21, 2025

Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann and their 3 kids pose together as family in Cannes

May 19, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News