Walker Hayes, a country star, discusses what pulled his family back together following tragedy.
Hayes, who collaborated with JCPenney on a clothing collection, lost his daughter shortly after delivery in 2018.
Walker Hayes, a country artist, discussed how his family was brought back together after tragedy.
In 2018, the now-44-year-old country artist and his wife, Laney, suffered a tragic loss when their daughter, Oakleigh Klover, died shortly after birth as a result of a uterine rupture, which also almost killed Laney.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Hayes, who recently collaborated with JCPenney on a new apparel line, said how releasing his emotions via music enhanced his relationship with his wife and children and helped them get through difficult times.
“One thing that I’m glad for is there was some point in my life where I began to write songs and that started this communicative side of me where I felt the need to say it all,” he went on to remark.
Country singer Walker Hayes shared how his family was able to come together after tragedy. (JCPenney/Walker Hayes Instagram)
The “Good with Me” HitMaker went on, “Let’s throw it all on the table, and you can do whatever you want with it.” But, selfishly, it’s no longer inside me.
“And I will say that that has been a gift, and I’m forever grateful,” he said. “It has enhanced my relationship with my children and with my wife. “Brutal honesty and communication, the highway is open.”
“I believe that is a large part of why I am not afraid to expose my family for the good and the bad and simply say, ‘Hey, we’re still a family.'”
The singer married Laney, his high school love, in 2004. The couple has three daughters: Lela (18), Loxley (10), and Everly (7), as well as three sons: Chapel (16), Baylor (14) and Beckett (12).
Hayes, who has a significant social media following, frequently highlights his children and family life in his posts. Hayes’ fame surged in 2021 after a TikTok video of himself and Lela dancing to his song “Fancy Like” became viral.
In 2018, country star Walker Hayes and his wife, Laney, suffered a devastating loss after their daughter, Oakleigh Klover, died shortly after birth due to a uterine rupture that nearly ended Laney’s life as well. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
After 11 years in the music industry, Hayes had a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country chart with “Fancy Like,” which also reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s success also catapulted Hayes to new heights of celebrity.
WATCH: Country artist Walker Hayes recounts how his family came together after tragedy.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6352202246112
Hayes has been outspoken on social media and in the press about his life’s ups and downs. During his interview with Fox News Digital, he discussed how he overcame adversity via the “grace of God and God alone.”
The country musician, who struggled with alcoholism, recently told Fox News Digital that the sorrow of losing Oakleigh tested his capacity to stay sober and the strength of his relationship with Laney.
“Laney and I have been through things,” he went on to say.
Hayes and Laney have been married since 2004. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
According to Hayes, their marriage might have ended due to the agony of losing Oakleigh, who would have turned 6 in June.
“That’s the kind of stuff that ruins marriages,” he stated. “I mean, obliterates them like a bomb, you know?”
Hayes went on, “And Lainey and I grieved in completely different ways.” “I was angry, she was sad for, like, two years.”
He went on, “And to be honest, I have no answer.” “I’m not sure why we’ve chosen this side. And we’re still persevering.”
Hayes claimed that working with his kids on social media projects, like the “Fancy Like” video, and sharing their life with their followers, has enhanced their relationship in addition to the better communication he has with his family.
“I think when most people in Nashville think country musicians, and they come across my name, it is not only me that they think of,” Hayes stated. “They remember the original dance, the first dance we ever performed, with my daughter. They most likely consider Laney. They are most likely familiar with our family’s tale.”
Hayes said the pain of losing Oakleigh, who he noted would have been 6 years old this June, could have ended his marriage. (Dillon Sherlock/CBS via Getty Images)
He went on, “They probably know my testimony.” “They probably know a lot about my life and family.”
According to Hayes, putting his family first rather than himself on social media serves as a helpful reminder of his values.
“If you dive into my socials, you really don’t see much of me,” he stated.
The performer referred to his kids’ well-known trick-shot movies, in which they try out acrobatics like basketball throws, pancake flips, and golf shots that look impossible.
Watch country music artist Walker Hayes discuss how his family helps him stay grounded.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6352208636112
Hayes laughed and continued, “You see my kids doing trick shots, and, you know, whatever they do.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“That keeps me grounded,” he said. I’m reminded to pay attention to them. To be really honest, my first priority when I wake up is to figure out how to be a better spouse. How can I raise my son better? Alright. Since I want to look after Laney. And because life will hurl a lot at my kids, I want to prepare them for it.”
“And I just want them to understand that their dad loves them,” he continued.
Hayes stated that his goals have altered to revolve around his family life, and that his goal is to “just focus on the things that I think the world sees me now trying to focus on.”
“I’m not the perfect husband. I am not a perfect believer. “I am not a perfect father at all,” he admitted.
“I mean, I failed badly. I tossed a plastic chair yesterday, and my kids teased me about it all day. I adore that they did. “We were doing a trick shot, and I couldn’t get it,” Hayes remarked, smiling.
“I threw a plastic chair against a tree and just smashed it,” he went on to say. “And it helped me feel better. But, listen, I hope people see me now as simply trying and being encouraged to try. “Let’s just try together.”
Hayes and his children’s popular social media videos have resulted in corporate partnerships, such as an Applebee’s ad and a back-to-school campaign with Great Clips. JCPenney was impressed by the singer’s social media presence and hired him for a limited clothing collection.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Hayes admitted that he was first hesitant whether he was the ideal person to begin a clothing line.
“Be honest, when it comes to fashion? “When they called me, I’m not sure I was that confident in terms of, like, ‘Am I equipped to make fashion decisions?'” he admitted.
Hayes collaborated with JCPenney on a new clothing collection. (JCPenney)
She went on to say, “But as they included me as well as honestly just dove into my personal story, they gave me more and more confidence, and they allowed me to really, really contribute to this line.”
“Many of these are personal objects that we created together. I wear my father’s jacket, which we basically reproduced, every day. And he’s gone now, but there’s a jacket out there that other people will pass along, and it will become a part of their lives.”
WATCH: Country musician Walker Hayes discusses his new partnership with JCPenney
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6352201955112
“There’s T-shirts with colors and textures that I feel confident putting on and wearing [on] all occasions,” he went on to say. “Honestly, it’s my life in apparel. You know, in twenty-five items. This is what I do. And so, I give JCPenney a lot of credit for believing in me and, honestly, setting me up for success with this collection again.”
Hayes recalled how he had never really chosen his own wardrobe in the past. The Grammy Award candidate stated that his mother would choose clothes for him and his brother, and that JCPenney was one of their favorite stores. Hayes admitted that after marrying Laney, he frequently relied on her to help him choose his clothes.
The singer’s clothing line includes 25 items. (JCPenney)
“I feel like that’s actually a genius way to create a men’s line – to use a real dude who probably shops & wears clothes like your normal JCPenney person,” he told me. “And so I just happened to have a cool job that goes along with it.”
“It’s been a fantastic connection, so organic, and one that I would happily continue in a heartbeat. It’s been a blast. I am dying to see it on others. “You know, out in the world.”
The Walker Hayes for JCPenney collection is available online on May 4 and in select stores on May 16.
SOURCE
Facebook Comments