Nation singer Walker Hayes mirrored on how his household was introduced again collectively within the wake of tragedy.
In 2018, the now-44-year-old nation star and his spouse, Laney, suffered a devastating loss after their daughter, Oakleigh Klover, died shortly after delivery on account of a uterine rupture that just about ended Laney’s life as effectively.
Throughout an interview with Fox Information Digital, Hayes, who just lately partnered with JCPenney for a brand new clothes assortment, defined how channeling his feelings by way of his music improved his relationship together with his spouse and kids and helped them overcome difficult occasions.
“One factor that I am grateful for is there was some level in my life the place I started to write down songs and that started this communicative aspect of me the place I felt the necessity to say all of it,” he mentioned.
The “Good With Me” hitmaker continued, “Let’s throw all of it on the desk, and you are able to do what you need with it. However selfishly, it isn’t inside me anymore.”
“And I’ll say that that has been a present, and I am eternally grateful,” he added. “It is improved my relationship with my youngsters, with my spouse. Brutal honesty and communication, freeway broad open.”
“I do suppose that that is a big cause why I am unafraid to show my household for the great and the unhealthy and simply say, ‘Hey, we’re nonetheless a household.'”
The songwriter married Laney, who was his highschool sweetheart, in 2004. The couple share daughters Lela, 18, Loxley, 10, and Everly, 7, and sons Chapel, 16, Baylor, 14, and Beckett, 12.
Hayes, who has amassed a big social media following, typically showcases his kids and household life in his posts. In 2021, Hayes’ profession skyrocketed after a TikTok video of himself and Lela dancing to his tune “Fancy Like” went viral.
After 11 years within the music trade, Hayes scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Nation chart with “Fancy Like,” which additionally reached No. 3 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart. The tune’s success additionally launched Hayes to a brand new degree of fame.
WATCH: Nation singer Walker Hayes shares how his household was introduced collectively after tragedy
Hayes has been open each on social media and within the press in regards to the ups and downs that he has skilled all through his life. Throughout his interview with Fox Information Digital, he recalled how he was in a position to overcome hardships by way of the “grace of God and God alone.”
The nation singer, who battled alcoholism, beforehand shared with Fox Information Digital that the ache of shedding Oakleigh challenged his capability to remain sober and examined the power of his relationship with Laney.
“Laney and I’ve been by way of issues,” he mentioned.
Hayes mentioned the ache of shedding Oakleigh, who he famous would have been 6 years outdated this June, might have ended their marriage.
“That is the sort of stuff that destroys marriages,” he mentioned. “I imply, obliterates them like a bomb, you understand?”
“And Lainey and I grieved in fully alternative ways,” Hayes continued. “I used to be offended, she was unhappy for, like, two years.”
“And actually, I’ve no reply,” he added. “I can not let you know why we’re on this aspect. And we’re nonetheless hanging in there.”
Along with the improved communication that he shares together with his household, Hayes mentioned that collaborating together with his kids on social media content material, such because the “Fancy Like” video and sharing their lives with their following, has helped deliver them collectively.
“I believe when most individuals in Nashville suppose nation musicians, they usually come throughout my identify, [it] isn’t just me that they consider,” Hayes mentioned. “They consider my daughter, the OG dance, you understand, the primary dance we did. They in all probability consider Laney. They in all probability know our story with our kids.”
“They in all probability know my testimony,” he continued. “They in all probability know lots about my life and household.”
Hayes informed Fox Information Digital that specializing in his household as an alternative of himself on his social media helps remind him of his priorities.
“Should you dive into my socials, you actually do not see a lot of me,” he mentioned.
The musician pointed to his kids’s in style trick-shot movies during which they try stunts equivalent to seemingly not possible golf photographs, pancake flips and basketball throws.
WATCH: Nation singer Walker Hayes on how specializing in his household retains him grounded
“You see my youngsters doing trick photographs, and, you understand, no matter they do,” Hayes mentioned with fun. “I would not have it another method. “
He continued, “That retains me grounded. It jogs my memory to give attention to them. Actually, once I get up, that is what issues most to me is, ‘How do I be a greater husband? How do I be a greater dad?’ OK. As a result of I wish to maintain Laney. And I need my youngsters to be arrange for all times as a result of life’s going to throw lots at them.”
“And I simply need them to know that their dad loves them,” he added.
Hayes famous how his priorities have shifted to focus on his household life and his purpose is to “simply give attention to the issues that I believe the world sees me now making an attempt to give attention to.”
“I am not an ideal husband. I am not an ideal believer. I am not a good dad in any respect,” he mentioned.
“I imply, I fail miserably. Yesterday, I threw a plastic chair and my youngsters made enjoyable of me all day for it. And I like that they did. We had been doing a trick shot, and I could not get it,” Hayes mentioned with a smile.
“I threw a plastic chair in opposition to a tree and simply destroyed it,” he added. “And it made me really feel higher. However hear, I hope folks see me now not less than simply making an attempt and feeling impressed to strive. Let’s simply strive collectively.”
Hayes and his kids’s hit social media movies have led to model partnerships, together with a business for Applebee’s and a back-to-school marketing campaign with Nice Clips. The singer’s social media presence additionally caught the eye of JCPenney, which enlisted him for a restricted clothes assortment.
Throughout his interview with Fox Information Digital, Hayes recalled that he was initially uncertain if he was the fitting particular person to launch a clothes line.
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“Actually, in the case of trend? After they referred to as me, I am undecided I used to be that assured so far as, like, ‘Am I outfitted to make trend selections?’” he mentioned.
Hayes continued, “However as they included me and actually simply dove into my private story, they gave me an increasing number of confidence, they usually allowed me to essentially, actually assist create this line.”
“A whole lot of this stuff are private that we did collectively. There is a jacket of my father’s that we principally recreated, that I put on every single day. And he is gone now, however now there is a jacket on the market that different folks will hand down, and it will be part of their life.”
WATCH: Nation singer Walker Hayes on his new collaboration with JCPenney
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“There’s T-shirts with textures and colours that I really feel assured placing on and sporting [on] all events,” he added. “Actually, it is my life in clothes kind. You understand, in 25 gadgets. It is what I do. And so, I give JCPenney a lot credit score for trusting me, and actually, simply setting me up for achievement with this line once more.”
Hayes recalled that he by no means actually selected his personal clothes previously. The Grammy Award-nominee mentioned his mom would pick garments for him and his brother and that JCPenney was considered one of their go-to retailers. After he married Laney, Hayes mentioned he typically relied on her to decide on his attire.
“I really feel like that is truly a genius technique to create a males’s line – to make use of an actual dude who in all probability retailers and wears garments like your regular JCPenney particular person,” he mentioned. “And so I simply occurred to have a cool job that goes together with it.”
“It has been a magical relationship, so natural and one thing that I might simply proceed in a heartbeat. It has been a blast. I can not wait to see it on folks. You understand, out on the earth.”
The Walker Hayes for JCPenney assortment is obtainable to buy on-line Could 4 after which in choose shops on Could 16.
