Walker Hayes Reflects on His Journey and Family Support
Walker Hayes recently shared that his children have had a “front row seat” to his life experiences. In a talk on “The Highway” show on SiriusXM, the 46-year-old country artist discussed various phases of his life and how, along the way, he has been accompanied by his six children.
“They’ve seen Dad at Costco, during my struggles with alcoholism, and questioned, ‘What are you going to do with your life?’ and then, later, they witnessed the success with ‘Fancy Like,'” he revealed. It’s quite a journey he’s been on, and he’s been open about his battles, including working nights at Costco to support his family.
There’s definitely something heartwarming about how he describes his family’s unwavering support. For instance, he mentioned how throughout a challenging year, his wife Laney would leave him notes every morning when he left for work, which was a nice touch of encouragement.
“They had a front row seat to Dad at Costco. Dad, alcoholic. ‘What are you going to do with your life?’ Dad on Corona. I lost my child’s father, and then I did ‘Fancy Like.’”
— Walker Hayes
Hayes has six kids with Laney, his high school sweetheart, and he really hit mainstream success in 2021 with “Fancy Like.” His 2024 album, “Sober Thoughts,” is a raw account of his 20-year struggle with alcohol, which he overcame in 2016. He expressed that he hopes to motivate those facing similar challenges.
In addition to his personal journey, Hayes has partnered with Athletic Brewing Company for a new non-alcoholic beer named after his hit song. “We launched a non-alcoholic beer. It gives you that experience,” he shared, emphasizing that it offers the joy of enjoying beer without the drawbacks of alcohol.
He genuinely wants his children to learn not to fear failure and believes that through his experiences, they’ve gained unique insights into what truly matters in life. “I hope they’re not afraid of failure. I think they see that I love Laney. They might think, ‘Oh, that’s disgusting,’ but they also understand that I need support,” he said.
His reflections highlight how deeply intertwined personal struggles and triumphs can be with family support, and it’s fascinating to see how he navigates this complex journey.
