Country Singer Experiences a Change of Heart

He put the ‘fancy’ in country music. Walker Hayes’ viral TikTok video amassed nearly 40 million views and nearly 100 million on YouTube. Though stardom may have happened overnight, Walker’s success took time. After playing his first gig in their hometown of Mobile, Alabama in 2004, Walker and his wife, Laney, decided to go all in for a career in country music.

Walker: “I just said, 'What do you think about moving to Nashville?'”

Laney: “And I was dead set that he was gonna make it, and I would be shocked if he didn't.”

In 2010, he charted his first song, “Pants.” As his career ramped up, so did his drinking.

Will Dawson: "When did you notice that your drinking was actually a problem?"

Walker: “I had my first beer when I was thirteen. And I remember being a different person because of that in my hand. As a songwriter, no one looked at me like, ‘Hey, it's eleven in the morning, you sure you wanna go to that bar, you know, right now and crack' –I mean, that –it's what we did, you know? We wrote and drank.”

One cold Saturday in January 2014, Laney met Laura Cooper, who invited Laney and their family to a Saturday night church service, where her husband Craig was the pastor. Walker had had a few drinks but agreed to go.

Craig: “And he walked in the doors, and Walker says the first thing I said to him was, ‘Glad you're here.’ I was just grateful that they showed up.”

Over the next few years, pastor Craig Cooper and Walker became close friends, though Walker still wanted nothing to do with religion.

Will Dawson: “You considered yourself an atheist. What did you specifically have against Christianity?”

Walker: “My dad was a former music minister before he was a real estate agent. I saw a lot of hurt in that church.”

In 2015, Walker lost his record deal and had their family van repossessed by the label. Discouraged about his career and with five kids at the time, Walker began working an overnight shift at Costco. That’s when pastor Craig decided to give their family van to Walker.  

Walker: “Their unconditional love. It was so different from what we were used to.”

In 2016 Walker signed a new contract with Monument Records. The next year he wrote and recorded a song called, “Craig.” Craig had been dealing with his own discouragement in ministry. The song affected him deeply.

Craig: “It's one of the greatest expressions of kindness that I have ever received. And it hit right at the heart of what's most important to me, and that's my relationship with Jesus. And I felt God Himself singing over me through my unbelieving friend. Wow.”

One day Walker surprised Craig with a thought.

Craig: “Walker said, ‘I will believe there's a God if I could stop drinking.’ So, we just started praying that God would take the desire for alcohol away from him. And uh, boy, He did.”

Laney: “When he quit on that Saturday, it wasn't with the intent of, ‘I'm done drinking.’ It just was one day he wasn't drinking. And then the next day he didn't, and then the next day. It's miraculous that he stopped that way.”

In 2018, tragedy struck the Hayes family as their daughter, Oakleigh, died shortly after birth.

Walker: “I found myself screaming at a God that I didn't believe was there. I would stand out in my driveway and just yell at someone. That was a confusing point, you know, in my life.”

Craig: “I had prayed previously, ‘Lord, do whatever you need to do to draw him to you.’ And so, I have this – I'm like, ‘Oh, Lord, is that what you had to do?’ And that was hard.”

Oakleigh’s death caused Walker to desire a change.

Walker: “That had a lot to do with my despair. You know, my desire for a cure for myself. You know, from the disease of me.”

Walker told Laney he craved transformation and rest.

Walker: “I went and got a Bible, and just started reading, reading, and reading.”

Laney: “The kids and I would come downstairs in the mornings. He was usually the first one up and he would be sitting at the end of the kitchen counter reading the Bible. It was amazing to watch. The transformation, and the – just the power of the Holy Spirit through him in that season was – it was incredible.”

Walker had given his life to Christ and couldn’t wait to share the news with Craig.

Walker: “I said to Craig, I said, ‘I believe.’”

Craig: “And I said, ‘You believe? What do you – what do you believe?’"

Walker: “I believe it all."

Craig: “I was like, ‘Are you telling me that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that you wanna live your life for Him?’ He said, ‘That's exactly what I'm saying. I was like, ‘Dude!’"

Together, Walker and Craig have written a New York times best-selling book, “Glad You’re Here,” about an unlikely friendship and the love of God. Currently, Walker is headlining a tour. He hopes his life proclaims one simple message.

Walker: “I'm sure if you look on my Instagram right now, there's a lot of people that say things like, ‘Oh, I want a family like that.’ And that's not what I wanna say. And I'm sure there's a lot of people that look at my life, and say, ‘Oh, if I just keep on going I can – my dream will come true.’ And that's not what I wanna say either. I wish my life said all I ever want is just Jesus. That's it.”