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Renowned country artist, Walker Hayes, recently shared a personal story about a challenging time in his life that almost caused him to lose his sobriety.
In a recent interview on the ‘K-Love Morning Show,’ the 45-year-old singer opened up about the tragic loss of his seventh child, daughter Oakleigh, who was born and passed away on the same day in June 2018. At the time, he had been sober for two-and-a-half years, but after returning home from her funeral, he felt the urge to “self-destruct.”
“I drove to a bar called 55 South, and I peered through the window to see three men at the bar,” he recounted. “I thought, ‘I’ll have a drink and maybe pick a fight with those guys.'”
Reflecting on that moment, Hayes acknowledged that his actions made no sense. Before stepping out of the car, he realized he had left his wallet at home and decided to drive back.
Walker Hayes recalls almost breaking his sobriety following his daughter’s funeral. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
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Upon returning home, Hayes had a change of heart when he saw his wife, Laney, sitting alone in the house.
“My wife, sadly, was just sitting by herself, on the day she buried her daughter. My kids were somewhere else, and she was alone,” Hayes shared. “I could see exactly what I was about to do.”
“She would have to bail me out of jail the next day. We would have to start the rehab process all over again, you know, go back to square one,” he added. “I realized there was a darkness within me that needed redemption and a savior.”
His daughter Oakleigh passed away during childbirth on June 6, 2018, due to a uterine rupture suffered by his wife. In addition to Oakleigh, the couple has six other children: sons Beckett, Baylor, and Chapel, and daughters Everly, Loxley, and Lela, who frequently appear on the singer’s Instagram.
Walker Hayes and his wife, Laney, have six children. (Photo by Mickey Bernal/WireImage)
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The “Fancy Like” singer has been transparent about his battle with alcoholism, often incorporating his experiences into his music.
In 2024, Hayes released an album titled “Sober Thoughts,” featuring songs that delve into his struggles with alcohol. While promoting the album, he appeared on “Today with Hoda and Jenna” to discuss the pivotal moment that led him to seek sobriety after grappling with alcohol for two decades.
“My wife, sadly, was just sitting by herself, on the day she buried her daughter. My kids were somewhere else, and she was alone. I could see exactly what I was about to do.”
“I woke up one Saturday and realized that if I continued down that path, my body would suffer, maybe some organ failure,” he shared. “I’m not a medical expert, but I sensed that one more day of drinking could be fatal.”
Hayes emphasized his love for singing about his journey to sobriety, writing a song each week about his “liberation from addiction” as a way to express his gratitude.
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Walker Hayes explained that he woke up one morning and knew he had to get sober. (JCPenney)
“After being intoxicated for so long, sobriety becomes addictive – the clarity, the energy,” he explained. “You hit the gym and feel like a teenager again.”
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