Walker Hayes

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Walker Hayes
Hayes in 2016
Hayes in 2016
Background information
Birth nameCharles Edgar Walker Hayes
Born (1979-12-27) December 27, 1979 (age 41)[1][2]
OriginMobile, Alabama[3]
GenresPop, country pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano
Years active2010–present
LabelsCapitol, Monument

Charles Edgar Walker Hayes[4] (born December 27, 1979) is an American pop country singer. He has charted four singles on Hot Country Songs and has released two albums. Hayes has recorded for both Capitol Records and Monument Records, with his breakthrough chart entry being "You Broke Up with Me", from his 2017 album Boom. His biggest hit to date, "Fancy Like," was a number one from July 2021 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Early life[]

Hayes was born on December 27, 1979 in Mobile, Alabama. His father, Charles Hayes is a realtor.[1] Hayes graduated from Birmingham–Southern College in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in music and an emphasis on piano.[5]

Musical career[]

Hayes and his wife moved to Nashville in 2005, hoping to get in the country music business. He landed a job writing songs for a Nashville publishing company and then signed a contract with Mercury Records Nashville,[6] though he was quickly dropped and moved to Capitol Records Nashville.[1] In 2010, he released his first single, "Pants". It debuted at No. 60 on the Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week ending September 18, 2010.[7] Kyle Ward of Roughstock rated the single three-and-a-half stars out of five.[8] Hayes debuted the video for the song in December 2010.[9] Hayes also appeared on an episode of 19 Kids and Counting, singing a song he wrote about Jill and her now husband, Derick's, proposal. "Pants" and a second single, "Why Wait for Summer", both appeared on an album for Capitol Records titled Reason to Rhyme.[10][6]

Hayes co-wrote and sang guest vocals on "Dirty Side", a cut from Colt Ford's 2014 album Thanks for Listening.[11] He also co-wrote Rodney Atkins' late-2014 single "Eat Sleep Love You Repeat".[12] After losing his contract with Capitol Records, Hayes worked at a Costco to support himself.[13]

In 2016, Hayes signed a publishing and production deal with Shane McAnally and SMACK/RareSpark, through which he released two extended plays:[14] 8Tracks Vol. 1 and 8Tracks Vol. 2.[15] This was followed by his first single for Monument Records, "You Broke Up with Me".[13] It appears on his first Monument album, Boom.[16] It would be his breakthrough hit on the Billboard charts.

In August 2018, Hayes released a single titled "90's Country", whose song lyrics contain multiple references to titles of country songs from the 1990s decade.[17]

On June 4, 2021, Hayes released the EP Country Stuff. One of its tracks, "Fancy Like", became a viral hit through TikTok and reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100[18] and number 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart,[19] becoming Hayes' highest charting effort to date.[20][21] It was subsequently released as his next single to country radio, and debuted at number 53 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Personal life[]

He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife, Laney Beville Hayes, and their six children. Their seventh child, a fourth daughter, died hours after birth on June 6, 2018.[22]

Discography[]

Albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart
positions 		Sales
US
[23] 		US
Country
[24]
Reason to Rhyme[25] — —
Boom
  • Release date: December 8, 2017
  • Label: Monument
  • Format: CD, digital download
 37 6
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays[]

Title EP details Peak chart
positions
US
[23] 		US Country
[24] 		US Heat
[27] 		CAN
[28]
Walker Hayes
  • Release date: September 21, 2010
  • Label: Capitol Records Nashville
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — 66 43 —
8Tracks (Vol. 1): Good Shit
  • Release date: May 6, 2016
  • Label: SMACKSongs/RareSpark
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —
8Tracks (Vol. 2): Break the Internet
  • Release date: August 19, 2016
  • Label: SMACKSongs/RareSpark
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — — —
8Tracks (Vol. 3): Black Sheep
  • Release date: December 6, 2019
  • Label: Monument
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — — — —
Country Stuff
  • Release date: June 4, 2021[29]
  • Label: Monument
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 35 4 — 41
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles[]

Year Single Peak positions Certifications Sales Album
US Country
[19] 		US Country Airplay
[30] 		US
[18] 		AUS
[31] 		CAN
[32] 		NZ
Hot
[33]
2010 "Pants" 40 — — — — Reason to Rhyme
2011 "Why Wait for Summer" 42 — — — —
2014 "Pimpin' Joy"[34] — — — — — — N/A
2017 "You Broke Up with Me" 9 10 62 — 100 —
  • US: 2× Platinum[35]
 Boom
2018 "Craig" — 59 — — — —
"90's Country" — 52 — — — — N/A
2019 "Don't Let Her" — 56 — — — — 8Tracks (Vol. 3): Black Sheep
2020 "Trash My Heart"[38] — — — — — — N/A
2021 "Fancy Like" 1 19 9 55 19 31 Country Stuff
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos[]

Year Video Director
2010 "Pants"[40] Peter Zavadil
2015 "Dirty Side" (with Colt Ford)[41] N/A
2017 "You Broke Up with Me"[42] Blythe Thomas
2018 "90's Country" Alex Alvga[43]
"Craig"
"Don't Let Her"
2021 "Fancy Like"

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Renee Busby (January 22, 2011). "Mobilian Walker Hayes hits country music charts with his song 'Pants'". Al.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  2. ^ Walker Hayes (December 27, 2010). "Walker Hayes Twitter status". Twitter. Retrieved October 4, 2011.[non-primary source needed]
  3. ^ Jim Malec (August 3, 2010). "Song Review: Walker Hayes – "Wax Paper Cups"". American Twang. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  4. ^ "Walker Hayes on Instagram: "Us. The kids. And the dogs. The girls dominate"". August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ Busby, Renee (January 14, 2019). "Mobilian Walker Hayes hits country music charts with his song 'Pants'". Press-Register. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via al.com.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walker Hayes isn't afraid to sing about struggling, and it's making him a success". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  7. ^ Edward Morris (September 11, 2010). "Lady Antebellum's Need You Now Recaptures No. 1 Perch". CMT. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  8. ^ Kyle Ward (September 6, 2010). "Walker Hayes — "Pants"". Roughstock. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  9. ^ "Walker Hayes, 'Pants' (Making of the Video)". The Boot. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  10. ^ "Reason To Rhyme – Walker Hayes – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ^ Thanks for Listening (Deluxe Edition) (CD booklet). Colt Ford. Average Joes Entertainment. 2014. pp. 2–8.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Allers, Hannahlee (October 30, 2014). "Rodney Atkins Releases 'Eat Sleep Love You Repeat'". The Boot. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Stark, Phyllis (July 19, 2017). "Nashville Broke Up With Walker Hayes, But After a Stint at Costco He's Back". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Walker Hayes' Mixtapes Keep Country Conversational". NPR. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  15. ^ "Walker Hayes Re-Releases '8Tracks Vol. 1 & 2' As Thank You To Fans". March 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "Walker Hayes to Release Full-Length Album, 'Boom'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "Walker Hayes Takes Us Back in Time With '90's Country'".
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walker Hayes Chart History – Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walker Hayes Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Asker, Jim (June 22, 2021). "Walker Hayes' 'Fancy' Dance Moves Spark His First No. 1: 'Just Me Being Me ... With My Family'". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (July 9, 2021). "Behind the Song: Walker Hayes' Viral Hit "Fancy Like"". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "Walker Hayes and Wife Laney Mourning Loss of Seventh Child: Baby GIrl Is 'Now Safely in Heaven'".
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walker Hayes Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Walker Hayes Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Reason to Rhyme". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  26. ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 14, 2018). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: May 14, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  27. ^ "Walker Hayes Chart History – Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  28. ^ "Walker Hayes Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "Country Stuff – EP by Walker Hayes". Apple Music. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  30. ^ "Walker Hayes Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  31. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 August 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1642. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 23, 2021. p. 4.
  32. ^ "Walker Hayes Chart History – Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  33. ^ "NZ Hot Singles". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "Pimpin' Joy – Single by Walker Hayes on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  35. ^ "American certifications – Walker Hayes – You Broke Up with Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
  36. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 28, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: March 28, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  37. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 3, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: December 3, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  38. ^ "Trash My Heart – Single by Walker Hayes on Apple Music". Apple Music. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  39. ^ "American certifications – Walker Hayes – Fancy Like". Recording Industry Association of America.
  40. ^ Walker Hayes - Pants. WalkerHayesVEVO. December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ "Colt Ford Releases Video Trailer for 'Dirty Side'". The Boot. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  42. ^ "You Broke Up with Me video". CMT. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  43. ^ "Walker Hayes Releases "90's Country" Official Video With YouTube Music". Monument Records. October 10, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2020.

External links[]

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