Walker Hayes Celebrates International Dog Day And Talks About New Single ‘Ball Player’
Today, Aug. 26, is no normal day, doubling as International Dog Day, a holiday that one country icon never forgets to celebrate. Walker Hayes, who you might know from the viral hit single "Fancy Like," is a proud dog father and even partnered with AutoTrader to release the ultimate pooch playlist.
We had the chance to speak with Walker to talk about his furry friends, his current tour, and his advice for aspiring artists. Read our full interview with him below.
Sweety High: Would you say that being an avid dog lover is starting to become a part of your brand as a singer?
Walker Hayes: All over my socials, it's either kids or dogs. They're everywhere. We have four dogs. My kids often joke that when my wife and I are older we're going to be those people who can't do anything because we're taking care of dogs, that's how much we love them. They go everywhere with us. We can't stand leaving our dogs—they're basically our other kids, so we want them to be as safe and comfortable as they can be.
(Image courtesy of AutoTrader)
SH: Your playlist with Autotrader includes ASMR sounds to help dogs remain calm in the car. How would you say your dogs act when you take them on the road with you?
WH: All of my dogs are different in the car. Some of them, you've got to keep them out of the driver's seat. I have one dog, his name is Copper, and he's like a neck pillow. He wants to be up on your neck or on your arms and obviously that's not safe when you're driving. But then, I also have one named Nolie (short for Magnolia) who is our older dog and she is pretty anxious.
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SH: Congratulations on your Same Drunk Tour! What has been the highlight of this star-studded tour thus far?
WH: It is easily the biggest highlight that my family goes with me. I never have to say goodbye to them. As a dad who's had many jobs along the way, that's one of the hardest parts. I need to provide for them, and providing for them means being away from them a lot of the time, so I am so grateful. I never get on the bus alone. Worst case scenario, it's just my oldest daughter who dances in the show.
We just got home from a 12-day run, nine shows in 11 days, 12 days of driving and my entire family was with me. My two little girls, my 8-year-old and my 11-year-old sing a couple of songs with me every night on stage. Just to look to my right, in front of 7,000 people, and see them singing with me is pretty surreal.
(Image courtesy of RCA Records)
SH: Speaking of your kids performing with you, how would you feel if your children decided to follow in your footsteps and also pursue a career in music?
WH: I've told them that I will support them 100% if they want to sing or play an instrument. One of my sons is an exceptional drummer. If they want me to coach them, I'm available. I don't just throw it out there without them asking for it, because I know that can get abrasive and I want them to see me as a dad, not a coach all the time. But I would never say "Hey, you should pursue music" and the reason is, when it gets really tough and they hate it, I don't want it to be my fault.
SH: Your recent single "Ball Player" has quickly become a fan-favorite among your followers. Can you tell us more about how the emotional song came to be?
WH: It's about as genuine a song as I've ever written. It was three writers, including me: Ross Copperman, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip. All dads. Just four dads in a room. Ben was frustrated. He had just gotten off the phone with his son, who plays baseball at Alabama. He was fighting for something to say to his son to help him through a tough time. His son had just overcome an injury and re-injured himself at his first at-bat this season. We were all hurting for Ben, we could all relate.
We knew how it felt to just want to fix your kids with some magic words. You just want to lift them up and sometimes they can't hear you. We just decided that day to write something that we can all take to their kids and say something that maybe we haven't said to them. We already sing "Ball Player" every night. My daughters sing it with me and I can see people tearing up because the ball field is where a lot of families live. I love what the song is doing and the conversations its inspiring.
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SH: From going viral on TikTok to touring all across the country and taking your family along for the ride, your career has grown tremendously in the past few years. What is your best advice for aspiring music artists who have similar goals?
WH: Don't be fearful of people's opinions. Don't be afraid to create. Don't be anything less than honest, 10% brutally honest with what you're creating. You really have to dive into what you're doing with all your heart, be fearless, and don't stop. Do it on a daily basis and don't forget that you love it.
Want more country music recs? Click HERE to learn more about Keith Urban and his single "Heart Like a Hometown."