3 weeks ago
Walker Hayes connected travel toward sobriety
Country vocalist Walker Hayes is opening up astir his past battles pinch alcoholism that almost costs him his euphony profession pinch his latest album, "Sober Thoughts."
Three years ago, Hayes burst onto nan euphony segment pinch "Fancy Like," a opus that became a sensation and established his beingness successful nan state euphony world. Today, he returns pinch a postulation of songs that delve deeper into his life experiences, including his struggles pinch addiction and nan heartbreak of losing a child.
In nan early days of his career, he and his precocious schoolhouse sweetheart, Laney, moved to Nashville to pursuit his dream of becoming a songwriter. However, nan way was plagued pinch challenges.
"Life's kicked america astir and we've besides made it done immoderate really reliable stuff," he said,
After a decade, Hayes' euphony profession was stalling. He was moving nan plaything displacement astatine Costco to support his increasing family. He turned to alcohol, saying he was drinking "all day, each day."
"I mean, it had, it had travel to an embarrassing constituent but I had a grip of vodka successful my Honda Accord astatine each times. And it went successful each beverage," he said.
Hayes' struggle persisted until he yet acknowledged he was an alcoholic.
"I woke up, and physically, I've ne'er felt for illustration this before," Hayes said. "It wasn't moreover a hangover. It conscionable felt for illustration if I commencement again coming and do this, I mightiness die."
After this realization, Hayes pursued sobriety, and his life began to improve.
However, arsenic his profession was gaining momentum successful 2018, he and his woman faced an unimaginable tragedy.
Laney almost died while delivering their seventh child, Oakleigh, who was stillborn astatine full-term. After Oakleigh's ceremonial — and 3 years sober — Hayes drove to a bar.
"Got down location and my wallet wasn't successful my door," he said. "So I drove backmost home. First point I spot erstwhile I locomotion backmost into my location is Laney successful nan acheronian surviving room, conscionable sitting successful nan dark, staring into nan wall, by herself. And my condolences and anger instantly turned to shame. My favourite personification connected Earth is each by herself."
That's erstwhile he says his priorities quickly shifted, and successful clinging to his family, Hayes' profession yet took off.
"I was self-absorbed and I wanted power. I wanted success. And truthful nan lens changed erstwhile we mislaid Oakleigh and I began to cling to nan things that matter, and 1 point that really matters to maine is my kids," said Hayes.
Hayes' profession witnessed a resurgence successful 2021, erstwhile a TikTok creation created by his girl Lela to "Fancy Like" went viral, reintroducing his euphony to a wider audience.
"I was like, oh, we sewage 6,000, you know, 6,000 group for illustration it," Hayes recalled. "And my girl goes, 'Dad, that's 600,000.'"
This newfound occurrence was a beacon of ray for Hayes and his family, showing really individual look done euphony could foster relationship and healing.
Now, pinch "Sober Thoughts," Hayes is much candid than ever astir his life's complexities.
"I don't cognize what nan early holds," he said. "And nan truth that life, it ends. And if we each really sewage to spot that from, from nan beforehand row, it would alteration our regular lives. We would spot intelligibly what matters."
Anthony Mason
Anthony Mason is elder civilization and elder nationalist analogous for CBS News. He has been a predominant contributor to "CBS Sunday Morning," and is nan erstwhile co-host for "CBS This Morning: Saturday" and "CBS This Morning."
