No parent should ever have to suffer the loss of a child. However, Walker Hayes and his wife did just that.
Videos by Wide Open Country
In 2018, Walker Hayes and his wife experienced an unimaginable loss when their seventh child, Oakleigh, died shortly after birth. Hayes later shared how that day tested his sobriety, describing how close he came to breaking nearly three years of hard-earned progress.
"We were gonna have to start the rehab process all over, and go back to square one," said the singer. "That was some sin in me that I just saw clearly, and thought, I need a Savior. This isn't like, 'I got this under control.' I need redemption from myself."
Recently, Hayes revealed a song that reflects his journey through his grief. The unexpected twist is that this song wasn't born from that painful day, but was inspired by how another song shifted his perspective.
What Song Helped Walker Hayes?
Hayes shared the new song on Instagram. While the lyrics of this touching ballad tell one story, the caption tells another.
"I woke up fighting mad this morning," he wrote. "No reason. Maybe the season. I would imagine a smarter person could explain why this time of year pokes so many of my internal bears. Tell me I'm not the only one."
"I came across a special song to me called Chesney by @stevemoakler," continued Hayes. "It immediately settled me down and turned my grrrr into [sic] gratitude. All I can hear is God's redemption when I listen to it."
He then shared, "So, I wrote a song...about that song. You probably have a story about a song that sounded like God's arm around your shoulder. We'd love to hear it."
What Does That Song Have To Do With Hayes?
While "Chesney" has little to do with the tragedy that Hayes went through, the singer explains in the lyrics that "it sounded like God's arm around my shoulder / I was a long way from O.K. / But that song took me closer."
Great music can reach anyone when they need comfort and hope most. Even musicians.
You can listen to Hayes' song below.
