Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Country Music Singer-Songwriter Walker Hayes

Summary

Episode Summary: "Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Country Music Singer-Songwriter Walker Hayes"

Podcast Information:

• Title: takin' a walk
• Host: Lynne Hoffman (iHeartPodcasts)
• Episode Title: Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Country Music Singer-Songwriter Walker Hayes
• Release Date: April 2, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this heartfelt episode of "takin' a walk," host Lynne Hoffman welcomes country pop singer-songwriter Walker Hayes to discuss the profound role music has played in his life. The conversation delves deep into Walker's personal journey, exploring how music has been both a therapeutic outlet and a creative expression amidst life's challenges.

2. Walker Hayes' Musical Beginnings

Walker Hayes shares his early memories of music, highlighting the diverse influences that shaped his love for various genres.

"As a child, my earliest memories of music were, was the Waffle House jukebox... it was just basically all music." (00:01)

He reminisces about his inventive efforts to play music as a child, using quarters to select songs like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," which held a special place in his heart.

3. The Influence of His Father

A significant portion of Walker's musical foundation stems from his father, a retired music minister. Walker reflects on the dual impact of his father's role both at home and in public.

"My father was a music minister... It was all types of music being played and, you know, him singing and in the car." (01:14)

Despite initial feelings of embarrassment watching his father sing publicly, Walker acknowledges his father's pivotal role in nurturing his musical talents and encouraging him to perform beyond his comfort zone.

"My dad was the first person to ever hear me and encourage me to do it, you know, outside my bedroom." (04:34)

4. First Gig and Moving to Nashville

Walker recounts his first live performance, a transformative experience that solidified his commitment to a music career. Encouraged by his father, he took a leap of faith to perform at the Yacht Club in Mobile.

"I'll never forget the first gig I ever played guitar in a bar... I said, I will do this gig if you'll quit doing that. And I played that gig." (04:34)

This pivotal moment not only boosted his confidence but also set the stage for his decision to move to Nashville, chasing his musical aspirations.

5. Deep Dive into "Briefcase"

Lynne Hoffman introduces the discussion about Walker's poignant song "Briefcase," which encapsulates themes of life, work, and personal regrets.

"Can you talk a little bit about what that song means to you?" (05:02)

Walker reveals that he composed "Briefcase" two months before his father's passing due to Parkinson's disease. The song served as a therapeutic outlet, allowing him to process complex emotions surrounding his father's illness and their evolving relationship.

"I wrote that song about two months before my dad died... That briefcase, I didn't like it. But expressing that emotion, it was like a priceless therapy session." (05:15)

He delves into the introspection the song facilitated, moving from childhood resentment to adult appreciation, and how music became a conduit for healing and understanding.

6. Personal Reflections on Music

Walker shares his vision for how his music impacts his listeners, aiming to create a space where fans can connect deeply with their own experiences.

"I would like them to go to a place in their own life and almost forget they're listening to me and them think of their own experiences..." (08:49)

He hopes that his songs serve as mirrors for fans, allowing them to navigate moments of love, loss, and healing by seeing their own reflections within his music.

7. Final Thoughts and Reflections

Concluding the episode, Walker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and acknowledges the personal benefits he derives from creating music.

"Selfishly, in creating these things, it's just very helpful to me... That's how I open up my heart and get some stuff out and share." (10:04)

He emphasizes the dual role of his music as both a therapeutic practice and a heartfelt gift to his audience, reinforcing the podcast's theme that music indeed "saved" him.

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This episode of "takin' a walk" offers an intimate glimpse into Walker Hayes' life, illustrating how music intertwines with personal struggles and triumphs. Through candid storytelling and soulful reflections, Walker exemplifies the healing power of music, resonating with listeners who find solace and strength in their own musical journeys.

Transcript

[Lynne Hoffman]

Music Saved Me.

[Walker Hayes]

As a child, my earliest memories of music were, was the Waffle House jukebox. I remember being, you know, small enough to reach up to my dad's pockets and reach in and try to find some change. Now as particular type of music? No, as a kid I wasn't just, it wasn't one genre, it was just basically all music.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Welcome to the Music Saved Me podcast. I'm your host Lynne Hoffman, and on this episode we have a member of the country music community who has met life's challenges head on, most certainly with the help of the healing force of music. Walker Hayes is an American country pop singer and songwriter and he shares his story on Music Saved Me. Welcome to the show. Who are you?

[Walker Hayes]

Hi, well, I'm Walker Hayes and happy to be here. And I'm here to talk about how important the gift of music is to me as just an outside source of therapy, but also just a therapeutic, creative way to express myself.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Were you a fan of specific musicians that you connected with early on?

[Walker Hayes]

You know, as a, as a child, my earliest memories of music were, was the Waffle House jukebox. And you know, I would, I remember being, you know, small enough to reach up to my dad's pockets and reach in and try to find some change in the pocket where he kept his keys and his quarters, you know, in, and you know, I'd beg him for a quarter. Now, as particular type of music, not as a kid, I wasn't just, it wasn't one genre, it was just basically all music. I do remember I used a lot of those quarters to play Willie Nelson's on the Road Again. For some reason, that was a, that was a favorite for me. But early on I picked up the love of music from my father. He was a, he was a music minister. But it wasn't just, it wasn't just church music, you know, at our house, it was all types of, you know, music being played and, you know, him singing and in the car, you know, and things like that. So I just, I got a, I had a well rounded, you know, musical education at an, at an early age thanks to him. But you know, before there was ever a thought of, I'd love to do this as a, as an occupation, as a career first, it just was a healthy, healthy love of music. It was an escape for me as far as I can remember. I mean, I self realized, it was a self realization that I loved music. No one had to, no one had to say, hey, you need to give music a try. You know, it just was in me. My father was a retired music minister. He sold real estate, but that was his first job for his first 25 or so years out of college. And so he would. We would be in line at Cracker Barrel, paying our bill, and he would just bust out in song. And I honestly. I was like, I don't know this guy. I don't know who that is. You know, I was so embarrassed, and I was more. More of a shy. Took me a while, you know, I had stage fright. But I would say, without a doubt, my. My dad was the first person to ever hear me and. And encourage me to do it, you know, outside my bedroom, you know, to. To sing in front of people. I had a music teacher named Mr. Powell who put me in a play that I didn't really want to be in. So between him, they kind of nudged me, you know, on the stage. And once I did the things that they encouraged me to do, I just fell in love with it. I mean, my dad. I'll never forget the first gig I ever played guitar in a bar. He called me on his cell phone. It was from a place called the Yacht Club in Mobile off Dip. And it's just this little bar on Mobile Bay. And he called me and said, hey, I asked the bar manager, Trudy, if you could play on Friday. And I was. Because Honestly, I was 20 something, I was about to get married, and I honestly said. I said, dad, I'll do this. He had heard me in the living room, and he was like, it's hard to believe your dad. You're like your dad, if your dad says you're good, whatever he's supposed to say, I'm good. So, yeah, I'm not sure I trusted him, but I said, I will do this gig if you'll quit doing that. Quit pushing me out of my comfort zone. And I played that gig. And that was. That was the thing. I mean, that's. That's when I called Laney and I said, you know, let's get out of Mobile. Let's. Let's move to Nashville. I want to. I want to try this, you know, for real. So it's all his fault.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Thank you, dad. Speaking of, you have a song called Briefcase, which is a narrative about life and work and regrets. Can you talk a little bit about what that song means to you?

[Walker Hayes]

Yeah. What a great. Holy cow. I'm. I wouldn't have known, honestly, how to talk about all these great things you're talking about. And unless you mentioned that song, that's a great example of what music means to me. I wrote that song about two months before my dad died. We were losing him. He had Parkinson's. This was two years ago and two years ago, March 22nd. And I was, you know, as a son would do, as. As you're, you know, kind of seeing your hero wither away, you know, you begin to start thinking of regrets. You know, you think. You start thinking, you know, have I told my father how I really feel about him, you know, now? And also at my age, you know, my dad and I's relationship has gone through a lot of phases as briefcase describ. You know, as a kid, I was not a fan of my father. I felt like I competed with his job for him. And, you know, there were nights where I'd be playing ball games, and all I could think about at the game was, you know, why my dad here? And that frustrated me. And so that briefcase, I didn't like it. But expressing that emotion, it was like a. A priceless therapy session, you know, to sit down and write, hey, dad. I didn't really get it as a child. As I grew older and began to have kids, I began to understand what you were juggling all that you were up against as a father. And now I appreciate the job you did. And. And I basically admitted to my father that as a child, I didn't want to be like him. But now, if anyone says that I remind them of my father, it is. It is a proud, proud moment for me, and I'm honored that they would look at me and say that. That I resemble him in any way, whether it's the way I look, walk, talk, father, anything. And so, yeah, I mean that again, that the writing, the creation of that song walked me through one of the most difficult things I'll ever endure, you know, as a human, which is watching my hero basically disintegrate, you know, go from the strongest man I knew to being reminded that we were all. We are all human, and eventually our bodies fail us. And I. And I watched him leave this earth. I mean, I was sitting by his side singing a hymn on a guitar when he breathed his last breath. And I guarantee you, my sister was there with me. And I'm sure I played briefcase that day, you know, just. Just sitting in his room. So you. When you talk about. I don't know how else to say music means a lot to me, you know, or that music has been more so the arm of God around me, and in some of my deepest, darkest times of need for peace and hope and comfort in this world.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Wow, that is so powerful. Thank you for sharing that. You know, your music deals with love and loss and anger. Do you visualize members of your fan base that may be going through something in their life?

[Walker Hayes]

I guess I kind of have this out of body visualization of somebody listening to the song alone in their car, you know, and I really want them to hear the song in the beginning, but kind of leave where they're not listening to me anymore. They're not imagining me as an artist singing it. I would like them to go to a place in their own life and almost forget they're listening to me and them think of their own experiences and they're like, yeah. I try to visualize, you know, my fans being moved, you know, to a moment that. That might be kind of a moment where they were injured or, you know, make them think of somebody they love or cut through the pleasantries and get to the heart of where someone is, you know, when they're just sitting on the highway, you know, alone.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Walker, thank you so much for being an artist that is so transparent in your trials and tribulations. And thanks for being here on music saved me.

[Walker Hayes]

Thank you. I appreciate it. I wish I could say I'm just a nice guy and I love to help people, but selfishly, in creating these things, it's just very helpful to me, you know, I mean, that's how I. That's how I open up my heart and get some stuff out and share. So it's very helpful for me, but I appreciate it.