Days After Losing Baby, Country Star Writes Touching Anniversary Note For Wife

Sharing This Article

Walker Hayes / Instagram

The past few days have been trying ones for country singer Walker Hayes, his wife Laney, and their six children.

While walking the red carpet at the CMA Awards in November, Walker revealed that he and Laney were expecting their seventh child. “We’re so excited that we’re pregnant again,” he told Taste of Country at the time. “Just living the dream right now, we’re on cloud nine, me and my family. We got good news in the house.”

The couple shared they already had a name picked out for the new baby, due in May or June 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbR98mljYYH/?taken-by=walkerhayes

Fast-forward to the CMT Music Awards, where Walker was nominated and scheduled to perform. But on the night of the ceremony (June 6), he was noticeably absent. 

Later in the evening, Walker shared the heartbreaking reason why he wasn’t at the CMT Music Awards. Through a note on Instagram, he shared that the new baby, a girl, was born that morning. Sadly, she didn’t make it.

“It is with great sadness that Laney and I share with you the news that our sweet Oakleigh Klover Hayes was born this morning at the hospital and is now safely in heaven,” he wrote.

The statement also said that Walker would be canceling his immediate performances to spend time with his family.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjtXAQYhVwP/?taken-by=walkerhayes

Since then, Walker has refrained from saying anything on social media as he has taken time to grieve the loss of his daughter. But he finally broke his silence on Tuesday (June 12) in honor of his anniversary.

Walker shared a black and white photo of Laney leaning against a stroller and smiling at the camera with some of their children next to her. As Walker explained, he loves this photo of Laney “the most.”

Along with the photo, Walker shared a heart-tugging message to celebrate their anniversary and the wonderful woman he thinks Laney is.I hope all our kids find someone they could stare at forever…and feel like I do when I look at this,” he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj7o_GoBCZ1/?taken-by=walkerhayes

While the past few days have been filled with sadness for them, we hope that Walker and Laney found a dose of happiness on their anniversary day. The whole Hayes family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Sharing This Article

Save this article!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new articles & videos from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

About the Author

Miranda Raye

Hello, I'm Miranda, a lifelong country music fan! There are old home videos of me in my baby swing, swinging along to Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton’s “Rockin’ Years.” Being able to unite my passions for storytelling, researching, and music into my work has been a dream come true.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.