“I had been drinking since I was probably 13,” admits country music artist Walker Hayes. This self-proclaimed “alcoholic atheist” had a failing music career and ended up losing nearly everything until a new friend, Craig, tangibly showed him the love of Jesus.
“The answer is Christ,” Hayes told FOX News as he reflected on his own transformation.
Walker Hayes Experiences ‘Dramatic Conversion’ Thanks to His Friend, Craig
Hayes was struggling with his music career and alcoholism and ended up meeting a new friend, Craig, at church. Laney, Hayes’ wife, was invited to a neighborhood church by a friend, who was married to one of the pastors, Craig.
While the two family’s friendship was growing, Hayes’ career was struggling. After the loss of a record deal, the dealership repossessed the Hayes’ minivan—the only family car that could fit all eight members of the family.
Hayes was truly hitting rock bottom, while his friend, Craig, was choosing to enter in and be present in Hayes’ life.
“I have nothing going on musically. I’m an alcoholic. I’m great at pushing people away,” recalled Hayes. “And then so here comes this guy named Craig, who was drawn nearer to me. And it was quite confusing. You know, there were a lot of times when I was like, ‘What’s this dude’s deal? Like, why does he love us so much? Like, why does he keep feeding us food?'”
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Craig didn’t stop there. With the family’s minivan being repossessed, the only vehicle they had was a sedan, with only five seatbelts. The family literally couldn’t fit in their only car.
So, Craig gave him the keys and title to his own minivan… and continued to be his friend.
Craig showed Hayes Jesus. “In the long run, I honestly found out he’s just as broken as me, but he just knows Jesus. He needs Jesus. Every morning he wakes up, he needs Jesus, and Jesus is a light through him. And then, it was an awareness.” Hayes continued, “I began to look in the mirror and just look at simple things.”
“The two are now close as brothers, choosing to be next-door neighbors and ripped out the fence between their homes as a testament to the power of the gospel to break down barriers and unite people together in Christ,” said their co-authored book Glad You’re Here.
Hayes wrote a song about his friendship with Craig, who he met at church. The Country artist ended up writing a song, entitled “Craig,” that captured the deep friendship.
It’s like he understood my “I don’t want to be here” face
I felt out of place and I smelled like beer
But he just shook my hand, said “I’m glad you’re here”
Craig and Hayes continued to be friends—more like Craig continued to reach out to Hayes.
When you lose a record deal, yeah all the perks fade fast
Dealership said, “We’re going to need to get that mini-van back”
So we were down to one car
And broke as I felt
My wife and six kids and only five seat belts
I needed help but couldn’t admit I was struggling
Said, “Craig, it’s all good”
But he knew it all wasn’t
A “Hey man I’m praying for you” would’ve been sufficient but nah
He took roadside assistance to a whole other level
To sacrificial heights
Craig and Hayes co-authored a book of their friendship, “Glad You’re Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences.”
“Through their unlikely friendship, Craig’s life demonstrated the love of Christ in a way that shattered Hayes’ misconceptions of Christianity, ultimately leading him down the path to a dramatic conversion,” the book description stated.
Two Significant Hardships Threatened Walker Hayes’ Newfound Sobriety
Hayes and his wife, Laney, welcomed—and quickly lost—their seventh child, Oakleigh Klover, in 2018. She died soon after birth, due to complications.
The music artist was just two years sober at the time and was tempted to slip back into depending on alcohol to cope with life and hardships.
“I have no idea how I stayed sober through the loss of our seventh child,” admitted Hayes. “But I had a best friend named Craig who really, really allowed the Lord through him to love on me through some nasty, nasty stuff.”
Craig continued to be a present friend in the midst of this tragedy, pointing Hayes to Christ for hope and healing.
In 2020, Hayes and the rest of the world experienced the pandemic and with it the devastating isolation.
“There were a couple of nights during COVID where all the mechanisms that I lean on were gone, and I was like, ‘Dang, nobody would know tonight if I just did it,’ you know?” said Hayes. Friends continued to reach out, and Hayes stayed sober.
