Walker Hayes Says New Song ‘Ball Player’ Is an Apology to His Kids

Nation star Walker Hayes attracts numerous inspiration from his spouse, Laney Hayes, and their six youngsters — and his newest single, “Ball Participant,” is not any exception.

“After I got here residence from the street, previous to my current success, I met the household on the ball subject each Sunday,” Walker, 44, completely advised Us Weekly whereas selling his partnership with Autotrader for Nationwide Canine Day. “I got here residence and I’m simply attempting to be one of the best dad I can every day, which suggests all I’m doing is failing on daily basis and saying ‘I’m sorry.’”

Walker, who launched “Ball Participant” on August 16, shared that though he doesn’t really feel like he’s “enhancing that a lot” as a dad, he thinks his youngsters will likely be “sleek and merciful” with him. (Walker and Laney share Lela, 18, Chapel, 17, Baylor, 15, Beckett, 12, Loxley, 11, and Everly, 7.)

“I’m simply doing one of the best I can and ‘Ball Participant’ is considerably of an apology to my youngsters,” he defined to Us. “It’s mainly saying, ‘Hey, I do know that I stay vicariously by means of you. It’s sort of onerous to not do. I don’t wish to do it. I do know it’s unhealthy, however I’m a damaged man. So if you succeed, I really feel it. If you fail, I really feel it. And I wish to really feel it for the best causes, you already know?’”

Walker went on to elucidate that the music can be a reminder to him that he’s price extra than simply his profession, a lesson he hopes his youngsters take with them after they’re older.

“I would like to listen to that, I must look within the mirror on daily basis and go, ‘Hey, you aren’t only a songwriter. Your price isn’t no matter you write right now, and that you must hear it.’ I feel I must say [that] to my youngsters every day,” he shared. “And that’s why me and my cowriters wrote it. It was 4 dads in a room, simply reliving our glory days, however then additionally pondering, ‘Man, we may very well be higher dads. What will we wanna say to our little kids?’”

Since “Ball Participant” made its debut, Walker stated that a few of the responses from followers have “damaged [his] coronary heart in the easiest way.”

“I’ve seen youngsters on socials tag their dad and mom and say, ‘Dad, I really like you,’ or, ‘Mother, this jogs my memory of us,’” he advised Us. “I’m actually glad individuals can relate on all ranges.”

Except for being busy along with his new music and touring, Walker nonetheless values his time along with his household and their beloved canines, which impressed him to associate with Autotrader for Nationwide Canine Day on Monday, August 26.

“We’re canine freaks. I imply, in my home, you already know, in case you observe me on my socials it’s both youngsters, my spouse or the canines,” Hayes defined. “[My kids] make enjoyable of us as a result of they are saying once we grow old they usually’re out of the home, we’re simply gonna have 20-plus canines. We simply love them a lot. … Our canines always go together with us. They’re on tour with us. They’re within the automotive with us.”

Walker shared that the Nationwide Canine Day — which incorporates an unique Spotify playlist for pet lovers and their pooches — made “complete sense” for him and his household.

“They’ve created an unbelievable playlist to maintain canines snug,” he famous. “I’m honored to be part of it and blissful to assist individuals with Autotrader rejoice their canines.”

With reporting by Mandie DeCamp