County singer Walker Hayes and his wife Laney are mourning over the loss of their newborn child. On Thursday, Hayes announced the sad news with his fans that the pair’s seventh baby Oakleigh Klover Hayes is no more.
Hayes wrote in a statement on his Instagram handle, “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 now is safely in heaven. Thank you for honoring our privacy as we grieve.”
He further wrote in the post that all of his immediate upcoming performances had been canceled as he will be staying at home with his wife and six children during this disturbing time. The singer was expected to be a part of the Kick’n Up Kountry festival held on Thursday, and also the River Festival held on Friday as a part of the Hayes’ tour.
The duo is parents to three girls and three boys, with the eldest of them all being 12 years old. The couple had joked in the previous year that this seventh baby will be the family’s ‘tiebreaker.’ The artist did not give further details of what was the reason behind the death of the infant just after her birth.
Hayes, 38, was all set to perform on hits like “You Broke Up with Me” at the CMT’s on the Ram Trucks Side Stage. This appearance would have been one of the greatest nights for Hayes’ career, and he had previously even talked about how he was excited for it before such a sad tragedy took place.
The Mobile, the AL native, had told CMT.com just before the awards show that he is going to be nervous as hell, but the house band is incredible. He is comfortable with them, and the fans are going to be amazing at the show, he said.
However, instead of performing at the show, the artist is nor mourning over the loss of his newborn daughter.
