Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Oakleigh Klover Hayes |
| Birth | June 6, 2018 |
| Birthplace | Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| Parents | Walker Hayes (country music artist) and Laney Beville Hayes |
| Siblings | Lela, Chapel, Baylor, Beckett, Loxley, Everly (six living siblings) |
| Death | June 6, 2018 |
| Cause of death | Complications from a uterine rupture during delivery |
| Known for | Brief but profound impact on her family’s story; inspiration for her father’s public conversations on grief, faith, and sobriety |
| Family focus | Faith, togetherness, and annual remembrances of Oakleigh |
A Name, A Day, A Story
Some names carry a resonance that outlives the day they are spoken. Oakleigh Klover Hayes is one of them. Born on June 6, 2018, in Nashville, she was the seventh child—and the fourth daughter—of country artist Walker Hayes and his wife Laney. She passed away the same day due to complications from a uterine rupture that also endangered her mother’s life. The family has said little about the minutes and hours that followed; what they have shared is love—tough, tested, and tethered to faith.
Oakleigh’s name blends the strength of “oak” with the tenderness of “clover,” a combination that mirrors how the Hayes family has navigated the years since: rooted, soft-spoken, and quietly resilient.
The Day Everything Changed: June 6, 2018
- Medical emergency: A uterine rupture during delivery deprived Oakleigh of oxygen and led to an immediate, tragic loss.
- Immediate aftermath: Walker canceled shows and stepped back from public commitments as the family focused on Laney’s recovery and their collective grief.
- Family count: Seven children, with six living siblings who would grow up knowing their youngest sister through stories, rituals, and shared memory.
The event condensed a lifetime of anticipation into a single day, then stretched that day’s meaning across years of remembrance. It is the fulcrum on which much of the Hayes family’s later public life turns.
Family, Faith, and the Work of Grief
Walker and Laney’s partnership—rooted in a relationship that began in high school and a marriage in 2004—has been the spine of the household. Their approach to loss has been simple and unwavering: hold fast to faith, stay together, keep moving. Grief, for them, isn’t a chapter to be closed but a thread woven into every page since.
Walker, sober since 2016, has often described how Oakleigh’s death tested that resolve, casting him to the brink before conviction and community pulled him back. He speaks of the moment not as a triumph over grief but as a decision to keep showing up—for Laney, for their six kids, and for the life they were still building.
How Her Memory Lives in Music
Country music is a storytelling tradition, and Walker’s catalog—hooky, conversational, unpretentious—has increasingly made space for the unglamorous weight of real life. While Oakleigh’s name isn’t a chorus line, her presence hovers between the notes:
- Themes of loss and faith appear in live banter, interviews, and reflective songs.
- The family’s aftershocks—sorrow, gratitude, sobriety—run like tributaries under the more playful hits.
- Performances that include his kids add a communal echo to the stage: six voices, one missing, all remembered.
The smash success of 2021’s viral “Fancy Like” did not erase the grief; it reframed it. Fame came with a larger microphone, and Walker used it to talk honestly about pain and the patience it demands.
The Siblings: Six Lives, One Shared Memory
The Hayes home is lively and loud: six kids, a touring dad, and a mom who stitches it together. Their names—Lela, Chapel, Baylor, Beckett, Loxley, and Everly—have become familiar to fans through social posts and occasional stage cameos. When they dance alongside their dad or help on the road, they carry with them an unspoken seventh presence. In family language, Oakleigh is both the child who isn’t there and the reason everyone leans a little closer.
A quick look at the sibling crew:
- Oldest to youngest: Lela, Chapel, Baylor, Beckett, Loxley, Everly.
- Family rhythm: School, tours, performances, and home rituals that honor everyday joys as much as milestones.
- Shared understanding: The youngest siblings know Oakleigh through stories; the oldest remember the day everything changed.
Annual Remembrance and Quiet Rituals
Each year on June 6, the Hayes family marks Oakleigh’s birthday and passing. The gestures are often small and deeply personal—simple posts, family visits, and private moments that resist spectacle. The tone is consistent: gratitude for a brief life, reverence for a daughter and sister still loved, and an acknowledgment that grief ages but doesn’t disappear.
These remembrances are less about moving on and more about moving with—the difference between closing a door and learning to carry what’s on the other side.
A Family Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Walker and Laney marry, setting the foundation for a large, close-knit family. |
| 2005 | The couple puts down roots in Nashville to pursue music and build their home life. |
| 2016 | Walker becomes sober, a decision later fortified by the family’s experiences. |
| 2018 | June 6: Oakleigh is born and passes away; Laney undergoes life-saving care. |
| 2021 | “Fancy Like” breaks big, placing the family in a brighter public spotlight. |
| 2023 | Five years on, the family marks a meaningful anniversary of remembrance. |
| 2025 | Walker publicly reflects on how close he came to relapse after the funeral, and why he chose not to. |
In Interviews and Public Conversations
Walker has shared the family’s story with a candor that feels more kitchen table than press tour. Across interviews and onstage moments, a few constants emerge:
- He credits community, faith, and his marriage for keeping him steady when grief threatened to upend sobriety.
- He emphasizes that telling the story is not about catharsis alone, but about connection—offering language and companionship to other families who have endured similar losses.
- He keeps the focus on Oakleigh without turning her into a brand. The line remains clear: dignity first, always.
The Hayes Children at a Glance
| Child | Place in family | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lela | Eldest | Occasionally appears in content and performances with her dad. |
| Chapel | Eldest son | Shares musical moments on stage and on the road. |
| Baylor | Middle child | Known to help during tour life and family projects. |
| Beckett | Middle child | Sports, adventures, and the easygoing middle-kid spirit. |
| Loxley | Younger daughter | Stage cameos and a natural performer’s spark. |
| Everly | Youngest living child | Frequently part of family videos and small onstage moments. |
| Oakleigh | Youngest, in memory | The seventh child; her legacy shapes the family’s rituals and resolve. |
FAQ
Who are Oakleigh Klover Hayes’ parents?
Her parents are country artist Walker Hayes and his wife, Laney Beville Hayes.
When was Oakleigh born, and what happened?
She was born on June 6, 2018, in Nashville and passed away the same day due to complications from a uterine rupture during delivery.
How many siblings does she have?
She is the seventh child; her six living siblings are Lela, Chapel, Baylor, Beckett, Loxley, and Everly.
What does Oakleigh’s name signify?
“Oakleigh” evokes strength and steadiness, while “Klover” suggests affection and a gentle grace.
Did Oakleigh have a public profile or social media?
No; she passed away shortly after birth, and her presence is honored through family remembrances.
How has her story influenced Walker Hayes’ music?
Her memory deepens themes of faith, sobriety, and perseverance that surface in performances and public reflections.
Do the Hayes family hold annual tributes?
Yes; they mark June 6 each year with simple, heartfelt remembrances.
Did this loss affect Walker’s sobriety?
He has said the loss tested his sobriety, but family, faith, and community helped him remain sober.
Are there charities or foundations in her name?
No public foundation in her name has been announced; the family keeps remembrances personal.
Where did the family live at the time of her birth?
They were based in the Nashville, Tennessee area when Oakleigh was born.
