Christian Hayes Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Christian Hayes makes his Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Hunter Hart

Capitol Records artist Christian Hayes made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night (Feb. 1.)

Pictured (L-R, back row): Ryan Hofstetter (WME); Taylor Dempsey (Rivida); Jon Folk (WME); Christian Hayes; Reed Moncier, Shaina Botwiin (Capitol Records), Roxy King (UMPG) and Aaron Dombey (Capitol Records); (L-R, front row): Hannah Ferrell (Capitol Records); Ebie McFarland (Essential Broadcast Media); Sam Breslin (Capitol Records); Becky Sake (Capitol Records); Helena Capps (Wildrose Projects); James Brown; Emilia James (ASCAP) and Cyndi Forman (UMPG). Photo: Hunter Hart

Hayes took the hallowed stage donning a Schott leather jacket designed by Dixon and Jack embroidered with artwork inspired by his debut EP, Last I Love You and inscripted with his nickname “The Lullaby Kid,” and performed two songs: “Home Sweet Home” and “LILY.”

“LILY” (an acronym for “Last I Love You”) struck a chord with listeners and became a viral hit, with global streams past the six million mark. Last I Love You fuses Americana and folk while bouncing between campfire ballads, cinematic soundscapes and rowdy barn-burners. A veteran of the US Navy Reserve, Hayes began applying the discipline of his military training to his work as a songwriter, amassing more than 900 original songs by his mid-twenties. Five of those songs appear on Last I Love You. 

Lorie Hollabaugh
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