Danae Hays Hard Launches New Relationship With Jenn Cooke, Sister of Ashley Cooke
“Summer has been good to me so far,” Hays shares.
Danae Hays, Jenn Cooke; Photos via Instagram
Comedian Danae Hays has publicly introduced her new girlfriend, Jenn Cooke, who happens to have country roots as the sister of chart-topping country singer Ashley Cooke.
Hays and Cooke took their relationship to social media last week when they appeared on each other’s accounts while enjoying a staycation in Nashville.
Speculation about their relationship immediately began within the comments section as fans shared their excitement over seeing them together.
“Is this the new girlfriend? Or just a friend? You both are DOLLS,” one user wrote.
Another shared, “So glad to see you happy again! She’s so beautiful! Y’all are beautiful together!”
Later, Hays seemingly confirmed the speculation by sharing a gallery of photos of her and Cooke with the caption, “Summer has been good to me so far.”
Jenn Cooke was quick to reply, writing, “best summer with you babe.”
Others commented on the “hard launch” and shared excitement for them both finding happiness.
In recent posts, Cooke has officially called Hays her “girlfriend” and even shared a video to introduce herself to the wave of new followers.
Ashley Cooke commented on her sister’s latest post, praising, “this era .. you’re glowing.”
Danae Hays’ new relationship comes after her previous marriage to Mandie Kaii, which ended late last summer after three years. News of their split quickly went viral on TikTok, leaving many fans surprised. Since then, Hays has been candid about her journey through heartbreak and healing, which is something her followers have deeply appreciated. Now, they’re cheering her on as she steps into this new chapter.
In recent years, Hays has become a cherished part of the Nashville community, participating in various charity events, including supporting Folds of Honor alongside country stars like Riley Green, Jordan Davis, RaeLynn, HARDY, and others.
This spring, she achieved a lifelong dream by making her Grand Ole Opry debut with a comedy set on March 4. It was a goal she had been manifesting for years, and through dedication and hard work, it became a reality.
Nearly two years earlier, before she had even attempted stand-up, she wrote down her dream of performing on the Opry stage. It felt like a long shot at the time, but her belief and persistence helped bring it to life.
“One of the things that I wrote down was I wanted to have a Grand Ole Opry debut for comedy. And I was like, this is a big lofty goal for somebody that’s never done standup before. And then shortly after I started, I started doing stand-up, and then we went on tour,” she recalled while chatting with Country Now backstage before her big debut. “And so it just feels very surreal. It feels very euphoric. It just feels like something that I’ve idolized in my head for so long is now minutes away.”
Hays recently completed her very first comedy tour and has more dates scheduled through late November.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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