Hunter Hayes Pens Emotional Tribute To His Late Greyhound Companion, Cole

Hunter Hayes is mourning the loss of his adopted Greyhound, Cole. The Grammy-nominated artist took to Instagram on Monday (Jan. 9), to share the heartbreaking news by letting his followers know that his beloved pet has “finished his final lap around the sun on earth.”

While Cole’s cause of death was not shared, it’s clear through the slideshow of images posted by Hayes that the tan-colored Greyhound had a bright personality and a true love for his owner. The pair can be seen enjoying life together through adventures in nature, car rides with the windows down, and calm evenings on the porch.

A Farewell To His Beloved Dog

“Cole – as he was named after his racing retirement – has finished his final lap around the sun on earth and has gone on to a retirement in a better and more suitable place for such a distinguished gentleman,” Hayes began in his message.

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Hayes may have given his dog a new life after he retired from racing, but as he revealed in his somber message, Cole also ended up rescuing him in a way. 

He continued, “I’ve never known a man that has taught me so much. How to be still, how to appreciate nature and how to create peace. I am so full of gratitude for all of the incredible adventures we had together and for all the life lessons he taught me like no one else could.”

“Cheers sir, thank you for rescuing me. You will be missed,” Hayes wrote in conclusion. 

He Was “The Boss” Of The House

Cole has made several appearances on the Louisiana native’s social media feeds and has even been a topic of conversation during interviews. Back in 2021, Hayes sat down with PEOPLE to discuss his move from Nashville to his scenic home in California and ended up sharing a few details about his four-legged “roommate,” who he also described as “the boss” of the house. 

“He’s 11, but he’s the youngest he’s ever been, spiritually,” Hayes shared. “They told me when I adopted him that racing greyhounds tend to get younger as they get older, that their puppy side comes out, and it has.”

2023 Brought A New Album And A Solo Tour

The news of Cole’s passing comes nearly a month after the “Wanted” singer wrapped up his Flying Solo Tour. This trek launched on November 30 and came to a close on December 12 in Chattanooga, TN. To celebrate the end of his unique run, which allowed him to “dive into the music making process” live on stage, Hayes took to Instagram to pen a message of gratitude. 

He wrote, “This – Tour! I had no idea what to expect from this tour because I’ve never done anything like it! That said, I knew it would be an incredible adventure and that, it was! I’m so grateful to all of you who made this FIRST 👀 Flying Solo Tour such a huge success! Already dreaming and scheming…”

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Also in 2023, the singer/songwriter released his 15-track Red Sky album, his first independent project that allowed him to do “the things I hadn’t been able to do before,” as he told Melodic Magazine. He took the opportunity to use his freedom to express himself completely by not putting his music into any one genre and exploring the sounds of his voice in a new way. 

“I was trying to find the new comfortable placement,” he told the outlet. “The place where it felt like it was just… meant to be. Not forced, not trying, not emulating, not even ‘inspired by.’ It was just ‘What is the blank slate Hunter voice?’ I was trying to find that during that process.” 

This March, Hunter Hayes will travel to Honolulu, HI where he will perform four total shows titled, “An Evening With Hunter Hayes.” For more information, visit his official website HERE.