Walker Hayes Pens Heartfelt Message Celebrating Daughter Lela’s New Milestone In Cosmetology Journey

Walker Hayes is celebrating a special milestone for his oldest daughter, Lela, as she progresses in her cosmetology career.

Back in July, Hayes and his family came together to celebrate Lela’s graduation from cosmetology school. In a new video, he shared a heartfelt message praising her dedication and hard work, while also revealing her latest achievement of completing all the required hours to take the state exam and move one step closer to officially earning her license.

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In his moving statement the country star began, “People are amazing. Lela just loved hair and make up so she signed up for school. Did the thing. And now she’s ready to take her tests.”

He added that watching her dedication and perseverance has been one of his proudest moments as a father, highlighting how rewarding it is to see her passion turn into real achievement.

“She let me do the flashcards etc. so I know she’s ready,” he beamed. “Just really cool to watch my daughter work at something. Try, fail, try again, fail again, and ultimately finish a course in a field that she absolutely loves.”

Walker Hayes also took a moment to express his appreciation for the people who guided Lela along the way.

“So, so, so grateful for the teachers and students where she attended. As a parent I don’t trust most people pouring into my children. That’s probably because I know how much I love my kids and how much I fail as a father. It’s like…I can give them my baggage but I don’t want anyone else to😂😂 Lela was taken care of by her teachers and her friends. Just really grateful this morning for the whole experience. For her. For life. For Jesus and free haircuts.”

He ended the message by sharing a few more words of encouragement for Lela, and expressing how confident he is in the impact she’ll have on others

“Lela, you’re a badass and every human that sits in your chair will leave better than you found them,” Hayes concluded.

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The video that was paired with the kind statement showed Hayes asking his daughter how it felt to be done with her cosmetology hours, to which she responded with a happy dance and a cheerful, “Pretty good.”

They explained that she needed 1,500 hours to complete the program and that journey took about two years while balancing time on tour with her dad. When asked if it had all been worth it, Lela confidently declared, “Definitely.”

Hayes once again praised her for being a “hard worker” and said, “I’m proud of you, Lela,” while her mom also chimed in to express her pride. Lela is now set to take her state licensing exam, which she revealed should take place “hopefully” within the next two weeks.

The Alabama native has always made it a point to be a proud and present father to his six children whom he shared with his wife, Laney. That love and dedication to his role as a dad has also spilled into his music, inspiring several heartfelt tracks on his new album, 17 Problems.

To support the album, he’ll be hitting the road on the Walker Hayes: Unplugged Tour. The 18-date trek promises fans a stripped-down, acoustic experience, giving them an intimate look at Hayes himself and the stories behind his songs. He will kick off the run on October 17 in Duluth, MN.