Working With Walker Hayes Is ‘A Dream Come True’ For Ciara: ‘I’ve Always Dreamt Of Doing Something In Country’

Walker Hayes and Ciara recently teamed up for the release of their boot-stomping party anthem, “Y’all Life.” While some may see this as an unlikely pair from two different genres, Ciara explained that this is the kind of opportunity she’s always hoped for. 

“Is it unlikely? In my mind, no, because… I’ll just say this… because I’ve always dreamt of doing something in country and working with a country artist, so it’s just surreal, do you know what I mean? It’s… unlikely no, because, this is from my perspective, just my thoughts and my love for, and my appreciation for the country community and culture.” she said during a recent appearance on The Kelleigh Bannen Show On Apple Music Country. “So this is like a dream come true. But I don’t think we knew that we’d be working together, so that’s pretty cool.”

It all started when they first met while filming the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special. Hayes was performing his hits “Fancy Like” and “AA” and Ciara was jamming out to the upbeat tracks in between her hosting duties. 

Hayes recalled hearing Ciara’s response to his music as he said, “We both had ears in and mics and I was singing ‘AA’ and she was like, ‘Woo.’ Getting into it. And I was like, ‘No way! You dig that?’”

Since the viral hitmaker is no stranger to branching out and blending his classic country with other genres, he expressed excitement in the idea of doing a collaboration together one day. First, Hayes released “Y’all Life” on his own, and then he took a chance in asking Ciara to join him on the recording of a second version.

“I texted her and was like, ‘Here’s ‘Y’all Life.’ What do you think?’ And she sent me a voice text back and was like, ‘Y’all Life. Y’all Life’ She was into it. And of course I was like, ‘No way.’ You always think, ‘Hey, this will be a great collab,’ but they don’t always happen. And I’m so glad she was into it,” Hayes shared during an interview on The Kelleigh Bannen Show.

We be livin’ that y’all life y’all / Rolling in the south / Where it’s all football and Jesus / Barbershop talking like nah / Shut your mouth, my mama’s sweet tea’s the sweetest / Turn that bass up, Shawty show ‘em how / Y’all we raise up, and y’all we goin’ down baby / Yo street in my Bronco / I’mma talk to ya real slow / Said where the crawdads crawl / Living that y’all life y’all,” they sing in the chorus

This song comes in the midst of Ciara working on her next record. While reflecting on the next chapter of her career, the singer realized just how much this collaboration means to her. 

“This is one of the coolest things I feel I’ve ever done in my career,” she shared honestly. “In all of my years, to be in this setting, and to have a collaboration like this, is pretty special for me.”

The artists recently delivered a live debut of their newly released song at the 2022 CMT Artists of The Year in Downtown Nashville at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Hayes kicked off the performance by singing the opening verse of the tune and Ciara, sporting rhinestone cowboy boots, a black leather ensemble and a bedazzled cowboy hat, later joined in for her verse. Then, their vocals intertwined as they came together for the upbeat chorus.

Walker Hayes is currently taking the new music on the road for his headlining Glad You’re Here Tour with special guest Parmalee. The trek kicked off on Sept. 29 and his next stop will be on Thursday, Oct. 20 in Green Bay, WI.