Country music star Walker Hayes shares journey from 'alcoholic atheist' to life of faith and sobriety

foxnews.com:

Walker Hayes is recalling how he leaned on his faith and a special friendship to maintain his sobriety after the loss of his seventh child.

The 43-year-old country star and his wife, Laney, endured tragedy in 2018 when their daughter, Oakleigh Klover, died shortly after birth due to a uterine rupture that almost claimed Laney's life as well.

Hayes, who had struggled with a drinking problem, was two years sober at the time, which he said was "miraculous." However, the loss of Oakleigh led to a despair that tested the singer's ability to stay sober.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hayes credited his friend, Craig Allen Cooper – who had helped the former atheist find his faith years earlier – with guiding him through the difficult time. "I have no idea how I stayed sober through the loss of our seventh child," Hayes said. "But I had a best friend named Craig who really, really allowed the Lord through him to love on me through some nasty, nasty stuff.