Today, Appalachian folk-pop artist Christian Hayes returns with the breezy but bittersweet “Caroline, Oh Caroline.” Out now via Capitol Records, the nostalgic cut leans into the shift in sound he previewed with last month’s “Good As It Gets” — a more spacious approach that gives his famously evocative lyrics and gilded guitar tones more room to shine. Listen to “Caroline, Oh Caroline” HERE and watch the visualizer HERE.
Written by Hayes with James Maddocks (Morgan Wallen, Post Malone) and producer Brett Truitt (Alex Warren, Bayker Blankenship) — and recorded in Nashville at Truitt’s home studio — “Caroline, Oh Caroline” rolls forth on an easy guitar groove. With his warm and welcoming voice, Hayes paints a wistful scene that captures the perfect poetry of youth: “We were kids with half-ass fake IDs / Sneakin’ off every time we needed a drink / We got high, yeah, we got drunk / Needed you, you needed me / You were my everything.”
It’s clear that what they had didn’t last, and he fantasizes about what could have been, but ultimately the message is as lighthearted as the sound itself. Hayes harmonizes with himself over the sunny chorus: “I’d do it all again just to see you smile / Let me just pretend that we’d be good for a while / Give me one more chance to convince you before ‘goodbye’ / What could’ve been in another life / Caroline, oh Caroline.” He lets her go.
Hayes spoke on the feeling behind his new single: “‘Caroline, Oh Caroline’ is a song about reminiscing. It talks on being okay — and content — with any outcome. It captures a moment you’d live all over again, all the while knowing how it ends. It’s the kind of song that begs for open windows and old memories.”
It’s that exact gift for transforming something deeply personal into a universal feeling that inspired Ones to Watch to feature the 26-year-old singer, songwriter, and guitarist last month. In the midst of a glowing profile, the publication wrote, “At the soul of Hayes’ songwriting is vulnerability and transparency on experiences which have shaped him into who he is now. Memories that listeners can also find pieces of themselves in.”
“Caroline, Oh Caroline” follows the radiant “Good As It Gets,” an open-hearted and soul-stirring love song all about letting new romance bloom at its own pace. Before that came “Something to Lose,” a May release later reimagined as a harmony-fueled collaboration with Corey Harper. That life-affirming anthem earned raves from outlets including The Luna Collective (who hailed it as a “soaring meditation on gratitude and emotional risk”) and landed on highly coveted playlists from the likes of Holler. (who included on its “Best New Country Songs” roundup), Fandom Daily, Up2Date Country, Country Central, Prime Time Country Music, and more. As his profile continues to rise, Hayes was also recently featured in an interview with TMRW Magazine, who praised the Georgia-bred musician’s “gift for crafting songs that feel lived-in and universally resonant.”
Born and raised in the foothills of Appalachia, Hayes comes from a long line of storytellers including his Grandpa Jack, a poet who encouraged him to start writing at 7 years old. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and attended the University of Alabama, eventually relocating to Nashville to launch his career. Soon after inking with Capitol, Hayes delivered his 2024 debut EP Last I Love You, featuring his viral hit “LILY.” Following appearances at CMA Fest, Jackalope Jamboree, and Born & Raised, Christian Hayes is looking forward to getting back out on the road later this year. Listen up for more music to come.
About Christian Hayes:
Raised in the Appalachian foothills of northern Georgia, Christian Hayes grew up surrounded by Southern storytelling. His grandfather —a poet by profession — encouraged him to begin writing in a journal at seven years old, sparking a habit that would eventually take Hayes to Nashville. A veteran of the US Navy Reserve, Hayes began applying the discipline of his military training to his work as a songwriter, amassing more than 900 original songs by his mid-twenties. Five of those songs appear on Last I Love You, his debut for Capitol Records, available now. Produced by Lukas Bracewell and steeped in Hayes’ unique version of American roots music, Last I Love You features the viral hit “LILY” (which racked up more than 3 million streams before the EP’s official release), the anthemic “Black Gold,” and a mix of effortless melodies, cinematic folk, and rowdy, barn-burning Americana. Earlier this year, Hayes made his debuts on both the Grand Ole Opry and Bluebird stages. More at www.christianhayesmusic.com.
