Fancy Like Walker Hayes documentary directed by Matt Beurois

Reviewed By Dennis Ray

Who Is Walker Hayes? A Look into His Life and Career

Full Disclosure: Before viewing the documentary Fancy Like Walker Hayes, I had never heard of Walker Hayes or the song Fancy Like. I don’t watch TikTok, broadcast television, or listen to contemporary music. In short, this documentary was not written or marketed for someone like me. However, the film’s overall arc—a country artist who, after 17 years of struggle, finds fame practically overnight with one of the biggest hits in recent years—and its insights into Hayes’ rise to national fame and connection with his family captured my interest.

Fancy Like Walker Hayes documents the life and meteoric rise of country music star Walker Hayes. Directed by Matt Beurois, it tells the story of how Hayes went from being a regular mid-tier professional musician with big dreams to a viral sensation, propelled by his chart-topping hit Fancy Like. This 2021 single became a cultural phenomenon.

Beurois weaves interviews with Hayes, his family, and industry insiders—including an Applebee’s marketing executive—to paint a detailed picture of Hayes’ life. These moments are paired with candid, heartwarming scenes of Hayes at home, proudly embracing his role as a family man. Through these glimpses, Walker Hayes emerges as a man of his time: a proud father, playful and goofy with his kids, yet focused on making the most of his time in the spotlight, fully aware of its fleeting nature.

The film suffers from two significant problems, both related to licensing. One is the absence of Walker Hayes’ music throughout the film. Due to licensing issues, this omission prevents the inclusion of Hayes’ songs, including the documentary’s titular track Fancy Like. The other is the absence of concert footage—moments of Hayes playing and interacting with the crowd, the heat of the lights, and the build-up of sound as the music begins. Beurois certainly could have handled both exceptionally well. These elements could have elevated the film to a level comparable to musical documentaries like Lana Wilson’s Taylor Swift: Miss Americana (2020) and Allen Hughes’ The Defiant Ones (2017). While I’m not suggesting Fancy Like Walker Hayes would necessarily copy the style or scope of those films, the lack of licensed music limits its emotional resonance and visual appeal.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, on December 27, 1979, Hayes exhibited a passion for music as a child, learning to play the piano and participating in choirs and musical theater. In 2005, Hayes moved to Nashville with his wife, Laney Beville Hayes, to pursue a career in country music. He initially secured a songwriting deal and signed with Capitol Records Nashville, releasing his debut studio album Pants on December 27, 2010.

Despite his musical talents, his 17-year path to success was fraught with challenges, including working at Costco to support his family after losing a record deal, battling addiction and working toward continual recovery from alcohol, and enduring the heartbreaking loss of his seventh child, Oakleigh Klover Hayes, who died shortly after birth in 2018.

The rest of the film focuses on the creation of Fancy Like and its impact on Hayes’ career and family life. One of Hayes’ dreams was for his wife and six children to accompany him on tour, a reality his newfound celebrity status finally allowed him a single touring bus exclusively for himself and his family. 

I found the official music video of “Fancy Like” on YouTube. Though it isn’t something I would listen to, it is worthy of its success for its catchy lyrics and relatable themes, which resonate with a broad audience by transcending and mixing traditional country with bubble-gum pop. 

The 2021 hit’s popularity also grew from a viral TikTok dance choreographed by Hayes’ daughter, Lela, and from two 30-second television commercials featuring Hayes and his song’s Applebee’s chorus as part of a playful description of a “fancy” date night. “Yeah, we fancy like Applebee’s on a date night / Got that Bourbon Street Steak with the Oreo Shake.”

Where to Stream  Fancy Like Walker Hayes Documentary

This film is worth checking out if you’re not a Hayes fan, and certainly a not-miss one if you are. Fancy Like Walker Hayes tells an inspiring story about perseverance, family, and unexpected success. The documentary is available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Check out these other film reviews of Virgil Films: https: I Could Never Go Vegan , In the Company of Kings