Kentucky native Hayley Payne has had music in her blood for as long as she can remember. While she began her musical journey participating in the local community theater and playing piano, there was one genre in particular that tugged on her heartstrings the most – country music.  

Inspired by the likes of Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton, Hayley believes that country music is about wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve. Through her honest lyrics and warm vocals, she tells an authentic story with her songs. On stage, she brings a passion that captures the audience. 

At 22 years of age, Hayley has performed at many different venues in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee including private parties, jamborees, concert series, fairs, festivals, and writers rounds. She has graced the stages of The Listening Room Café in Nashville, Tennessee; the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio; Friday After Five in Owensboro, Kentucky; The Ferdinand Folk Festival in Ferdinand, Indiana; and many more. She has opened six sold-out shows at Lincoln Amphitheatre in Lincoln City, Indiana; including Lee Ann Womack in 2017. Payne also opened for Pam Tillis, Terri Clark, and Suzy Bogguss at the Historic State Theatre in Elizabethtown, Kentucky in November of 2021. She made her Whiskey Jam debut in Nashville, Tennessee in February of 2022.

A CMA Member and named “One to Watch” by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International, Hayley Payne is immersing herself in the Nashville music scene. Her music has been featured on several country music blogs, CMT.com, Country Station 92.5 WBKR, MT’s The Wave, The Messenger-Inquirer, and The Owensboro Times. Hayley’s brand new single, “Runnin’ Late,” debuted on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Country playlist. Her song “Dumb Blonde,” released in February of 2022, has garnered over half a million streams from over 140,000 listeners. The “Dumb Blonde” music video yielded Hayley’s first CMT.com feature. With an ever-growing social media presence of over 26,000 followers, she enjoys sharing her musical and personal experiences with her fans. She hopes to inspire others with her music in the same way that her favorite artists have inspired her.