Christmas came early to a Nashville Waffle House last week—and Santa looked a lot like Walker Hayes.
Hayes, joined by social media influencer Lexy Burke, visited one of the chain’s Music City locations and dished out $1,200 in tips following the meal. Three employees were the beneficiaries.
The workers stared in seeming disbelief when Burke explained that her social media followers had contributed to a fund, as had Hayes, to super-tip restaurant employees this holiday season.
Their waitress counted her $400 and asked if she could hug Hayes. The singer hugged each of the three employees in the restaurant.
Waffle House has a special place in Hayes‘ heart. His version of “Fancy Like” featuring Kesha even namechecks the song. And before the Waffle House employees knew his plans to make their Christmas extra merry and bright, they were already giving Hayes the fancy treatment. The cook played “Fancy Like Christmas” on the jukebox, and the server listened while Hayes explained his idea for a new dish on the Waffle House menu – the Waffle Hayes.
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“It’s basically a waffle but with two eggs over-easy and bacon and cheese in it and folded like a taco,” Hayes explained. When the waitress said they had other diners who ordered the same thing, Hayes reiterated that’s what he wanted.
Walker Hayes Pleasd to be Included in Holiday Generosity
Hayes told Southern Living he was grateful that Burke included him in “something so generous.”
“As far as giving back is concerned, it is wild to be on this side of the gift,” he said. “We’ve had people give us cars when we were hurting financially, so we know what it’s like to need a little help.”
In 2015, the Hayes’ were a family of eight. They only had one car — a used Honda Accord with no air conditioner and not enough seat belts. The singer was a self-described drunk attempting to make ends meet with a job at Costco. He had recently borrowed thumbtacks from his daughter Lela, and the family had piled in the car and made a game out of pinning the liner back to the ceiling. Someone the family went to church with gave them a car – and after Hayes signed his record deal, he released a song about how the gift changed their lives, “Craig.”
Burke is a former server who is now known as the serial tipper. In 2020, she started an online campaign to support food service employees during the pandemic. She’s kept it going since then, collecting donations from her followers to give restaurant workers generous tips.
Hayes and Burke posted the Waffle House video on their social media pages.
“You ready to tip?” she asked Hayes.
“Let’s big tip these people,” he replied.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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