Hunter Hayes is no stranger to evolution. The Louisiana-born, multi-instrumentalist and PLATINUM-selling artist has spent more than a decade blurring lines between country, pop, and soul. From his breakout debut to sold-out tours with Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, Hayes has always found ways to reinvent. But with “Every Piece,” the newest single from his Evergreen series, he says he’s finally creating from a place that feels like home.
“I’ll never forget the day we wrote it,” Hayes tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder in an exclusive interview. “The goal was to describe the kind of relationship where someone sees you in pieces and loves all of it — not just the picture those pieces make. That’s what this song is about: being fully seen, fully known, and fully loved.”
Written with Sam Ellis and John Mark Nelson, “Every Piece” is groove-driven and guitar-forward, with Hayes calling it his “guitar jam song.”
“This one just needed to be a guitar player song,” he laughs. “I gave myself permission to lean into that side of me. I sat for hours just jamming in my studio, layering guitars, letting the track tell me what it wanted to be. Those nights are my favorite — when the music comes to life between 8 PM and 4 AM.”
That late-night, stripped-back energy carries into the official music video, which features Hayes alone with his guitar in a room scattered with paper airplanes — each representing fragments of untold stories. It’s a visual that mirrors the heart of the song: celebrating every piece of what makes someone whole.
The inspiration, Hayes reveals, came straight from his personal life.
“I had just come home from a trip with my partner,” he shares. “It was chaotic, everything that could go wrong did — but we still had fun. I wanted to write something that celebrated the messy pieces of life and the person who loves you through all of them.”
For Hayes, “Every Piece” is also about rediscovery. He says the track marks a turning point in the Evergreen story, following “Waiting” and “Fragile” — songs that introduced listeners to themes of hope, vulnerability, and connection.
“We start with ‘Around the Sun,’ which is optimistic and universal. Then ‘Waiting’ was for everyone holding out for their person, hoping it would be worth it. ‘Fragile’ was me admitting maybe I’ve found someone I feel safe with,” he explains. “And ‘Every Piece’ is the celebration — that moment of, wow, I’ve arrived at something I’ve dreamed about and prayed for.”
Sonically, Hayes says he aimed for timelessness, blending pop, soul, and the country grit fans first fell in love with.
“It needed to feel like both a wedding song and a living room dance song,” he says. “Something you could play at your ceremony, but also at 2 AM in your pajamas. That’s the beauty of music — when it feels timeless, it works everywhere.”
Beyond the romantic message, Hayes hopes the song speaks to anyone searching for connection. “Whether you’ve found your person or not, my dream is that this track gives you space to imagine your future,” he tells us. “If you’re with your partner, I hope it fits right into your playlist. And if you’re still waiting, maybe it helps you manifest that relationship.”
That idea of manifestation isn’t just part of “Every Piece” — it’s the foundation of Evergreen as a whole. Hayes reveals that the entire project was written as a prayer for the future. “I didn’t want to write about where I was — I wanted to write about where I was going,” he says. “Most of the things I wrote about didn’t exist yet, but they started happening as I was writing. It’s been a living, breathing manifestation practice.”
For longtime fans, this new chapter feels both fresh and familiar. Hayes says that’s no accident. “My favorite artists are the ones who share their life story in a way that makes me feel like I can connect with them,” he explains. “That’s what I’m trying to do — leave space for listeners to hear themselves in these songs, while still making it deeply personal.” It’s a shift he credits to years of growth, experimentation, and even unlearning.
“For a long time, I felt pressure to be a certain thing or fit a certain mold,” he admits. “The last four or five years have been about unraveling that. Now, I feel whole as a human and as a creator. I’ve never been as happy as I am, and that joy is what you’re hearing in this chapter.”
And while Hayes loves the freedom of singles, he’s adamant about thinking in albums — or what he now calls “series.”
“Albums never really end for me,” he shares. “I’ve always done deluxe versions because the songs keep living. So I started thinking of them like TV series — Season One, Season Two. Evergreen is Season One, and there’s so much more to come.”
View this post on Instagram
Fans may have to wait a little longer for the full release, but Hayes hints that the story is still unfolding.
“It’s been a very fluid process,” he says. “The new songs and the ones I’ve held onto for years are all having the same conversation. It feels like checking in with different parts of myself across time. And that’s what makes Evergreen special — it’s a landing, but it’s also a safe place to keep growing.”
Through it all, Hayes says he’s most grateful for the fans who’ve stuck with him across eras.
“This project feels like home for me,” he reflects. “And I want the music to feel like home for everybody else, too.”
And because this is Celeb Secrets, we had to dig into some behind-the-scenes fun. Hayes reveals his late pup Ella deserves a co-producer credit, since she sat through countless hours of guitar takes, and even teased what kind of TikTok trend he hopes “Every Piece” inspires.
“I’d love for people to list all the quirky things about themselves they hope someone loves — or already does,” he says. “That’s what this song is about. It’s about celebrating every piece.”
As for his own non-negotiables? Hayes says it all comes down to music, growth, and connection.
“I’m far from perfect, and I never want to stop learning,” he says. “Having a partner I can share that growth with is non-negotiable.”
And if he could swap instruments with any artist for a night on tour? Hayes doesn’t hesitate.
“Chris Martin’s piano. Every time he plays, it feels like church. I want that feeling,” Hayes grins. “So Chris — if you’re reading this — I’m right here!”
“Every Piece” is out now on all streaming platforms, along with its official music video. With Evergreen on the horizon, Hunter Hayes is inviting fans to not just listen to his story, but see themselves in it — every piece, every step of the way.
You can watch our full interview with Hunter below and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving “Every Piece” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.
