Country singer Walker Hayes is getting to know a whole new world thanks to the “fancy like dance.” In case you haven’t heard of it, the trend features people reenacting a video that he made with his daughter dancing to his song “Fancy Like.” The viral hit, which is an ode to date nights at Applebee’s, has gone from a standout on his 2021 EP to a summer hit that has racked up millions of views on TikTok and landed a big-name sync for a new Applebee’s commercial.
Hayes, who had a modest TikTok presence with videos that rarely reached six-figures before the “fancy like” phenomenon, is still trying to wrap his head around the sudden fame. “It’s crazy to see how the TikTok world can completely change the way you think about your music and your audience,” he tells Billboard.
It’s been a whirlwind ride for Hayes, who had already reached the Hot 100 with other hits before “Fancy Like” took off. Now it’s a major pop radio hit, a full-on dance anthem, and the source of an upcoming remix with Kesha.
Even though he’s now a TikTok celebrity, Hayes insists that his family is the biggest reason why the song has found so much success. He says he promised his kids they’d get them Christmas blowups if the single went number one, and he’s now in the process of making good on that promise. He says his favorite reenactment of the video is a clip that features a sea lion and a penguin dancing to the song.
