Dave Haywood
The versatile multi-instrumentalist and harmony vocalist who provides the musical bedrock for the country trio Lady A's polished sound.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American country musician and songwriter·Birthday: July 5·Millennials
Biography
Dave Haywood is the quiet engine room of Lady A, the band he formed with childhood friend Charles Kelley and later vocalist Hillary Scott. While not always in the spotlight, his role is foundational: he crafts the rich musical textures on guitar, piano, and mandolin that define the group's accessible, harmony-driven country-pop. A skilled songwriter, he has co-penned many of their hits, contributing to the meticulous craft behind their success. Haywood's musical partnership with Kelley dates back to their school days in Georgia, a bond that gives the band its core stability. His understated presence and musical versatility allow the group's vocals and melodies to shine, making him an indispensable architect of their warm, radio-friendly signature.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dave was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote Lady A's multi-week number-one hits "I Run to You" and "Our Kind of Love".
- Has won multiple Grammy Awards as a member of Lady A, including for the song "Need You Now".
- Played every instrument on the band's early demo recordings that led to their record deal.
Did You Know?
He and Charles Kelley were in the same third-grade class and performed in a school play together.
He majored in finance at the University of Georgia before pursuing music full-time.
He is the primary arranger of the band's vocal harmonies.
“The song starts with a chord, a feeling, and a friend.”
