Entertainment
‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ Hailey Welch reveals the truth about her life and newfound infamy in first interview
Hailey Welch, better known as “Hawk Tuah Girl” after her X-rated clip from an interview in Nashville propelled her to viral fame, has given her first sit-down interview since the infamous segment.
Speaking to Barstool Sports’ Brianna Lapaglia on the “Plan Bri Uncut” podcast Monday, Welch, 21, attempted to dispel some of the internet rumor mill’s claims about her — she isn’t a teacher; her dad is “the farthest thing” from a preacher.
She said she works at a spring factory in her small Tennessee hometown and was getting ready for the graveyard shift at 2 a.m. when she spotted the video of herself going viral.
She said she deleted her social media accounts long before the video in which she famously shared a favorite bedroom technique in a country-fried Southern drawl.
However, she confessed she nearly “s–t a brick” when she learned of her instant internet fame.
Now she’s trying to parlay her off-the-cuff onomatopoeia catchphrase into serious cash.
She’s already sold tens of thousands worth of branded merch, and now has an entire management team and video team following her every move.
Lapaglia is dating country star Zach Bryan, who hauled Welch on stage at his show in Nashville on Saturday. She appeared on the podcast wearing the same outfit — daisy dukes, white boots, a white tank top and an oversize cowboy hat — that she sported during her appearance at the show.
Welch recalled the moments leading up to the night her life would change forever.
While carousing with friends on the streets of Nashville after the CMA Fest music festival, she told LaPaglia, “next thing I know there’s a microphone in my face.”
Welch credited her extraverted personality with her evocative response about a typically private subject.
“I could talk to a brick wall if you really let me,” she laughed.
She said she thought nothing of the YouTubers street interview at the time, and never expected to see it again.
“Sure enough, I seen it again,” she said.