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Jimmy Wayne

Inspirational New York Times Bestselling Author & Award-Winning Musician

Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned country music star, bestselling author, and advocate for at-risk youth. His story of overcoming homelessness and walking across America to raise awareness inspires audiences to lead with compassion, resilience, and purpose—making an impact through courage and unwavering commitment to change.

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Bio

Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned award-winning country recording-artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for children in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “I Love You This Much” and “Do You Believe Me Now,” which earned BMI’s prestigious Million-Air Award for receiving more than one million radio spins in America. In 2009, Jimmy toured with Brad Paisley and recorded “Sara Smile” with rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame duo Daryl Hall and John Oates.

In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster care system. While walking, he wrote the Christmas novel Paper Angels (2011, Simon & Schuster). In 2012, Jimmy lobbied to pass legislative bills extending the age of foster care from 18 to 21 in California and Tennessee.

In 2013, Jimmy’s first film, Paper Angels (UPtv) became an instant holiday classic and in 2014 he released Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way (2014, Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins) which became a three-time New York Times bestseller, crossing the 170,000 sales milestone in early 2019, and became a #1 Bestseller at Amazon.

In 2016 Jimmy received the prestigious Points of Light award from President George W. Bush (41), while simultaneously contributing to the extension of foster care services from 18 to 21 in California followed by Tennessee, North Carolina and a total of 23 states.

In 2017, Jimmy was honored with the inaugural Community Maker award by Verizon and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from William Woods University. In 2018 he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Cal State University San Marcos and most recently, (May, 2019) he was honored by the National Council For Adoption with the Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award in recognition of his continued commitment to creating positive change in the lives of children in foster care who need permanent families.

Jimmy has shared his story — The Power Of One — around the world as a keynote speaker and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry 224 times. He lives in Nashville and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of at-risk foster youth.

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Topics

Speaking From The Heart: The Reinvention Of Jimmy Wayne

Jimmy Wayne, already a country music star with No. 1 hits, leads these days what one can say is an expanded career.

Your Circumstances Don't Define You

Jimmy Wayne remembers, “There are so many memories about sleeping outside and being hungry and, now, look where I am in life. It's just an amazing metaphor of it's not where you've been; it's where you're going.”

Jimmy Wayne's Humble Beginnings Were Full of Heartaches

Starved, abused and abandoned, country singer Jimmy Wayne had a heartbreaking childhood — the stuff of make-you-cry music lyrics. Home was a violent drug den, a stepfather pulled a gun on him and life seemed hopeless — until he was rescued by a chance encounter with a kind stranger and a guitar.

Jimmy Wayne on His Foster Care Journey and Upcoming Children’s Book: Kids in the System ‘Need Love’

Jimmy Wayne is a country music star, but he’s also a hero for foster kids across the country. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the “Stay Gone” singer discusses the scarring childhood that inspired his activism, and reveals details about his upcoming children’s book intended to raise awareness for kids in the foster care system: Ruby the Foster Dog.

Jimmy Wayne Releases Children's Book This November

On their adventure, Mr. James teaches Ruby about integrity, honesty, loyalty, faith, forgiveness, and trust, but mostly she learns how love can rescue someone and forever change lives.

Abandoned at 13: How one man went from homelessness to Nashville

As a young boy, his father wouldn't eve acknowledge his existence. His mom was in and out of trouble and his step-dad was running from the law. He survived with his sister in North Carolina, and should have been one of those kids who got lost in the system.

Country Singer and Author Jimmy Wayne Honors His Sixth Grade Teacher: 'She Taught Me a Lot of Discipline'

When country artist, author and advocate for foster children Jimmy Wayne was approached by the Krystal fast-food chain about doing a promotion for their new menu items, he immediately thought of a way to spin it that would recognize educators.

  • 2017 Ruby the Foster Dog
  • 2014 Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way
  • 2012 Paper Angels: A Novel
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