Nancy Hays is a successful recording artist, actor, singer, dancer and entertainer. She has worked as an opening act for stars in Las Vegas and elsewhere including Glen Campbell, Tommy Tune, George Burns, Danny Thomas, Bob Newhart, Rita Rudner, the Smothers Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Lee Greenwood, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty and many more. She has also sung the Canadian and National Anthem at major political and military events as well as for the President of the United States.
Nancy sang demos for Nashville songwriters, wrote and recorded her own music and appeared on popular shows in Nashville including the WSM Waking Crew and the Nashville Noon Show as well as other shows on TNN during her 20s. She has recorded six albums and toured the UK six times with her own original music. Her recordings include Heart Like a Train (12” vinyl record), Come Dance with Me, Bring Back the Romance of Dance, Simply Classic, Get in Line, and Big Band Country. Nancy’s country music song Come Dance with Me (with choreography by Jo Thompson) is an international hit and was named one of the most popular line dance songs in the world by multiple publications in Europe and the United States. The song won Crystal Boot Award in 2024 in Blackpool, England.
In recent years, Nancy has also performed with and recorded music with her young-adult children as Nancy Hays & the Heffernans. Family recordings include Light in the Winter, written and arranged by Michael Mahler. Another holiday recording, Mr. Santa, was released in 2016 followed by a music video and television appearances. A non holiday version, Mr. Sandman, was released by Nancy Hays & the Heffernans in 2017. In 2018, the group recorded “Two-Step ‘Round the Christmas Tree.” In 2019, the family released "Cowboys Are My Weakness" single and music video featuring The Cowboy Dance Company. Nancy’s son Matthew joined her on guitar and vocals for her original compositions, Back in Illinois and For Mother in 2020. Daughter Caroline starred in Nancy’s Heart Like a Train music video in 2023/24.
Nancy headlined her own cabaret show (musical direction by Robert Ollis) Only An Older Woman at Davenport’s Cabaret and reprised her role as Judy Garland in Judy & Liza, The London Palladium Show, A Tribute during an extended theatrical run at 700 seat Palace Theater in the Wisconsin Dells from 11/12-11/4/18 and a holiday show at Club Arcada in St. Charles, Illinois on 12/16/18. The show received critical acclaim for its run at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago in 2020, as well as featured spots on WGN Morning News and Dean Richards WGN radio program. With Nancy's own daughter, Mary Heffernan taking over the Liza Minnelli role in the show in 2022, more critically acclaimed concerts followed at the historic Wood Theater in New York and at the Skokie Theater, La Piano and Theater of Western Springs in Chicagoland. The show will be a featured part of Chicago Cabaret Week at the Fulton Street Collective in 2025.
Nancy also appears as a vocalist for many popular themed shows including; The Best of Broadway, A Tribute to Henry Mancini, The Best of Broadway, Leading Ladies of Country Music, The Romance of Dance, I Love America, and Nobody Does it Better, the James Bond Tribute Show. Nancy received accolades for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the Chicago debut of Boy from Oz (PFP) in 2015 and Judy and Liza, Once in a Lifetime, the London Palladium--A Tribute in Chicago and New York City and as Auntie Mame with a 28 piece orchestra at Light Opera Works. She starred as Mama Rose in Gypsy and Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at Jedlicka Performing Arts and as the comical matron turned pirate in the hilarious Pirates of Penzance at Music Theater Works (where she previously starred as Mame) accompanied by a full orchestra. Nancy starred as Hedy LaRue in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Music Theater Works (with a full orchestra) and as M'Lynn (Sally Field role) in Steel Magnolias at the Timberlake Playhouse, an Equity theater located in beautiful Mt. Caroll, Illinois. Nancy is currently playing the role of Sue in a new musical in development, CARGO.
In the fall of 2024, Nancy introduced her 12" vinyl album, Heart Like a Train and made TV appearances on WGN's Daytime Chicago and Spotlight Chicago. She embarked on a six week tour of the United Kingdom which included headlining at festivals, clubs and line dance events in England, Scotland and Wales.
In 2025 she performed with Nancy Hays & Lush Life Jazz Ensemble on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at the Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta and at Wine Cellars in Geneva before heading to the Caribbean to perform on a cruise promoted by CMA award winning DJ, Kevin Richards.
There will be many more performances to come, so stay tuned!
Nancy sang demos for Nashville songwriters, wrote and recorded her own music and appeared on popular shows in Nashville including the WSM Waking Crew and the Nashville Noon Show as well as other shows on TNN during her 20s. She has recorded six albums and toured the UK six times with her own original music. Her recordings include Heart Like a Train (12” vinyl record), Come Dance with Me, Bring Back the Romance of Dance, Simply Classic, Get in Line, and Big Band Country. Nancy’s country music song Come Dance with Me (with choreography by Jo Thompson) is an international hit and was named one of the most popular line dance songs in the world by multiple publications in Europe and the United States. The song won Crystal Boot Award in 2024 in Blackpool, England.
In recent years, Nancy has also performed with and recorded music with her young-adult children as Nancy Hays & the Heffernans. Family recordings include Light in the Winter, written and arranged by Michael Mahler. Another holiday recording, Mr. Santa, was released in 2016 followed by a music video and television appearances. A non holiday version, Mr. Sandman, was released by Nancy Hays & the Heffernans in 2017. In 2018, the group recorded “Two-Step ‘Round the Christmas Tree.” In 2019, the family released "Cowboys Are My Weakness" single and music video featuring The Cowboy Dance Company. Nancy’s son Matthew joined her on guitar and vocals for her original compositions, Back in Illinois and For Mother in 2020. Daughter Caroline starred in Nancy’s Heart Like a Train music video in 2023/24.
Nancy headlined her own cabaret show (musical direction by Robert Ollis) Only An Older Woman at Davenport’s Cabaret and reprised her role as Judy Garland in Judy & Liza, The London Palladium Show, A Tribute during an extended theatrical run at 700 seat Palace Theater in the Wisconsin Dells from 11/12-11/4/18 and a holiday show at Club Arcada in St. Charles, Illinois on 12/16/18. The show received critical acclaim for its run at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago in 2020, as well as featured spots on WGN Morning News and Dean Richards WGN radio program. With Nancy's own daughter, Mary Heffernan taking over the Liza Minnelli role in the show in 2022, more critically acclaimed concerts followed at the historic Wood Theater in New York and at the Skokie Theater, La Piano and Theater of Western Springs in Chicagoland. The show will be a featured part of Chicago Cabaret Week at the Fulton Street Collective in 2025.
Nancy also appears as a vocalist for many popular themed shows including; The Best of Broadway, A Tribute to Henry Mancini, The Best of Broadway, Leading Ladies of Country Music, The Romance of Dance, I Love America, and Nobody Does it Better, the James Bond Tribute Show. Nancy received accolades for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the Chicago debut of Boy from Oz (PFP) in 2015 and Judy and Liza, Once in a Lifetime, the London Palladium--A Tribute in Chicago and New York City and as Auntie Mame with a 28 piece orchestra at Light Opera Works. She starred as Mama Rose in Gypsy and Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at Jedlicka Performing Arts and as the comical matron turned pirate in the hilarious Pirates of Penzance at Music Theater Works (where she previously starred as Mame) accompanied by a full orchestra. Nancy starred as Hedy LaRue in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Music Theater Works (with a full orchestra) and as M'Lynn (Sally Field role) in Steel Magnolias at the Timberlake Playhouse, an Equity theater located in beautiful Mt. Caroll, Illinois. Nancy is currently playing the role of Sue in a new musical in development, CARGO.
In the fall of 2024, Nancy introduced her 12" vinyl album, Heart Like a Train and made TV appearances on WGN's Daytime Chicago and Spotlight Chicago. She embarked on a six week tour of the United Kingdom which included headlining at festivals, clubs and line dance events in England, Scotland and Wales.
In 2025 she performed with Nancy Hays & Lush Life Jazz Ensemble on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at the Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta and at Wine Cellars in Geneva before heading to the Caribbean to perform on a cruise promoted by CMA award winning DJ, Kevin Richards.
There will be many more performances to come, so stay tuned!