The Haneline twins, Wayne and Dwayne, have become internet stars at 76 years old. Their dance videos have won the hearts of millions online.
The Haneline brothers’ story shows how our skills can touch lives at any age. They went from young musicians to Vietnam veterans to TikTok celebrities. Their journey reminds us to stay open to God’s plan and use our talents to spread joy.
Wayne and Dwayne Haneline are identical twins from North Carolina. They’ll turn 77 in November 2024. Their road to fame has been unique. As young men, they went to California to become music stars. But life had other plans. They got draft notices for the Vietnam War when they were just 20.
The twins told ABC 11 Eyewitness News, “We were in California going to be stars, right? And come to find out, we got that letter that said, ‘Greetings!’ Give me that guitar and take this rifle. So anyway, we were drafted.” This changed their lives completely.
Even though they couldn’t pursue music as planned, they kept their love for it alive. During their time in Okinawa, they found ways to perform. “As we were in the service on Okinawa we would perform at our local church. We had our guitars with us,” they shared.
Fifty years later, their dream of stardom came true, but not how they expected. It all started when Wayne’s daughter introduced them to TikTok. Wayne recalls, “She would come home and say, ‘Dad, I need you to do a short dance with me. I’m going to put this video on TikTok.’ And I said, ‘Hunny, what is TikTok?’ She said, ‘Just do the dance. Do the dance with me daddy.’ So I did the dance I didn’t think much of it. And she comes back to me and says ‘Dad, we have to do this again, this has gone viral.’ And I said, ‘What does that mean?'”
The twins decided to start their own TikTok account. People loved it. In just two years, they got almost 2 million followers. Now, in September 2024, they have 2.2 million TikTok followers and 133,000 YouTube subscribers.
Their videos are fun and varied. They dance, do comedy, and share heartfelt messages. They often pay tribute to famous musicians. You might see them imitating Chubby Checker, ZZ Top, or the Blues Brothers.
One of their most popular videos is a dance to NSYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’. This song came out in January 2000. In the video, Wayne (with a beard) and Dwayne (clean-shaven) wear matching outfits. They have caps, key rings, cross necklaces, long-sleeved shirts, and casual pants. Their dance moves are in sync and full of energy.
The twins use their newfound fame to talk about things that matter to them. They focus on veterans, good causes, and their Christian faith. “This TikTok platform is helping us reach people all over the world. It’s amazing all the countries. We can’t even keep up with the countries much less the states,” they said, amazed at how far their message has spread.
Wayne and Dwayne are humble about their success. They believe God is working through them. “We don’t feel like it’s happening to us. It’s like there’s something going on bigger than we are. And whatever that is, we’re going to continue as long as we can. And fulfill peoples’ lives as well as ours,” they said.
WATCH: The Haneline twins’ Viral NSYNC Dance Routine
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