He began to tour in the United States in the mid-1980s and became popular at festivals. He went on to release the albums Zydecajun in 1986, Johnnie Can’t Dance in 1988, Blast from the Bayou in 1989, Fish Out of Water in 1991, Down Home Live! in 1992, Back to the Bayou in 1995, Toups in 1997, More Than Just a Little in 1998, The Best of Wayne Toups in 1999, Little Wooden Box in 2000, Whoever Said It Was Easy in 2004, Reflections of the Past in 2005, The Essential Wayne Toups in 2008, Wayne Toups Live 2009, and The band Courtbouillon in 2012. His 1999 single “Free Me” reached #66 on the US Country charts. Toups has been elected to the Gulf Coast Hall of Fame, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, and Cajun French Music Hall of Fame. He won a Grammy Award and appeared at the Super Bowl.