"Hank Williams Jr., also known as Bocephus, is a celebrated American musician renowned for his unique blend of rock, blues, and country music. Born into a musical legacy as the son of country legend Hank Williams, he continued the tradition, ultimately becoming the father of musicians Hank Williams III and Holly Williams, and grandfather of Coleman Williams. His family's musical influence extends to his half-sister, Jett Williams, further solidifying the Williams family's mark on the music industry."
May 26, 1949: Birth of Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr., whose real name is Randall Hank Williams, was born on May 26, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1953: Death of Hank Williams Sr.
After the death of his father in 1953, Hank Williams Jr. was raised by his mother, Audrey Williams.
December 1963: First Television Appearances
At age fourteen, Hank Williams Jr. made his first television appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in December 1963. He sang a selection of his father's songs. Later that year, he appeared as a guest on "Shindig!".
1964: Recording Debut
Hank Williams Jr. began his recording career in 1964 with the release of "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," a song originally performed by his father.
1964: Film Debut and Duets Album
In 1964, Hank Williams Jr. provided the singing voice for his father in the film "Your Cheatin' Heart." That same year, he recorded an album featuring duets with recordings of his father.
August 8, 1975: Accident and Career Shift
Hank Williams Jr.'s career was briefly put on hold after he suffered a serious fall while climbing Ajax Peak in Montana on August 8, 1975. After he recovered, he made a comeback to the music scene, focusing on country rock.
1975: Musical Evolution and Collaborations
Hank Williams Jr. began to experiment with his music, incorporating elements of Southern rock, in the mid-1970s. This shift led to collaborations with musicians like Waylon Jennings, Toy Caldwell, and Charlie Daniels, resulting in his 1975 album, "Hank Williams Jr. and Friends."
1976: Rolling Stone Recognition
In 1976, Rolling Stone magazine praised Hank Williams Jr.'s contributions to country music, stating that his more traditional country songs "have always been among Nashville's best."
1977: New Albums and Continued Collaboration
Hank Williams Jr. released two albums, "One Night Stands" and "The New South," in 1977. He also worked with Waylon Jennings on the song "Once and For All" during this period.
1979: Start of Chart Success
Hank Williams Jr. embarked on a period of significant chart success, starting in 1979, during which he released a string of successful albums and singles.
1980: Austin City Limits Performance
In 1980, Hank Williams Jr. appeared alongside the Shake Russell-Dana Cooper Band on Season 5 of the PBS music program "Austin City Limits."
1982: Billboard Chart Domination
Hank Williams Jr. dominated the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 1982, with nine of his albums simultaneously appearing on the chart. All nine albums featured original work, not compilations.
1984: Release of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight"
Hank Williams Jr. released the song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" in 1984.
1987: Entertainer of the Year Awards
Hank Williams Jr. was recognized as Entertainer of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music in 1987. This marked the beginning of a three-year streak of winning the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award.
1987: "Wild Streak" Success
Hank Williams Jr.'s hit single "Wild Streak," co-written with Terri Sharp, was released in 1987. The song's success earned both Williams and Sharp gold records.
1988: Entertainer of the Year Awards Continued
Hank Williams Jr.'s success continued in 1988 when he was once again named Entertainer of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
1988: Release of "If the South Woulda Won"
In 1988, Hank Williams Jr. released "If the South Woulda Won," a song exploring the hypothetical scenario of a Southern victory in the Civil War.
1989: Entertainer of the Year Three-Peat
Hank Williams Jr. completed a three-peat in 1989, winning the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
1989: "There's a Tear in My Beer" and Technological Innovation
Hank Williams Jr. released "There's a Tear in My Beer" in 1989, a virtual duet with his father, Hank Williams Sr., created using advanced audio and video technology. The song featured Williams Jr. seamlessly singing and playing alongside archival footage of his father, a technological feat that was groundbreaking at the time.
1990: Chart-Topping Singles
Between 1979 and 1990, Hank Williams Jr. achieved a remarkable 30 Top Ten singles on the Billboard Country charts. This success included eight singles reaching the coveted No. 1 spot.
1990: Grammy Award for "There's a Tear in My Beer"
Hank Williams Jr.'s innovative duet with his father on "There's a Tear in My Beer" garnered critical and commercial acclaim, culminating in a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration in 1990.
1991: First Emmy Award for Monday Night Football Theme
Hank Williams Jr. won his first Emmy Award in 1991 for his work on the theme song for "Monday Night Football." The theme was based on his 1984 hit, "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." This marked the start of a four-year streak of Emmy wins for his contributions to "Monday Night Football."
1992: Second Emmy Award for Monday Night Football Theme
Hank Williams Jr. earned his second consecutive Emmy Award in 1992 for his continued work on the "Monday Night Football" theme song.
1992: Continued Album Success
By 1992, Hank Williams Jr. had released 21 albums, including 18 studio albums and three compilations. All of these albums achieved at least gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
1993: Third Emmy Award for Monday Night Football Theme
For the third consecutive year, Hank Williams Jr.'s work on the "Monday Night Football" theme earned him an Emmy Award in 1993.
1994: Fourth Emmy Award for Monday Night Football Theme
Hank Williams Jr. completed a four-year streak of Emmy wins for his work on the "Monday Night Football" theme, receiving the award again in 1994.
2000: Voice Acting Debut in "Tom Sawyer"
Hank Williams Jr. lent his voice to the character of Injun Joe in the animated film "Tom Sawyer" in 2000.
2001: "America Can Survive" Release
Following the events of 9/11, Hank Williams Jr. re-recorded his song "A Country Boy Can Survive" as "America Can Survive" in 2001. The updated lyrics reflected the resilience of the United States in the face of tragedy.
2004: CMT Outlaws Appearance
Hank Williams Jr. was prominently featured on the CMT television special "CMT Outlaws" in 2004.
April 10, 2006: Johnny Cash Visionary Award
CMT honored Hank Williams Jr. with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award at the 2006 CMT Music Awards, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to country music.
2006: Summerfest Performance
Hank Williams Jr. took the stage as a headlining performer at the Summerfest music festival in 2006.
October 15, 2008: Performance at John McCain Rally
On October 15, 2008, Hank Williams Jr. performed a song titled "McCain-Palin Tradition" at a rally in support of Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, in Virginia Beach.
November 11, 2008: BMI Icon Award
Hank Williams Jr.'s enduring legacy within the music industry was further solidified in 2008 when he received the BMI Icon Award at the 56th annual BMI Country Awards. This prestigious award is given to artists and songwriters who have made a profound and lasting impact on multiple generations of musicians.
November 2008: Consideration of Senate Run
In November 2008, Hank Williams Jr. contemplated running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee held by GOP incumbent Bob Corker in the 2012 election, although his publicist stated that no official announcement had been made. Williams ultimately did not run for the Senate.
April 2009: "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues" Release
Hank Williams Jr. dropped the single "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues" in April 2009. The song, which addressed economic hardship, peaked at number 43 on the country music charts.
July 2009: "127 Rose Avenue" and Departure from Curb Records
Hank Williams Jr.'s album "127 Rose Avenue" was released in July 2009. It was announced to be his last album with Curb Records, marking the end of an era for the artist.
October 3, 2011: Controversial Remarks on Fox & Friends
On October 3, 2011, during an interview on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends, Hank Williams Jr. made controversial remarks about a golf game involving President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner. Williams compared the game to "Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu" and referred to the President and Vice President as "the enemy" and "the Three Stooges." His statements resulted in ESPN dropping his opening song from their Monday Night Football broadcast.
August 2012: Remarks at the Iowa State Fair
During a performance at the Iowa State Fair in August 2012, Hank Williams Jr. made controversial remarks about President Barack Obama, calling him a Muslim and stating that Obama "hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S."
2015: Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Induction
In recognition of his significant contributions to music, Hank Williams Jr. was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
June 13, 2020: Death of Daughter, Katherine Williams-Dunning
Tragedy struck the Williams family when Hank Williams Jr.'s daughter, Katherine Williams-Dunning, died in a car crash on June 13, 2020. She was 27 years old.
August 12, 2020: Country Music Hall of Fame Selection
Hank Williams Jr. received the prestigious honor of being selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame on August 12, 2020.
2020: Country Music Hall of Fame Induction
In 2020, Hank Williams Jr. was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
March 22, 2022: Death of Wife, Mary Jane Thomas
Hank Williams Jr.'s wife, Mary Jane Thomas, passed away on March 22, 2022, at the age of 58 due to complications following a liposuction procedure.