Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Here Are Facts About Hank Williams III, The Country Music Royalty

Hank Williams III Facts
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Being the son of country star Hank Williams Jr. and grandson of country legend Hank Williams, Hank Williams III was a country music royalty way before he started learning to sing. Still, he has spent his teendom bucking his legacy until he made a name for himself. Songs by Hank Williams III that helped him rise to fame are “Country Heroes,” “Crazed Country Rebel,” “Mississippi Bud,” and “Not Everybody Likes Us.” 

Throughout the years, he has earned a reputation as one of the biggest rebels of Nashville. Get to know more about Hank Williams III with these interesting facts.

1. He’s a native of Nashville, Tennessee. 

Born Shelton Williams on December 12, 1972, Williams III’s parents divorced when he was three. He then moved to Atlanta with his mother and has never been close to his father. However, he started performing with his father’s band when he was ten years old.

2. He once asserted never to make country music. 

Williams III spent his teenage years singing and drumming in various punk bands. “I was like, ‘I’m never gonna do country, I’m never gonna give in, you’ll never see me wear a cowboy hat,” he said. 

However, Williams III finally embraced his country roots in 1996. Williams III collaborated with his father on the studio album Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts, which blended the songs of Hank Williams with newly recorded accompanying vocals by Hank Williams Jr. and Williams III.

3. He was ordered to pay child support for a son he says he didn’t know he had. 

Williams III had to give up his nomadic punk rocker life when he found himself facing a paternity suit three years after a one-night stand. Williams III owed a huge backlog of child support amounting to $24,000 in addition to $589 a month. The judge then instructed him to find more reliable employment. “And that, as bad as it might sound, is why I got into country,” Williams III noted.

4. He started a campaign to have his grandfather reinstated into the Grand Ole Opry. 

After missing an appearance as a result of heavy drinking and addiction to painkillers, Hank Williams was unceremoniously ousted from the hugely popular radio show in 1952. Over half a century later, Williams III organized The Reinstate Hank campaign in the hopes that his grandfather’s name would return to the Opry. The online petition earned over 65,000 signatures, but the country legend remains a former member.

5. He’s a big advocate for animals. 

Williams III has been known to pull his tour bus over to check on stray animals and find them new homes. He even partnered with Happy Tails Humane in Franklin, Tennessee, to raise awareness and money for a no-kill shelter. 

For years, Williams III has been playing charity concerts to benefit animal shelters.

6. He is always willing to go the extra mile for his fans. 

Hank Williams III would often patiently spend several hours after two or three-hour performances shaking hands, signing autographs, and taking pictures with fans.

Truly, the outlaw spirit of his lineage is undeniable.

Latest Stories

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...

Lee Greenwood performs live in a patriotic shirt, years after nearly shelving “God Bless The USA,” now America’s beloved anthem.

Lee Greenwood Almost Didn’t Release “God Bless The USA” as a Single, Now It’s America’s Anthem

Sometimes, the songs that shape a nation nearly get buried on the B side. Back in 1984, Lee Greenwood was on a solid run of hits and living out every ...

Keith Urban smiles on stage in Akron, Ohio, where he made a heartfelt gesture for a blind fan that moved the audience to tears.

Keith Urban’s Sweet Gesture for Blind Fan Leaves Sister Thanking Him for Truly Seeing Her

Some moments at a concert feel bigger than the music. This was one of them. Keith Urban‘s always been one of the good guys in country, but fans at his ...

Gracie McGraw, seen here at a past event, recently left fans laughing on Instagram comparing herself to Jurassic dinosaurs.

Tim McGraw’s Daughter Gracie Leaves Fans in Stitches Comparing Herself to Dinosaurs

Sometimes, you just need a reminder that not every celebrity kid takes themselves too seriously. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s oldest daughter, Gracie McGraw, just gave the internet a masterclass ...

Willie Nelson smiles while performing onstage with his iconic guitar, as rumors swirl about Baylor University banning him.

Did a Texas University Ban Willie Nelson or Was He Just Too Much of an Outlaw to Show Up

Only Willie Nelson could have a “campus ban” rumor stick for 40 years and make him look even more like the cowboy rebel everyone loves. If you’ve ever cracked open ...

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...