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

“Old Country Church”: Throwback to Hank Williams’ Ode to the Christian Community 

Hank Williams + Old Country Church
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

What better way to celebrate life with your Christian community than with old gospel music? Hank Williams’ “Old Country Church” is the ultimate anthem for a Sunday morning. His warm and inviting stylistic voice will leave you reminiscing about your childhood. Remember when you had your favorite place to be, the friends you grew up with, your mom who took you to church every Sunday? You can never let go of such precious memories. For that, Williams was able to reimagine those experiences in the song. 

With an engine of charisma, country legend Williams was known for his classic tunes such as “Lovesick Blues” and “Wedding Bells.” When he moved to Nashville in 1949 to pursue singing, he swiftly turned his career into one of the most influential touring acts in country music during the early 50s. His magnetism feeds off the energy of his audience, which can be seen through his performances of “Hey Good Lookin” (1951), “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1949), and “I Saw the Light” (1948).

“Old Country Church” is only one of Williams’ timeless tracks that defined his country superstar status. Thirty-four years after his passing, he was awarded with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989 for his outstanding contribution to music recording.

Meaning of the Song

No one might not be able to recover from nostalgia, in fact, it is an inevitable part of our existence. Hank Williams’ “Old Country Church” is proof of that feeling. He speaks of the unbelievable glee of finding salvation from a supreme being. Such longing makes him want to relive every moment and people who became part of the experience, including his mother and friends. 

Celebrating country life and rural church, you’d be surprised by the sincerity of faith and joyful friendship built in a tight-knit community. The song resonates with the power of solidarity while imbuing the value of deep, spiritual feeling. 

American singer-songwriter Tyler Childler released a cover of the song in September 2022 and performed three versions of it. Childler’s version was impressive, but nothing can replace the original’s earnest melody.

Williams’ songs have the ability to transport you to another mental state, wherever his voice and lyrical compositions take you. Check out the video below as he takes you back with him to his “Old Country Church.”

Latest Stories

Alan Jackson Sings a Heartfelt Cover of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Alan Jackson Sings a Heartfelt Cover of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Debuting his gospel album on February 28, 2006, Alan Jackson made his own rendition of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel. The song was featured as the ...

Tori Kelly Reminds Us That We Are “Never Alone” With Jesus

Tori Kelly Reminds Us That We Are “Never Alone” With Jesus

In 2018, American singer Tori Kelly released a gospel song titled “Never Alone” as part of her album Hiding Place.  The song instantly became one of Tori Kelly’s greatest hits, ...

FloydFest 2024: What You Need To Know

FloydFest 2024: What You Need To Know

Festival Title:FloydFest Horizon 2024Festival Duration:July 24-28, 2024 2024Venue:5826 Floyd Highway FestivalPark in North Check, VirginiaPerformers Include:Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Black Pumas, Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, and moreTicket Information:Get Your Tickets ...

FairWell Festival 2024: What You Need To Know

FairWell Festival 2024: What You Need To Know

Festival Title:FairWell Festival 2024Festival Duration:July 19-21, 2024Venue:Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Central Oregon, OregonPerformers Include:Kacey Musgraves, Caamp, Billy Strings, and moreTicket Information:Get Your Tickets Here Deschutes County Fairgrounds is gearing up ...

Post Malone and Blake Shelton's “Pour Me A Drink,” the Collab of the Century

Post Malone and Blake Shelton’s “Pour Me A Drink,” the Collab of the Century

In 2024, American rapper Post Malone released the country bop “Pour Me A Drink,” featuring country superstar Blake Shelton – and let’s say, it was far beyond what people expected. ...

Country Singer Mark Chesnutt In Recovery After Emergency Heart Surgery 

Country singer Mark Chesnutt from Beaumont, Texas, shared a health update on his Instagram account following an emergency heart surgery earlier in June 2024. In his post, he wrote, “Well ...

Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose Trade Abuse Allegations in Divorce Battle

Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose Trade Abuse Allegations in Divorce Battle

Billy Ray Cyrus claims estranged wife, Firerose, has verbally, emotionally, and physically abused him during their seven-month marriage. The claims came about after Firerose filed a response to Cyrus’ divorce ...

Sonny James' Timeless Cover of the Classic Hit “Young Love”

Sonny James’ Timeless Cover of the Classic Hit “Young Love”

In 1957, legendary country singer Sonny James released one of the timeless covers of the classic hit song “Young Love.” The song was originally released by Ric Cartey and Jiva-Tones ...

Best Country Fiddler Doug Kershaw’s Performance of “Diggy Diggy Lo”

In 1969, Doug Kershaw released his solo version of the hit song “Diggy Diggy Lo,” which surprised fans. The song was originally released by Doug and his brother Rusty in ...

Rock the South 2024: What You Need To Know

Rock the South 2024: What You Need To Know

Festival Title:Rock the South 2024Festival Duration:July 18-20, 2024Venue:York Farms in Cullman, AlabamaPerformers Include:Eric Church, HARDY, Jelly Roll, and moreTicket Information:Get Your Tickets Here The biggest party in the South, Rock ...