Hank Williams Jr., the son of the country legend Hank Williams, is definitely a country royalty. While he struggled to find his musical identity in the beginning, he created his own unique sound and forever made his mark on country music with the best Hank Williams Jr. songs out there.
Let’s get to know more about the country superstar!
Four Out of His Five Children Followed His Musical Footsteps
Being the son of the country legend, it was no longer a surprise when four out of his five children, Hank Williams III, Hilary, Holly, and Sam, pursued careers in music and continued the family tradition.
“Hillary’s the one with the pipes. Like, that’s the one. Oh, she can bust the glass in here. Unbelievable,” Williams proudly said about his daughter. “But of course, with Holly, I like that little gravely part in the voice. I really like that. There have been some other big girl singers that have that. I don’t know how many songs a week she writes. She really turns them out. She can really play. I ain’t worried about her. She’ll knock on any door. She’ll never be poor. She’ll never be poor.”
In 1996, Curb Records released a collaborative studio album by Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams III. It’s a combination of Hank Williams’ songs with accompanying vocals from Hank Williams Jr. and his son. Hank Williams III has also joined his father in his rare Grand Ole Opry appearance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hank Williams’ death.
He Had a Near-Fatal Accident That Changed the Entire Course of His Life And Career
In 1975, when he was scaling Ajax Peak in Beaverhead County, Montana, the snow beneath Williams’ feet gave way, and he fell crashing face-first into a boulder 500 feet below. It fractured his skull in multiple places. His face was split open down the middle, hairline to chin as if it was struck with an axe. “I became a monster on a mountainside with most of my face gone,” he said. Williams was not expected to live.
It took multiple surgeries over two years to reconstruct the torn flesh shattered bones, and two years beyond that for Williams to rebuild his personal life and musical career. He was also buoyed by some old family friends, like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and June Carter Cash.
“When I fell, there were only two people I saw when I woke up in the hospital bed, and that was Johnny and June,” Williams recalled. “June put a cross on me and told me it was all going to be OK. I never knew if I would sing again or not, talk again or not, let alone think about what I was going to look like. It was a scary time, but having people like Waylon [Jennings], Johnny and June around really helped me.”
He Once Compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler
In 2011, Hank Williams Jr. likened former President Obama’s recent golf outing with Republican House Speaker John Boehner to “Hitler playing golf with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.”
“They’re the enemy,” Hank Jr. later elaborated, explaining he was referring to President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. “I’m telling you like it is.” In response, ESPN quickly dropped the country star’s iconic “Are You Ready For Some Football?” promo from the Monday Night Football broadcast, which has been played for 21 years. “We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result, we have decided to pull the open from tonight’s telecast,” ESPN said.
The singer has apologized for the “dumb statement.” In his statement, Williams explained, “The thought of the leaders of both parties jukin and high fiven on a golf course, while so many families are struggling to get by simply made me boil over and make a dumb statement and I am very sorry if it offended anyone.”
He ended the statement by saying, “This was not written by some publicist.”
He Lost His Daughter In A Car Accident
The family was struck with tragic news when Williams’ 27-year-old daughter, Katherine Williams-Dunning, died in a car crash in Tennessee. Williams-Dunning was driving along with her husband when their car crossed over the median and rolled over.
Williams-Dunning, who was his only child who did not pursue a career in music, was killed while her husband was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He Has A Net Worth Of $45 Million Dollars
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Hank Williams Jr, who was born on May 26, 1949, has a net worth of $45 million dollars. The 71-year-old country icon has accumulated his wealth from singing and as well as songwriting.
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