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

Tom Hiddleston Belts Out Hank Willliams’ “Hey Good Lookin'”

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.

The biopic “I Saw the Light” released in 2015 received a lot of bad criticism from fans and movie critics. Well, to be honest, the actors are great, but the flow of the film was a bit boring, with no transitional moments to try to shift our emotion from one to another.

Even the actor who played the role of Hank Williams, Tom Hiddleston, was criticized for his singing because he didn’t sound close to the legendary singer.

Image result for tom hiddleston as hank williams hey good lookin'
Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams on the film I Saw the Light. Photo via Sony Classics

Tom Hiddleston’s Version of “Hey Good Lookin'”

Yes, we agree that Hiddleston didn’t sound like Williams, and he didn’t yodel us much as the singer, but Hiddleston has a great voice, which is appropriate for other genres. Take a look on his version of Williams’ popular hit “Hey Good Lookin’.” Hiddleston performed the song with the Saddle Spring Boys.

Hiddleston sounded fine, but the southern twang and yodeling we knew of Williams were not embodied in the song. Truth is, all of Hiddleston’s singing didn’t capture the authentic style of the late country singer. This, perhaps, is what irked many fans about the movie.

This is how “Hey Good Lookin'” should have been like.

The Origin of Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin'”

The song was written in 1951 by the singer, and Williams brought it on top of the country chart. It was said that Williams wrote the song for Jimmy Dickens, another well-known country singer. However, Williams recorded the song saying that the song was too good for Dickens.

“That song’s too good for you!”

The single then rose to fame and covered by a lot of artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, and more. Buffett was able to make his rendition reached number eight on the chart. His version was a collaboration with other country singers including, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Toby Keith.

Here’s Buffett’s rendition with other country singers.

What do you think of Hiddleston’s version of the song? Did you enjoy it or not?

Latest Stories

Carrie Underwood defends her decision during a heartfelt moment on American Idol, advocating for the show's first Easter faith special.

Carrie Underwood Fought for American Idol’s Easter Episode When Others Said It Was “Inappropriate”

For the first time in its 23-season history, American Idol aired a fully faith-based Easter special. It was bold and heartfelt—and according to a report from The Sun, it almost ...

Pope Francis smiles and waves in his traditional white robes during one of his final public appearances before his passing at age 88.

Pope Francis, the First Pope from the Americas, Dies at 88 After Easter Weekend

Just one day after delivering his final Easter address and meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas and a defining spiritual voice ...

Jelly Roll cracks up alongside Luke Bryan and Jennifer Hudson while sharing a hilariously embarrassing onstage story on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Jelly Roll Overshared on National TV Telling Jennifer Hudson He Once Pooped His Pants While Performing on Stage

There’s oversharing, and then there’s Jelly Roll on The Jennifer Hudson Show, telling a national audience he once trusted a fart onstage and paid the price. It happened on April ...

Luke Bryan delivers an emotional Easter performance of “Jesus' Bout My Kids” on American Idol, capturing the raw heart of a father’s prayer.

Luke Bryan Sang “Jesus’ Bout My Kids” on Easter and Brought Real Emotion to American Idol

Luke Bryan has spent the last seven seasons of American Idol being the jokester, the crowd-pleaser, the guy who hands out compliments with a grin and a wink. But on ...

Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake perform “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on American Idol’s “Songs of Faith” Easter special, bringing emotion and testimony to the stage.

Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on Idol Felt Like a Personal Testimony

Easter Sunday on American Idol brought faith to the forefront, but when Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake took the stage to sing “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” it stopped being a TV ...

Carrie Underwood sings “How Great Thou Art” on Easter Sunday during American Idol’s “Songs of Faith” special, delivering a soul-stirring moment.

Carrie Underwood’s Easter Performance of “How Great Thou Art” Was Nothing Short of Heavenly

Some performances raise goosebumps, and then the rare few feel like they could raise the dead. On Easter Sunday, American Idol turned primetime into sacred time. Carrie Underwood stood in ...

George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Jimmy Buffett light up the stage with a legendary "Margaritaville" performance that became a timeless Texas moment.

Nothing Beats George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Jimmy Buffett Singing “Margaritaville” Together on One Stage

Some nights, something happens on stage that you can’t rehearse, can’t recreate, and definitely can’t plan. In May 2004, three of music’s most iconic voices—George Strait, Alan Jackson, and the ...

Jeannie Seely proudly holds her CMA award, celebrating her triumph with "Don't Touch Me"—a hit she nearly lost to more connected country stars.

Jeannie Seely Almost Lost One of Her Biggest Hits to a Country Singer With Bigger Connections

In Nashville, a great song doesn’t always land in the right hands. Sometimes it gets stolen. Sometimes, it gets buried. And sometimes, if you’re lucky—and tough—it finds its way back ...

Side-by-side of Sutton Foster and Loretta Lynn, highlighting Foster’s casting as the country legend in the new Broadway musical Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Meet the Broadway Star Taking On the Role of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter Musical

It takes more than a voice to play Loretta Lynn. It takes guts. It takes someone who understands what it means to grow up with nothing, to speak your mind ...

Willie Nelson performs “Georgia on My Mind” live in Macon, Georgia, at age 91, seated with his iconic guitar and red bandana as the crowd rises in reverent applause.

Willie Nelson Sang Georgia on My Mind and the Crowd Gave Him a Standing Ovation

When Willie Nelson took the stage in Macon, Georgia, on April 13, it didn’t feel like another tour stop. It felt like something sacred—something that only happens when a living ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.