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{{Short description|American musician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Hank Williams Jr.
| image             = Hank212.JPG
| caption           = Williams in 2008
| image_upright     = 
| birth_name        = Randall Hank Williams
| alias             = {{hlist|Bocephus|Rockin' Randall|Wham Bam Sam|Luke the Drifter Jr.|Thunderhead Hawkins}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1949|5|26}}
| birth_place       = [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], U.S.
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|banjo|piano|keyboards|harmonica|fiddle|drums}}
| genre             = {{Hlist|[[Country rock]]|[[southern rock]]|[[outlaw country]]|[[blues rock]]|[[rock and roll]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}}
| years_active      = 1963–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[MGM Records|MGM]]|[[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Curb Records|Curb]]|Bocephus|NASH Icon}}
| spouse            = {{ubl|Gwen Yeargin (m. 1971; div. 1977)|Becky White (m. 1977; div. 1983)|Mary Jane Thomas (m. 1990; div. 2022)}}
| website           = {{URL|hankjr.com}}
| module            = {{Infobox person|child=yes
| children = 5
}}
}}
'''Randall Hank Williams''' (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as '''Hank Williams Jr.''' or '''Bocephus''', is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style has been described as a blend of [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], and [[country music|country]]. He is the son of country musician [[Hank Williams]] and the father of musicians [[Holly Williams (musician)|Holly Williams]] and [[Hank Williams III]], and the grandfather of [[Coleman Williams]]. He is also the half brother of [[Jett Williams]].

Williams began his career following in his famed father's footsteps, covering his father's songs and imitating his father's style. Williams' first television appearance was in a December 1963 episode of ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', in which at age fourteen he sang several songs associated with his father. Later that year, he was a guest star on ''[[Shindig!]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929947/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t130|title=Hank Williams, Jr.|publisher=[[IMDb]]|access-date=August 8, 2018}}</ref>

As Williams struggled to define his own voice and place within the [[country music]] genre, his style began slowly to evolve. His career was interrupted by a near-fatal fall while Williams was climbing [[List of mountains in Beaverhead County, Montana|Ajax Peak in Montana]] on August 8, 1975.<ref name="People">{{cite journal|last=Buchalter|first=Gail|date=October 22, 1979|title=Hank Williams Jr. Fell Down a Mountain and Lived Now He's Climbing High on the C&w Charts|journal=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=12|issue=17|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20074883,00.html|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425141320/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20074883,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="TheFall">{{cite web|url=http://countrymusichalloffame.org/the-fall/|title=The Fall|publisher=[[Country Music Hall of Fame]]|access-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104074223/http://countrymusichalloffame.org/the-fall/|archive-date=November 4, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> After an extended recovery, he rebuilt his career in the [[country rock]] scene.<ref name=Burns/> As a multi-instrumentalist, Williams' repertoire of musical instrument skills includes guitar, bass guitar, [[upright bass]], [[steel guitar]], [[banjo]], [[dobro]], piano, keyboards, saxophone, [[harmonica]], [[fiddle]], and drums.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hankjr.com/about/?id=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716224600/http://www.hankjr.com/about/?id=2|url-status=dead|title=Hank Williams Jr. – Official Website|archive-date=July 16, 2011|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Williams Jr. was inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum|Country Music Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Paulson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/08/12/hank-williams-jr-marty-stuart-dean-dillon-country-music-hall-fame/3352839001/|title=Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart, Dean Dillon to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame|first=Matthew Leimkuehler and Dave|last=Paulson|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref>

==Early life==
Williams was born Randall Hank Williams on May 26, 1949, in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]. [[Hank Williams|His father]] nicknamed him Bocephus (after [[Grand Ole Opry]] comedian [[Rod Brasfield]]'s ventriloquist dummy).<ref>{{cite magazine|url =https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-awkward-enduring-influence-of-hank-williams-jr|title =The Awkward, Enduring Influence of Hank Williams, Jr.|magazine =The New Yorker|first =David|last =Cantwell|date =March 24, 2016}}</ref> After his father's death in 1953, he was raised by his mother, [[Audrey Williams]].

While he was a child, a <!--really? vast--> number of contemporary musicians visited his family, who influenced and taught him various music instruments and styles. {{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Among these figures of influence were [[Merle Haggard]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Fats Domino]], [[Earl Scruggs]], [[Lightnin' Hopkins]], and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]. Williams first stepped on the stage and sang his father's songs when he was eight years old.

He attended [[John Overton High School]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], where he would bring his guitar to music class and play for pep rallies and performances of the choir.

== Career ==
In 1964, Williams made his recording debut with "[[Long Gone Lonesome Blues]]", one of his father's many classic songs.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=388 |language=en |isbn=0823082911 }}</ref>

He provided the singing voice of his father<ref name="pc9">{{Pop Chronicles |9 |4|Hank Williams Jr.}}</ref> in the 1964 film ''[[Your Cheatin' Heart (film)|Your Cheatin' Heart]].''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058765/ |title=Your Cheatin' Heart |date=December 1, 1964 |website=IMDb.com}}</ref> He also recorded an album of duets with recordings of his father.<ref name="pc9" />

===A change in appearance and musical direction===
Although Williams' recordings earned him numerous country hits throughout the 1960s and early 1970s with his role as a "Hank Williams impersonator", he became disillusioned and severed ties with his mother.

By the mid-1970s Williams began to pursue a musical direction that would eventually make him a superstar. While recording a series of moderately successful songs, Williams began a pattern of heavy drug and alcohol abuse. Upon moving to [[Alabama]], in an attempt to refocus both his creative energy and his troubled personal life, Williams began playing music with [[Southern rock]] musicians including [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Toy Caldwell]], and [[Charlie Daniels]]. ''[[Hank Williams Jr. and Friends]]'' (1975), often considered his watershed album, was the product of these then-groundbreaking collaborations.

On August 8, 1975, Williams was nearly killed while mountain climbing in southwestern [[Montana]]. While climbing [[List of mountains in Beaverhead County, Montana|Ajax Peak]] on the [[Continental Divide of the Americas|continental divide]] ([[Idaho]] border) west of [[Jackson, Montana|Jackson]], the snow beneath Williams collapsed and he fell almost {{convert|500|ft}} onto rock, causing multiple severe skull and facial fractures.<ref name=singfll>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8R9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=1923%2C4536621 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Singer injured in fall |date=August 11, 1975 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-01-11-williams-miner-visit_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA | work=USA Today | title=Hank Williams visits W.Va. mine survivor | date=January 11, 2006}}</ref> Williams spent two years recovering, re-learning how to talk and sing, and undergoing 17 surgeries to repair his skull and reconstruct his face. The accident was chronicled in the semi-autobiographical, made-for-television film ''[[Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story]]''. To hide his scars and disfigurement from the accident, Williams grew a beard and began wearing sunglasses and a [[cowboy hat]]. The beard, hat, and sunglasses have since become Williams' [[trademark look|signature look]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
 
In 1977, Williams recorded and released ''One Night Stands'' and ''The New South'', and worked closely with his old friend Waylon Jennings on the song "Once and For All".{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
 
In 1980, he appeared on the [[PBS]] show ''[[Austin City Limits]]'' during Season 5, along with the Shake Russell-[[Dana Cooper]] Band.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

===Country music career===
{{BLP sources section|date=October 2008}}
[[File:HankWilliamsJrCollage-1000.jpg|thumb|upright=1.45|Williams performing at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, 2006]]

In 1976, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that Williams' "mainstream country material has always been among [[Nashville Tennessee|Nashville]]{{'}}s best".<ref>{{Cite web| title = Hank Williams Jr.: Hank William Jr. and Friends. By John Morthland : Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages.| access-date = June 25, 2018| url = https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/hank-williams-jr-ihank-william-jr-and-friendsi|via=[[Rock's Backpages]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

He was prolific throughout the 1980s, sometimes recording and releasing two albums a year. ''[[Family Tradition (album)|Family Tradition]]'', ''[[Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (album)|Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound]]'', ''[[Habits Old and New]]'', ''[[Rowdy (Hank Williams, Jr. album)|Rowdy]]'', ''[[The Pressure Is On]]'', ''[[High Notes]]'', ''[[Strong Stuff]]'', ''[[Man of Steel (album)|Man of Steel]]'', ''[[Major Moves (album)|Major Moves]]'', ''[[Five-O (album)|Five-O]]'', ''[[Montana Cafe]]'', and many others resulted in a long string of hits.

Between 1979 and 1992, Williams released 21 albums—18 studio albums and three compilations—that were all certified at least [[Music recording certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]. Between 1979 and 1990, he enjoyed a string of 30 Top Ten singles on the Billboard Country charts, including eight No.&nbsp;1 singles, for a total of 44 Top Ten singles, including a total of 10 No.&nbsp;1 singles, during his career.

In 1982, he had nine albums simultaneously on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, all of which were original works and not compilations. In 1987–88, Williams was named Entertainer of the Year by the [[Country Music Association]]. In 1987, 1988, and 1989, he won the same award from the [[Academy of Country Music]]. The pinnacle album of his acceptance and popularity was ''[[Born to Boogie (album)|Born to Boogie]]''.

During the 1980s, Williams Jr. became a country music superstar known for catchy anthems and hard-edged, rock-influenced country. During the late 1970s and into the mid-1980s, Williams' songs constantly flew into the number one or number two spots, with songs such as "Family Tradition", "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound", "Old Habits", "Ain't Misbehavin{{'"}}, "[[Born to Boogie (song)|Born to Boogie]]", and "My Name Is Bocephus".

The hit single "[[Wild Streak]]" (1987) was co-written by [[Houston]] native [[Terri Sharp]], for which Williams and Sharp both earned gold records.

In 1988, he released a Southern pride song, "[[If the South Woulda Won]]". The reference is to a notional Southern victory in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].

His 1989 hit "[[There's a Tear in My Beer]]" was a duet with his father created using electronic merging technology. The song was written by his father, and had been previously recorded with Hank Williams playing the guitar as the sole instrument. The music video for the song combined existing television footage of Hank Williams performing, onto which electronic merging technology impressed the recordings of Williams, which then made it appear as if he were actually playing with his father. The video was both a critical and commercial success. It was named ''Video of the Year'' by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. Williams would go on to win a [[Grammy Award]] in 1990 for [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals|Best Country Vocal Collaboration]].

He is well known for his hit "[[A Country Boy Can Survive]]" and as the performer of the theme song for ''[[Monday Night Football]]'', based on his 1984 hit "[[All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight]]". In 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, Williams' opening themes for ''Monday Night Football'' earned him four [[Emmy Award]]s. 
[[File:Hank Williams, Jr. (2006).jpg|thumb|Williams in 2006]]
In 2000, he provided the voice of Injun Joe in ''[[Tom Sawyer (2000 film)|Tom Sawyer]]''. In 2001, Williams Jr. co-wrote his classic hit "A Country Boy Can Survive" after 9/11, renaming it "America Can Survive". In 2004, Williams was featured prominently on ''CMT Outlaws''. In 2006, he starred at the Summerfest concert.

He has also made a cameo appearance along with [[Larry the Cable Guy]], [[Kid Rock]], and [[Charlie Daniels]] in [[Gretchen Wilson]]'s music video for the song "[[All Jacked Up (song)|All Jacked Up]]". He and Kid Rock also appeared in Wilson's "[[Redneck Woman]]" video. Hank also had a small part of Kid Rock's video "Only God Knows Why", and "Redneck Paradise".

In April 2009, Williams released a new single, "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues", which peaked at number 43 on the country charts. The song was the lead-off single to Williams' album ''[[127 Rose Avenue]]''. The album debuted and peaked at number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart. Also in July 2009, ''127 Rose Avenue'' was announced as his last album for Curb Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1616664/hank-williams-jr-says-new-album-is-his-last-for-curb-records.jhtml|title=Hank Williams Jr. says new album is his last for Curb Records|last=Morris|first=Edward|work=[[Country Music Television]]|date=July 21, 2009|access-date=July 24, 2009}}</ref>

== Musical style ==

As a multi-instrumentalist, Williams' repertoire of skills includes guitar, bass guitar, [[upright bass]], [[steel guitar]], [[banjo]], [[Resonator guitar]], piano, keyboards, saxophone, [[harmonica]], [[fiddle]], and drums.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Williams began his recording career performing covers of his father's songs. Despite catering to the country music market, Williams preferred to listen to [[rhythm and blues]].<ref name=Dukes/> Williams also recorded singles under the name Luke the Drifter Jr.<ref name=Harrington>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/12/16/recordings/72741d15-828d-4c87-a3b0-1893e1a975af/ |title=Recordings |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=December 16, 1992 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref> (a reference to his father's alias "Luke the Drifter"), [[rock and roll]] singles under the aliases Rockin' Randall<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hank-williams-jr-mn0000117844/biography |title=Artist Biography |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas  |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref> and Bocephus<ref name=Harrington/> (a nickname given to him by his father), and [[blues]] under the name Thunderhead Hawkins.<ref name=Dukes>{{cite web |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/hank-williams-jr-rich-white-honky-blues-album-title-interview/ |title=Hank Williams Jr. Explains 'Rich White Honky Blues' Album Title |last=Dukes |first=Billy |date=June 17, 2022 |publisher=Taste of Country |access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref> Williams' music has been categorized as [[country rock]],<ref name=Burns>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/hank-williams-jr-biography|title=Hank Williams Jr. Biography |last=Burns|first=Ken |date= |work=PBS |access-date=2023-07-07 |quote=He began the slow rebuilding of his career, this time entirely in the Southern country-rock genre.}}</ref> [[blues rock]],<ref name=Webb>{{cite web |url=https://amp.oklahoman.com/amp/62781299007 |title=Hank Williams Jr. Rocks Norman Crowd |last=Webb |first=Todd |date=December 7, 1984 |publisher=Oklahoman |access-date=2023-07-07 |quote=Williams returned the welcome with an inspired set of country-style rock 'n' roll at its best. [...] a full-speed-ahead set of no-holds-barred rock, blues-rock, and rockabilly rock so intense that Williams himself was forced to partially disrobe near the end of the show. }}</ref> [[southern rock]],<ref name=Malone>{{cite book |editor-last=Malone |editor-first=Bill |date=February 2014 |title=The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOynAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA383 |chapter=Williams, Hank Jr. |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |page=383 |isbn=978-1469616667}}</ref> [[outlaw country]],<ref name=Erlewine>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hank-williams-jr-mn0000117844/biography |title= 
Hank Williams, Jr. Biography |last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas  |work=AllMusic |access-date=2023-07-07}}</ref> [[rockabilly]]<ref name=Webb/> and [[rock and roll]].<ref name=Webb/>

== Legacy ==

Artists who have cited Hank Williams Jr. as an influence include Delta Generators,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://amp.telegram.com/amp/63214191007 |title=Country and blues on stage this Friday |last=Banner |first=Sandy Meindersma |date=July 31, 2008 |publisher=Telegram & Gazette |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref> [[Walker Hayes]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/walker-hayes-hank-williams-jr-song-influence-interview/ |title=WALKER HAYES ON HIS LOVE OF HANK JR., DON WILLIAMS  |last=Paul |first=Evan |date=January 27, 2022 |publisher=Taste of Country |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> [[Sam Hunt]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/country-radio-seminar-closes-with-sam-hunt-frankie-ballard-6487466/ |title=Country Radio Seminar Closes With Stellar Performances by Sam Hunt, Cole Swindell & More |last=Dauphin |first=Chuck |date=February 28, 2015 |website= |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref> Davin James,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/davin-james-mn0000230651/biography |title=Artist Biography |last=Hage |first=Erik  |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2022-04-22 }}</ref> [[Shooter Jennings]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/shooter-jennings-premieres-drunk-talks-hank-williams-jr-influence-8468362/ |title=Shooter Jennings Premieres 'D.R.U.N.K.,' Talks Hank Williams Jr. Influence |last=Dauphin |first=Chuck |date=August 3, 2018 |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2022-04-20}}</ref> [[Wayne Mills (singer)|Wayne Mills]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/12/17/country-singer-killed/4049361/ |title=Bar owner charged in singer's death released from jail |last=Gonzalez |first=Tony |date=December 17, 2013 |publisher=USA Today |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> The Sickstring Outlaws<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2019/aug/01/live-five-electric-hoedown-hillbillies-steroids/ |title=Electric hoedown with hillbillies on steroids |last=Sanford |first=Jay Allen |date=August 1, 2019 |publisher=San Diego Reader |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref> and [[Gretchen Wilson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gazettereview.com/gretchen-wilson-doing-now-update/ |title=What Happened To Gretchen Wilson – What's She Doing Now in 2022 |last=Rogers |first=Bridget |date=March 28, 2022 |publisher=Gazette Review |access-date=2022-04-22}}</ref>

On April 10, 2006, [[Country Music Television|CMT]] honored Williams with the [[Johnny Cash]] Visionary Award, presenting it to him at the 2006 [[CMT Music Awards]]. On November 11, 2008, Williams was honored as a [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] Icon at the 56th annual BMI Country Awards. The artists and songwriters named BMI Icons have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/537255 |title=Hank Williams, Jr. to be Honored as Icon at 56th Annual BMI Country Awards|website=Bmi.com|access-date=October 5, 2010|date=September 17, 2008}}</ref>

In 2015, Williams was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. On August 12, 2020, Williams was selected to be inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum|Country Music Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Paulson"/>

==Personal life==
His daughter Katherine Williams-Dunning, the only one of his five children to not pursue a music career, died in a car crash on June 13, 2020, at age 27. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hank-williams-jr-daughter-katherine-williams-dunning-killed-in-car-accident-tennessee/|title=Daughter of country music legend Hank Williams Jr. dies in car crash, authorities say|website=Cbsnews.com|date=June 14, 2020 |access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> His son Shelton performs as [[Hank Williams III]]; his other children [[Holly Williams (musician)|Holly Williams]], Hilary Williams, and Sam Williams<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/life/2021/06/hank-jrs-son-following-in-footsteps-of-legendary-grandpa-hank-williams.html |title=Hank Jr.'s son following in footsteps of legendary grandpa Hank Williams? |last=Colurso |first=Mary |website=al.com |date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2021 }}</ref> are also musicians, as is his grandson [[Coleman Williams]] (Hank III's son), who performs under the sobriquet "IV."<ref name=hank3sonIV>{{cite web |last1=Trigger |title=The Hank Williams Lineage Continues with Hank3's Son "IV" |url=https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/the-hank-williams-linage-continues-with-hank3s-son-iv/ |website=Saving Country Music|date=March 7, 2021 }}</ref>  His wife Mary Jane Thomas died on March 22, 2022, aged 58, after complications of a [[liposuction]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Avila |first1=Daniela |date=March 23, 2022 |first2=Sarah |last2=Michaud |title=Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Mary Jane Thomas Has Died: 'A Beautiful Soul' |url=https://people.com/country/hank-williams-jr-wife-mary-jane-dead/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Mary Jane Thomas Dead at 58 |url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/03/23/hank-williams-jr-wife-dead-dies-mary-jane-thomas/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=TMZ}}</ref>

==Politics==
Williams has been politically involved with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. For the [[2000 U.S. Presidential election|2000 U.S. presidential election]], he rerecorded his song "We Are Young Country" to "This is Bush-Cheney Country". On October 15, 2008, at a rally in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]] for Republican presidential nominee [[John McCain]], he performed "McCain-Palin Tradition", a song in support of McCain and his running mate, [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/the_mccainpalin_tradition.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206023625/http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/the_mccainpalin_tradition.php|url-status=dead|title="McCain–Palin Tradition"|archive-date=February 6, 2009|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> He has contributed to federal election campaigns, mostly to Republicans, including [[Michele Bachmann]]'s 2012 presidential campaign. However, he has donated to some Democrats in the past, most notably [[Jim Cooper]] and [[John S. Tanner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Hank_Williams_Jr.php|title=Hank Williams Jr.|publisher=Federal Campaign Contribution Report|access-date=November 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054027/http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Hank_Williams_Jr.php|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2008, Williams considered a run for the 2012 Republican nomination as a [[U.S. Senator]] from Tennessee for the seat held by GOP incumbent [[Bob Corker]], although his publicist said regarding Williams "no announcement has been made".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/11/25/hank-williams-jr-for-senate |title=Hank Williams Jr. For Senate? - Real Clear Politics – TIME.com |publisher=Realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com |date=November 25, 2008 |access-date=November 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128170506/http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2008/11/25/hank-williams-jr-for-senate/|archive-date=January 28, 2012 }}</ref> Williams ultimately did not run.

===2011 ''Fox and Friends'' controversy===
In an October 3, 2011, interview with [[Fox News Channel]]'s ''[[Fox & Friends]]'', Williams discussed a June golf game where President [[Barack Obama]] and Republican House Speaker [[John Boehner]] had teamed against Vice President [[Joe Biden]] and Ohio Governor [[John Kasich]], saying the match was "one of the biggest political mistakes ever". When asked why the golf game troubled him, Williams stated, "Come on. That'd be like Hitler playing golf with [[Benjamin Netanyahu|Netanyahu]]&nbsp;... in the shape this country is in?" He also said that the President and Vice President were "the enemy" and compared them to "the [[Three Stooges]]". Later, anchor [[Gretchen Carlson]] said to him, "You used the name of one of the most hated people in all of the world to describe, ''I think'', the president." Williams replied, "Well, that is true. But I'm telling you like it is." As a result of his statements, [[ESPN]] dropped Williams' opening song from its ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' broadcast of the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] versus the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and replaced it with the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|national anthem]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Williams later said his analogy was "extreme, but it was to make a point", and "some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood&nbsp;... I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me, how ludicrous that pairing was. They're polar opposites, and it made no sense. They don't see eye to eye and never will". Additionally, Williams said he has "always respected the office of the president ... Working-class people are hurting, and it doesn't seem like anybody cares. When both sides are high-fiving it on the ninth hole when everybody else is without a job, it makes a whole lot of us angry. Something has to change. The policies have to change". ESPN later said it was "extremely disappointed" in Williams' comments, and pulled his opening from that night's broadcast.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/10/03/espn.williams.ap/index.html |title=ESPN pulls Hank Williams Jr. intro after singer links Obama with Hitler |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=November 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113134647/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/10/03/espn.williams.ap/index.html |archive-date=November 13, 2011  }}</ref>

Three days later, ESPN announced Williams and his song would not return to ''Monday Night Football'', ending the use of the song that had been part of the broadcast on both ABC and ESPN since 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7066449/espn-hank-williams-jr-theme-song-return-monday-night-football|title=ESPN, Hank Williams Jr. part ways|date=October 6, 2010|work=ESPN.com}}</ref> Williams expressed defiance and indifference on his website, and said he was the one who had made the decision. "After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision," he wrote. "By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7066449/espn-hank-williams-jr-theme-song-return-monday-night-football |title=ESPN – Hank Williams Jr. theme song won't return to Monday Night Football – ESPN |publisher=ESPN |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> Williams' son, [[Hank Williams III]], stayed neutral in the debate, telling [[TMZ.com]] that most musicians, including his father, are "not worthy" of a political discussion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2011/10/04/hank-williams-jr-monday-night-football-son-politics-obama-hitler-fox-news-channel-jello-biafra-green-party-politics/ |title=Hank Williams Jr.'s Son – My Dad Should NOT Talk Politics |publisher=TMZ.com |date=November 22, 2011 |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref>

After his song was pulled from ''Monday Night Football,'' Williams recorded a song criticizing Obama, ESPN and ''[[Fox & Friends]]'', titled "[[Keep the Change (Hank Williams Jr. song)|Keep the Change]]". He released the track on [[iTunes]] and via free download at his website.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/10/hank-williams-jr-retaliates-with-song-that-slams-fox/1|title=Hank Williams Jr. retaliates with song that slams Fox|first=Tom|last=Weir|date=October 10, 2011|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The song garnered over 180,000 downloads in two days.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1672429/hank-williams-jr-thrives-with-downloads-media-coverage-surrounding-controversy.jhtml|title=Hank Williams Jr. Thrives With Downloads, Media Coverage Surrounding Controversy|date=October 12, 2011|publisher=[[CMT News]]}}</ref>

Williams continued to make his opinions of President Obama known and during a performance at the Iowa State Fair in August 2012, he called Obama a [[Muslim]] telling the crowd, "We've got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S. and we hate him!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/hank-williams-jr-tells-crowd-obama-muslim-hates/story?id=17042110|title=Country Star Calls Obama 'a Muslim'|date=August 20, 2012|publisher=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Couch |first=Aaron |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hank-williams-jr-songs-barack-obama-363946/ |title=Hank Williams Jr. Calls Obama 'Muslim' Who 'Hates The Military'|work=[[Hollywood Reporter]] |date=August 18, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230705214720/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hank-williams-jr-songs-barack-obama-363946/}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Hank Williams Jr. discography}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[Your Cheatin' Heart (Hank Williams Jr. album)|Your Cheatin' Heart]]'' (1964)
*''[[Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites]]'' (1964)
*''[[Ballads of the Hills and Plains]]'' (1965)
*''[[Blues My Name]]'' (1965)
*''Country Shadows'' (1966)
*''[[A Time to Sing (album)|A Time to Sing]]'' (1967)
*''My Own Way'' (1967)
*''My Songs'' (1967)
*''Luke The Drifter Jr.'' (1968)
*''[[Songs My Father Left Me]]'' (1969)
*''[[Luke the Drifter Jr. Vol. 2]]'' (1969)
*''[[Live at Cobo Hall]]'' (1969)
*''Sunday Morning'' (1969)
*''Removing The Shadow'' (1970)
*''Luke The Drifter Jr. Vol. 3'' (1970)
*''Singing My Songs: Johnny Cash'' (1970)
*''I've Got A Right To Cry'' (1971)
*''Sweet Dreams'' (1971)
*''All For The Love of Sunshine'' (1971)
*''Whole Lotta Loving'' (1972)
*''Eleven Roses'' (1972)
*''[[After You, Pride's Not Hard to Swallow]]'' (1973)
*''Living Proof'' (1974)
*''The Last Love Song'' (1974)
*''Bocephus'' (1975)
*''[[Hank Williams Jr. and Friends]]'' (1975)
*''One Night Stands'' (1977)
*''The New South'' (1977)
*''[[Family Tradition (album)|Family Tradition]]'' (1979)
*''[[Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound]]'' (1979)
*''[[Habits Old and New]]'' (1980)
*''[[Rowdy (Hank Williams Jr. album)|Rowdy]]'' (1981)
*''[[The Pressure Is On]]'' (1981)
*''[[High Notes]]'' (1982)
*''[[Strong Stuff]]'' (1983)
*''[[Man of Steel (album)|Man of Steel]]'' (1983)
*''[[Major Moves]]'' (1984)
*''[[Five-O (album)|Five-O]]'' (1985)
*''[[Montana Cafe]]'' (1986)
*''[[Hank Live]]'' (1987)
*''[[Born to Boogie (album)|Born to Boogie]]'' (1987)
*''[[Wild Streak]]'' (1988)
*''[[Lone Wolf (Hank Williams Jr. album)|Lone Wolf]]'' (1990)
*''[[Pure Hank]]'' (1991)
*''[[Maverick (Hank Williams Jr. album)|Maverick]]'' (1992)
*''[[Out of Left Field]]'' (1993)
*''[[Hog Wild (album)|Hog Wild]]'' (1995)
*''[[A.K.A. Wham Bam Sam]]'' (1996)
*''[[Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts]]'' (1996)
*''[[Stormy (album)|Stormy]]'' (1999)
*''[[The Almeria Club Recordings]]'' (2002)
*''[[I'm One of You]]'' (2003)
*''[[127 Rose Avenue]]'' (2009)
*''[[Old School New Rules]]'' (2012)
* ''[[It's About Time (Hank Williams Jr. album)|It's About Time]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Rich White Honky Blues]]'' (2022)
{{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Award
|-
| 2020 || [[List of Country Music Hall of Fame inductees|Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee]] || [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]]
|-
| 2017 || No.&nbsp;50 in ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone's]] 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time'' || [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/lists/100-greatest-country-artists-of-all-time-w486191 |title = 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time|website=Rollingstone.com|date = June 15, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 2007 || [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame|Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee]] || [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]]

|-
| 2007 || Tennessean of the Year || Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
|-
| 2006 || [[Johnny Cash|Johnny Cash Visionary Award]] || [[Country Music Television|CMT Music Awards]]
|-
| 2003 || No.&nbsp;20 in ''[[Country Music Television|CMT]]'s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music'' || [[Country Music Television|CMT]]
|-
| 1996 || Top Vocal Duo of the Year nomination <small>with [[Hank Williams III]]</small> || [[Academy of Country Music]]<ref name="Past winners and nominees">{{Cite news |url=https://www.acmcountry.com/winners |title=Winners database |work=ACM Country |access-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 1994 || Composed Theme || [[Emmy]]
|-
| 1993 || Composed Theme || Emmy
|-
| 1992 || Composed Theme || Emmy
|-
| 1991 || Composed Theme || Emmy
|-
| 1990 || Video of the Year – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || TNN/Music City News
|-
| 1990 || Vocal Collaboration of the Year – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || TNN/Music City News
|-
| 1989 || Top Vocal Duo of the Year nomination <small>with [[Hank Williams]]</small> || Academy of Country Music<ref name="Past winners and nominees"/>
|-
| 1989 || Video of the Year – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1989 || Song of the Year nomination – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1989 || Single Record of the Year nomination – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1989 || Entertainer of the Year || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1989 || Music Video of the Year – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || [[Country Music Association]]
|-
| 1989 || Vocal Event of the Year – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || Country Music Association
|-
| 1989 || [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals]] – ''There's a Tear in My Beer'' || [[Grammy Awards]]
|-
| 1988 || Entertainer of the Year || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1988 || Video of the Year – ''[[Young Country]]'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1988 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1988 || Male Vocalist of the Year nomination || Country Music Association
|-
| 1988 || Album of the Year – ''[[Born to Boogie (album)|Born to Boogie]]'' || Country Music Association
|-
| 1988 || Entertainer of the Year || Country Music Association
|-
| 1988 ||[[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male nomination]] – ''Born to Boogie'' || Grammy Awards
|-
| 1987 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1987 || Song of the Year nomination – ''Born to Boogie'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1987 || Single Record of the Year nomination – ''Born to Boogie'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1987 || Entertainer of the Year || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1987 || Album of the Year nomination – ''[[Born to Boogie (album)|Born to Boogie]]'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1987 || Entertainer of the Year || Country Music Association
|-
| 1987 || Music Video of the Year – ''My Name Is Bocephus'' || Country Music Association
|-
| 1987 || Male Vocalist of the Year nomination || Country Music Association
|-
| 1987 ||[[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male nomination]] – ''Ain't Misbehavin'' || Grammy Awards
|-
| 1986 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1986 || Entertainer of the Year nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1986 || Male Vocalist of the Year nomination || Country Music Association
|-
| 1985 || Music Video of the Year – ''[[All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight]]'' || Country Music Association
|-
| 1985 || Male Vocalist of the Year nomination || Country Music Association
|-
| 1985 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1985 || Single Record of the Year nomination – ''I'm for Love'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1985 || Entertainer of the Year nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1985 || Album of the Year nomination – ''[[Five-O (album)|Five-O]]'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1985 ||[[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male nomination]] – ''All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight'' || Grammy Awards
|-
| 1985 ||[[Grammy Award for Best Country Song|Grammy Award for Best Country Song nomination]] – ''All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight'' || Grammy Awards
|-
| 1984 || Video of the Year – ''[[All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight]]'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1984 || Album of the Year nomination – ''[[Man of Steel (album)|Man of Steel]]'' || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1984 || Entertainer of the Year nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1983 || Entertainer of the Year nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1982 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1981 || Top Male Vocalist nomination || Academy of Country Music
|-
| 1980 || [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male nomination]] – ''Family Tradition'' || Grammy Awards
|-
| 1966 || [[Grammy Award for Best Country Album|Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Album nomination]] – ''Father and son: Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr.''|| Grammy Awards
|-
| 1965 || [[Grammy Award for Best Country Album|Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Album nomination]] – ''Hank Williams Jr. Sings the Songs of Hank Williams''|| Grammy Awards
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hank Williams, Jr.|Hank Williams Jr.}}
* {{Official website|http://www.hankjr.com/home}}
* {{allMusic}}
* {{IMDb name|929947}}
* {{LCAuth|n79056324|Williams, Hank, Jr., 1949–|86|}} (primarily under 'Williams, Hank, 1949–' without 'Jr.')

{{Hank Williams, Jr.}}
{{2020s Country Music Hall of Fame}}
{{Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year}}
{{CMA Entertainer of the Year}}
{{MNF}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Hank Jr}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American country guitarists]]
[[Category:American country rock musicians]]
[[Category:American country rock singers]]
[[Category:American rockabilly guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock double-bassists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American Southern rock musicians]]
[[Category:Blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:Country Music Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Curb Records artists]]
[[Category:Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Hank Williams]]
[[Category:Outlaw country singers]]
[[Category:People from Henry County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Rock and roll musicians]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Southern rock fiddlers]]
[[Category:Tennessee Republicans]]
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