"Leaving Oak Hill, a modern-day, Nashville-bound car can take one more snaky two-lane highway out of town, then hop on the interstate and make it to big-city Charleston within an hour. Then it’s on to Huntington and down to Olive Hill, where a country music fan can start considering the bucolic birthplace of Tom T. Hall and try to stop dwelling on the hopeless final hours of Hank Williams. Hank’s death is shrouded in questions that are likely unanswerable, and the ride from Knoxville to Oak Hill consequently spurs depth of feeling, not breadth of knowledge. Highway 11W to Highway 19 North was a pathetic, sad-sack end, but Williams’ legacy is as enduring as his life was transitory. Fifty years after he exited that Cadillac, it seems likely that Cold, Cold Heart, Hey, Good Lookin’, Jambalaya and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry will be around, will be enjoyed, will be alive even after Bean Station, Corryton and Mount Olive crumble to history. Curse that road. Bless this music." -Peter Cooper

I always play “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” at midnight on every January 1st, as a tribute. Great show Otis!

One of my favorite Hank Williams songs was You Win Again, and I'm a steel guitar fanatic so I like what the 1968 overdubs did with You Win Again -- they added some really haunting steel guitar especially the last bridge "You have no heart, you have no shame; You take true love and give the blame . . . " It can still move me to tears. Paging Audry . . . .

Hank Williams was the greatest singer ever lived I have all his songs and I love all of y Them

I threw in my Hank Williams CD in honour of the 70th anniversary. I first got into Hank's music less than a year before the 30th anniversary of his death. I was 16 then. Time flies. My favorites are Take these chains from my heart, and I'm so lonesome I could cry. Hank will always be my favorite. RIP Hank.

"That fellow was bigger than me" Awesome story!

“Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To Do”...always my favorite. Whenever I put one of his albums on, I always listen to all of it. He’ll always be featured in my playlists. When I think of Hank’s last ride I always think of Blaze Foley’s “Let Me Ride in Your Big Cadillac”.🦋

I remember the day Hank died. My mom and aunt were driving somewhere in Florida. I was in the back seat. They started crying. I remember that moment well. I was 17 months old.

You can't beat him, you can't mock him, no one has out done him! Hank Williams will always be #1!

I thank Hank Williams Sr played every day. He was in love with Music. God and Rufus Payne gave Hank Williams Sr the gift and the love for Music.

Was Listening to Some Hank last Night , Some of My Favorites include ;Lovesick Blues ,Your Cheatin Heart ,Weary Blues and I'll Never get out of this World Alive . His Music and Bone Chilling voice are nothing short of amazing .Thank You otis !!

Hey good looking with a smile on my moosh and tears rolling down cheek. Thanks that was beautiful. Amen

Ramblin Man and Alone and Forsaken are my favourite Hank Williams songs!!

Your Cheating Heart is my go to Hank song.

A friend of my brother's, Chuck Prophet, was heading out on tour one time, and checked in to borrow a Nudie suit from Marty Stuart, who maintains quite a collection. He scored a couple beauties, and then as he was taking his leave, Marty said - "Wait there's one more you should try on." It was a plain suit that fit like a glove. Chuck said something like, "Nice. But those two are perfect." "Yeah," said Marty, "but that's the suit Hank Williams died in."

Joe Chambers who just recently passed told me that Hank recorded "Your cheatin heart' in one take and no rehearsal. This baffled me. Amazing. Nice video Otis 👍🏼😎

Born raised and living in Alabama for nearly 62 years. Hank Sr was the most iconic name in music here . Even all these years later . Good video my friend about a true southern legend.

Listening to "I Saw the Light". The story behind that song really pulls at my heart strings.

Otis' the day of chronicles... I love this!!

Hank will always be the GOAT! God bless Hank #1

Fantastic article, Otis. Thank you. RIP Hank.

My dear departed Fathers favorite singer/performer

You are a treasure, Otis. Thank you!

Thanks for this, Otis. Man, Peter Cooper was such a good, evocative writer. We'll none of us get out of this world alive but let's make the best of the new year and beyond, right?

My dad sang Hank Williams tunes on the weekend. During the week he was a steelworker. I remember as a kid dancing on his bed holding his empty Gibson ES125T guitar case like a bass fiddle pretending to pound out the bass lines while he played and sang songs like, “Hey Good Lookin”. This would have been about ten years after Hanks death. It’s now been 70.

An interesting factoid: Charlie Parker LOVED Hank's records. He'd play them on the jukebox when he took a break on his gigs. When people asked him why he listened to "that hillbilly crap" he'd say to them "Listen to the man's story."

Great 70th Anniversary Tribute, Otis! --- The song that Hank had on the charts when he died, was "I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive". --- I believe that "Your Cheatin' Heart" was released a couple months after Hank's death. As far as "Categories" of Music, I think I read that there were three main "Classifications" of Radio Stations: Classical, Pop, and Hillbilly (now called "Country"). --- I think I read, that "Hillbilly" stations did not allow "drums", which is why Elvis' first song, "That's All Right Mama", did not use drums. --- I know, for a long time, the Opry did not allow electric instruments. Hank was one of the first to be allowed. In the Hank Jr./Waylon song, "The Conversation", Hank Jr. opines "when they fired him from the Opry..." --- I saw a KZfaq video, with an old acquaintance of Hank, who said that the reason Hank was "fired" from the Opry, was because Hank QUIT. --- Other books I have read about Hank, seem to support the notion, that the "Opry" was more a destination desired by "Miss Audrey" than Hank, although the Movie, "I Saw the Light", portrayed the Opry as Hank's ideal. Tunes: Hey, Good Lookin', Settin' the Woods on Fire, Move it on Over (Same tune as one of the FIRST Rock-n-Roll songs, "Rock Around the Clock", seven years later), Dear John, Why Don't You Love Me, Honky-Tonk Blues, I Can't Help It, and many more. Rock

Gday David here from australia I love 💕 hanks music we lost him way to soon songs from the heart Thankyou

Great show! I love Hank Williams and have slowly been playing my way through his songbook over the past few years. Lately I've been working on "Lost Highway". I know it was written by Leon Payne but Hank definitely sang it like no one else.

Raining hear in south georgia as well...Hank 3 has some wonderful music that touches on all musical genres including folk and metal

I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive and The Log Train. The Log Train is probably my favorite recording, just Hank and his guitar.

I'm so lonesome I could cry and Settin the woods on fire are a couple of my favorites.

Hank Williams is my favorite Country singer of all thanks for sharing and God’s blessings for you and your family

Thanks, Otis. I’m going to listen to Lost Highway, for the first time. Didn’t know it was a song, and am just realizing that the “ lost highway” Steve Earle sings about is likely a reference to Hank’s song. Wishing you, Amy, and everybody a happy and healthy 2023.

For me it was clear which Hank Williams song I would play after listening to your (excellent) tribute to the legendary performer - "Your Cheatin Heart".

Man ! I would like say a grate big Thank You😊

Very Cool Thankyou. New Year Just happened here in Western Australia. So Very Cool Story Thankyou.

I was born the day Hank Williams died, and wrote a song by that name. Send it to you sometime, if you like. Thanks, Otis, appreciate what you do. Frank And thanks for reading Peter’s awesome piece.

I’ll never get out of this world alive A truer statement has never been spoken

My grandfather said he saw him in Saginaw, Michigan in the Saginaw auditorium. I'm not sure if it's true but he said the show was very entertaining.

“Curse that road. Bless this music.” What a great last line.

Trained musicians amaze with great technique - folksingers share their music with basic emotional raw power . Happy new year brother Otis !

Lost Highway, I've placed 3 guitar picks on his grave and played it at his grave. being a Vietnam vet with purple heart, I relate.long live his memory an music. Larry Ashlock, Davison, MI

'Settin' The Woods On Fire' was always my favorite Hank Williams tune.

Great history lesson Otis. I'm just a 3 fret player . The first song I learned was Ramblin Man then Your Chetin Heart, Lonesome Whistle Blow and more. I listened to your description of him being a Folk singer before C n W was known and how pure his lyrics and music was easy to listen too. We just lost Ian Tyson a few days ago. Another wonderful pure musician, poet and Song writer. Surely missed! Never forgotten!

Thanks for this. Very interesting about the "Folk Singer" moniker. I started a biography of Hank recently, and put it down. I need to get back to it. "Guttural, primitive, and human." Well said Otis. That is the essence and appeal of any artist, and in Hank Williams' case the delivery was pure and simple. Hank truly was for "all time. for all people." What a great description. My wife and I played a few Hank Williams songs yesterday, (and a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs as well), as we should every Jan. 1. There's a sadness about it all, with folks who drink themselves to death. It doesn't have to be that way, but it still happens all the time.

When folks speak of Hank my minds wanders down the twists and turns of my mind and the 'Lost Highway'.

Everyday I listen to Hank Williams always have always will 58 years and going learning more about him and myself everyday about life and he's written some of the best gospel music ever known to man! I start my morning prayers just before sunrise and Hank is a very big part of my morning prayers he's helped me to grow closer to the Lord he's helped me through some tough times in life

I consider I’m so lonesome I could cry a masterpiece and saddest song I’ve ever heard. And I love You win again and Lost Highway. Mainly because the emotions they convey. Lonesome and You win again are so powerful to me because I’ve experienced those feelings and situations and every time I hear one it takes me to the same place, the same woman and the feelings of hurt, betrayal, loneliness,sadness and the chance that maybe she could love me again but combined with the hopelessness of knowing it would never happen. I know he lived many of his songs but I’ve done the same listening to these two. When I first listened to every Hank song I could find I was often mesmerized by how such simple and very few words can be combined in a way that touches so many and evokes so many emotions. I often thought why can’t I do that? Last week I researched the greatest country singer/ songwriter of all time and the vast majority still name Hank. I was born in 1953 so he’s still considered the greatest 70 years later. I’ve turned on many of my friends to Hank and other legends but doubt they really get it. And Kenny was right, Jerry Lee’ was phenomenal and his version of You win again is my favorite Jerry Lee song. Thanks yet once again for bringing back memories long forgotten and the many feelings that accompany them. It was made known on your site Bob Hope wouldn’t follow Hank after one show where they both performed and Minnie Pearl, who saw a few artists in her time ,said Hank Williams hands down was the greatest. Like Hope after her first show with Hank agreed stating after hearing him and the audience reaction she would never follow him again. Too many memories. Thanks again.

Thank you Otis for sharing Peter Cooper's story about Hank Williams with us. I am betting you could write and sing a song about Hank's last ride using Peter Cooper's story for your information. Take care and have a wonderful New Year.

I was very young kid looking at a little mono radio tapping my foot for the Cheating Heart then seeing my mom crying .. She said I loved Hank it was a tribute. The next song introduced a kid from tupelo singing a Big MoMA Thornton song that's all right MOMA.

When I was a kid in the early 60's, my parents had an LP of Hank's "The Immortal Hank Williams." It was mostly a collection of unreleased material scrounged out of the archives, but Hank's voice reached out and grabbed my soul. I have loved his music ever since. September 17, 2023 will be Hank's 100th birthday. It's amazing to think that it is biologically possible that Hank could still be living, even though his life seems like ancient history. The power of his music, though, lives on as strongly as ever. My favorites: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Lost Highway," "Waltz of the Wind," and "Rambling Man."

Hank wrote songs everyone can relate to, this is hard to do, and his legacy is secure even after decades, he went too soon

I just asked for this in your previous video. Thank you !!! I like the Luke the Drifter stuff.. But anything Hank.

He was known as a folksinger but the advertisements for his shows called him a hillbilly singer. As far as the music of his that I most listen to, it's his blues--Moaning the Blues, Long Gone Lonesome Blues, Lonesome Whistle, Lost Highway, etc. I love that bluesy yodel he does when his voice breaks. I also think his gospel songs are underrated. One thing that people get wrong is that they think he was a drunk for his entire career. He was a periodic alcoholic who stayed sober for years. After his back surgery and his wife leaving him was when he got really bad, and he died within a year. Just FYI: The Skyline Club was an AA meeting place in the 1980s before it was torn down.

I love all his music

All Songwriters are Cool ! Because, they reflect the pain & agony of the human condition “Moaning Da BLUEZ “& the things that sometimes nobody talks about but we all are equals in our 💔 My #1, “I’m so Lonesome” & Hank Was “The Blues Man “🎙🎙🎙

Midnight in Montgomery , because you had mentioned it I had never heard it I listened to Tramp on the Street, also my favorite I'm Still in Love With You. Thanks for all you do Otis.

I always loved the Hank Williams song, "Everything's okay." It's one of his talking songs but it's funny as hell with a great message. One of my favorite videos of Hank and Hank Jr. is "A tear in my beer."

Loved Hank! Named my son after Luke the Drifter, lot of wisdom in those resertations.

My Mom used to sing Hank songs all day while she worked around the house, (along with Elvis, Patsy, and Nat King Cole), I knew the words to most of his songs by the time I was 10 yrs old. When I started to learn the guitar, Jambalaya and Hey Good Lookin', (along with Paradise by John Prine), were the first songs I learned....still love playing them. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, You're Cheatin' Heart, and I Saw The Light, are great tunes, but Lovesick Blues is my favorite, and the most fun to sing.... I learned how to yodel singing that one.

Only London Wainwright III could craft the song “ Hank and Fred” about him visiting the grave of Hank on the day Mr. Fred Roger’s died. Beautiful….. give it a listen.

I was happy to wake up and see this just now, I love Hank. Thanks for all the entertainment in 2022, Otis! Happy New Year to you and Amy.

I really enjoyed this Hank Williams passing retrospective from you Otis! Keep it up brother! Happy New Year to you and Amy!

Otis, Once again thank you ! I’ve been tumbling down the music rabbit hole all my life from Hank to Hendrix and it’s always so cool to find someone that gathers it all up and gives us a road map to this history you my friend are one of the most interesting at this. I just went to see The Allman Family Revival in Montgomery and it happened to be Greg Allmans 75th birthday .That day I went to Hanks grave site and wouldn’t have known it was there except for you . The concert that night was all the more special because I could see actually see the thread that connects this thing that saved my life , MUSIC .! Keep on trucking Otis !

“My mom says he’s a folk singer and that he’s doing his best.” Can’t wait for the Townes talk tomorrow buddy. Happy New Year!

I always liked “Move it on Over” his first real hit if I remember right on MGM. Played them all as a country dj.

In 1978 the Skyline Club became the relocated Soak Creek Saloon located on the N. Lamar spot where you filmed. Besides Hank, Elvis played the Skyline, too. The place should have been preserved as a landmark, but like the Armadillo, Liberty Lunch, Castle Creek and so many other cool places to hear great music, it fell to the "progress" of new building and parking lots. You are corrected, it is now a CVS store. Austin used to be so much more cool than it is today.

Great video Otis! My favorite song by Hank Williams is Lost Highway. That song tells a great story. Thank you for what you do!

A few of the true bright spots in 2022 for me have been finding your videos on the internet, discovering your music and getting seeing you perform live in Grand Rapids, Michigan this past fall.....and, thank YOU for giving a damn !

These Men With Broken Hearts was always my favorite song. A true legend. Gone too soon.

I saw the light and tear in my beer

"The Singing Waterfall" is definitely my favorite Hank Williams Sr. song. PLAY LOUD

By far, the best video of yours that I've enjoyed. Profound and so far-reaching in its influence these many decades later. At 66 years of age, I can say Hank Williams has held a prominent position in my sense of the world and my overall world view, even here in the North Atlantic. Thank you and Happy New Year my brother.

Live at the grand Ole Opry being introduced by Carl Smith doing window shopping. Love it

Thank you I remember Hank Williams when I was a kid very soulful sound 🙏💕

I'm so lonesome i could die We lost a bonified master guitar player and singer 70 yrs ago Thank you Otis Gibbs happy new year to you and yours friend

Thank you so much, Otis. I'm glad you followed your gut and read that article. Best regards. PS: I really enjoyed the Weird America vids not long after I discovered your channel. I understand you may not be able to make more, but know that they were great.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant video.

.As the chills bumps go away from your story........Just think of all the songs we will never hear because of his death. I wonder how many more songs he had in him....He seem to write them with ease....Happy New Year Everybody.......... Greetings from Murfreesboro Tennessee

Everything hank could do no wrong but th drink takes its toll I love him

I was playing minor league ball in Tennessee on August 16, 1977 when Elvis passed away, the next day in the paper it was all Elvis all thru the paper, front to back. ⚡️TCB⚡️Love your channel Otis.

Fascinating Otis, thanks so much! Happy New Year to you and Ms. Amy and we love y'all!!

Hello Sir I enjoyed listining as always me and my wife just came home from a Hank Williams tribute concert in Fort payne Al the guy singing was David Church and I must say it was so good he sounds so close to to Hank Williams but we sat there at that old opry house and listened to him and got what I could only imagine would be similar to a Hank show back in the day I'm 45 so I missed out on alot of my favorite singers but tonight I got to imagine what it might have been like it was a really unique show that I'll not forget. Thank u so much posting these video I Truly look forward to each one and hope someday to catch one of your shows

Excellent,loved the stories

'Lost Highway' ~ the quintessential Hank Sr. song...

Truly a death on the road. Almost poetic in its way...

I’m so lonesome I could cry.

Peter Cooper was awesome writer I love all Hanks songs but So Lonesome I could Cry would be my favorite thank you Otis

I dig the demo songs, ALL THE LOVE I EVER HAD case in point.

I think it meant they would get a copy of the sheet music. And I did listen to Hank today. I love the Live at the Opry recordings.

My great grandpa owened a restaurant in Northwest Florida where Hank use to hang out and Hank let him drive his Cadillac somewhere around 1950 or so

Long Gone Lonesome Blues "I'm going down in it three times, but Lord I'm only comin' up twice."

May you never be alone like me.

I'm So Lonsome I Could Cry and Pictures Of Lifes Other Side are my favorites.

Thanks Otis. I like many of Hank's songs but my favorite is "I Can't help if I'm Still in Love With You." Like Hank, it is purely honest and authentic. Thanks again Otis.

Thanks Otis. Great history. In or around 2008, my father was living in Panama City Beach, Florida, enjoying a break in the weather that accompanies a Newfoundland, Canada winter. I was living in Ontario. My sister, brother in law and myself flew into Tampa to meet up with my Dad and see what kind of trouble we could get into. After a day or two, we got the idea of driving to Montgomery, Alabama to see Hank’s grave site. The drive was great, listening to old country music and sharing memories of our own. We did make it to the cemetery and we spent about an hour there. Then it was off to visit the Hank Williams Museum in downtown Montgomery. That was spectacular, for many reasons but one that still stands out in my mind. In the center of the museum, cordoned off with crushed velvet roping, was the Cadillac that Hank died in… or, at least that is how I remember it being advertised. I am tall enough that I could lean over, reach across the forbidden boundary, and touch the rear quarter panel. It was a magical feeling whether or not it was the actual place of his death or not. I recall that, just down the road from the museum, there was a stately old hotel, then branded as a Best Western or some such name, but clearly older than the concept of franchise. We rented a ridiculously nice two bedroom suite and spent the night. My Dad had to get up to use the bathroom in the early morning. Such an unfamiliar room, I asked him if he had trouble finding it in the dark. His reply: ‘nah, I saw the light’. It was one of a great many, but not enough, trips that my family took together. Love the channel.

For me, I'd listen to "Kaw-Liga", "I'm so lonesome I could cry", and/or "Hey, good lookin'". But I gotta be in a really dark frame of thought, like, slit-one's-own-throat dark. Kudo's on your channel, this the second video of yours I've listened to, the first being the murder of "Stringbean" Akeman and his wife, Estelle. Keep up the content, as it brings back memories of my Grandparents.

man, thank you very much for this amazing account of Hank's last ride.. read just enough through the years to have gotten the gist of that timeline and such.. however, this is much more in depth and personable.. cheers from Georgia. and here's to a better year. take it easy Otis

To honor Hank Sr. I'm playing his songs (24 Hank Williams Greatest Hits) at a low volume while listening to you Otis. I really enjoy what you do. Happy New Year.