Hank Williams III

A claim to infamy of this so-called country music outlaw is the distinction of having the first major-label country album (2006’s uncensored version of Straight to Hell) to come with a parental advisory sticker.

The spitting image of his granddaddy, Hank Williams, the direction of Hank William III’s musical destiny might have been easy to assume. Although he channels a loud and rebellious persona on stage, Hank III is uncharacteristically soft-spoken off the stage. He ruffled some feathers and defied expectations when he developed a schizophrenic style that truly isn’t anything we have ever heard before—as opposed to hillbilly, it’s been dubbed “hellbilly” for the hell-raising that he has done through his songs.

Although he has a devoted following, Hank III’s music has never been embraced by old-school Nashville. Perhaps, it is because he has been very vocal—through interviews and in his lyrics—about the shortcomings of recognized institutions in country music. In his 2008 album, “Damn Right, Rebel Proud,” he has a song with the title “The Grand Ole Opry (Ain’t So Grand)” where he censures the radio program for snubbing country heroes like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams Sr. His grandfather was, according to him, unfairly dismissed in 1952 as a member of the Grand Ole Opry (speculations abound that it because of his alcoholism). However, the Opry “continues to put out records saying, ‘This is Hank Williams live from the Grand Ole Opry’ and using his image and likeness,” the grandson asserts.

A sample verse of the Grand Ole Opry tune goes, “To most people listening to this sit might seem like we’re talking shit; But if you look behind the scenes to see who is pulling strings, ****** it will make you sick…”

In an interview he did last year with LA Weekly, he shares something about the reasons for writing the song. “It’s just payin’ respects where respects are due. If you’re going to have a Hank Williams impersonator, if you’re going to have a Hank Williams play, if you’re going to have Hank Williams records and pictures all over your place, and he is the first man inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he’s inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… but the little secret society in Nashville is a little too good to pat Hank Williams on the back nowadays. That’s just not right. It’s as simple as that.”

George Jones

At 78 years old, Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee George Jones clearly has no plans of stepping down to the younger superstars of the genre. In a move that some industry folks have considered as divisive, while leading others to laud his guts for speaking out, Jones has recently said a mouthful against the younger set of artists dominating the genre these days.

“They’ve stolen our identity,” this is what Jones said in a recent interview with the Associated Press when prompted to give a comment about younger artists such as Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. In the same interview, Jones added, “They had to use something that was established already, and that’s traditional country music. So what they need to do really, I think, is find their own title, because they’re definitely not traditional country music.” In his defense, Jones did admit that some of the newer songs are good; however, he thought these no longer reflected pure country music of old.

At the same time, though, he did praise fellow artists whom he thought have kept the spirit alive. “It’s good to know that we still do traditional country music. Alan Jackson still does it, so does George Strait.” Quite optimistic about the genre’s future direction, he says, “We still have it, and there’s quite a few of us that are going to hope that it comes back one of these days.”

Jones has been known to be a very vocal critic of anything that could destroy the purity of traditional country music, which he has helped endear to fans across the US. As a matter of fact, Jones also had a few choice words for artists whom he thought were guilty of such acts. When fellow Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Johnny Cash covered the Nine Inch nails song, “Hurt,” members of the media were sure to get a sound bite from Jones and that’s just what they had.

When the senior country artist was asked if he too would branch out in other musical genres such as heavy metal or rap, he retorted, “Rap? That’s tacky … how can you call that music? Now, I love music, too. I love all kinds. I really do. I’ve got Brook Benton. I like his singing.” He says, “Ray Charles. I’ve got an open mind. But now, you can’t call rap, talking stuff like that, music. No, no, no, you’ve got to have another name for that.”

Speaking about his own career and music, he says, “Only thing I would like to keep accomplishing is music for my fans and achieving some goals to keep them happy with what I record in the future.” When asked if he had plans of putting out more records in the future, he replied, “I’ve done just about everything else. The good Lord’s been good to me … I’m going to enjoy the rest of my life.”

Jones’ most recent effort is a CD called “A Collection of My Best Recollection,” which includes his all time most requested songs throughout a career that has spanned for almost six decades. This CD, exclusively available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, includes two unreleased songs as well as classic hits such as “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” and “White Lightning.”