Hank Williams, Jr. is honored in a CMT Giants special.

“All my rowdy friends have not settled down,” Hank Williams Jr. told CMT Insider’s Katie Cook in Los Angeles during the recent taping for the concert special, CMT Giants: Hank Williams Jr. Major stars from the worlds of country, rock and blues gathered to pay tribute to the singer, songwriter and entertainer who remains a vital force in music more than four decades after releasing his first single.

Among Williams’ friends performing his songs during the special are Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Steven Tyler, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, Shooter Jennings, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Buddy Guy and Holly Williams.

“He was a big influence on me early in my life when I was just thinking about singing,” Jackson says. “I was a big fan of his music like everybody was back when I was a young man and we would be partying to his songs. I think as I got into singing and songwriting more, I really appreciated not just Hank’s party, crazy side but what a great songwriter he is. He’s written some great songs that are about his life — or good and bad times in his life — real songs with some meaning, not just drinking and partying stuff. He’s a great writer.”

A wealth of Hank Williams, Jr’s performances are online. We found a couple of gems:

A young Hank Williams, Jr. back in the 1950s, singing two of his father’s songs.


Hank Williams Jr. - Watch the best video clips here

Hank Williams, Jr. performing “Kaw Liga” with Johnny Cash.