Alan Jackson commemorated the 100th anniversary of Hank Williams' birth on Sunday, Sept. 17, with a fitting tribute to the country music pioneer. The singer — undoubtedly among the artists inspired by Williams - grabbed his acoustic guitar and filmed a short video of himself singing Williams' classic 1952 single, "Your Cheatin' Heart."
Sitting in a room surrounded by memorabilia from his career and other items, Jackson delivered a solid cover of the tune. With his authentic twang similar to that of Williams, Jackson sounded perfectly natural performing the quintessential standard. He followed the performance with a short message to the legend himself.
"Happy 100th Birthday, Hank," Jackson said. "I don't think I'd be here without you."
Happy 100th Birthday, #HankWilliams! #Hank100 #YourCheatinHeart pic.twitter.com/8y2ew96HiR
— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) September 17, 2023
Hank Williams was born on Sept. 17, 1923, in Butler County, Ala. He rose to fame in country music in the late 1940s and '50s, releasing hits such as "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Cold, Cold Heart," "Hey Good Lookin,'" "Honky Tonk Blues" and more. His life was tragically cut short at age 29, as he passed away on Jan. 1, 1953. Williams was the father of country singer Hank Williams Sr. and the grandfather to singer Sam Williams, among others.
The country music community and Williams' grandchildren will gather at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday, Sept. 21, to commemorate his 100th birthday. The special celebration, dubbed Hank's 100th: A Concert in Celebration of Hank Williams, presented by Spotify, will feature performances of Williams' biggest songs in various musical styles. Artists slated to appear include Suzy Bogguss, Laura Cantrell, Rodney Crowell, Della Mae, S.G. Goodman, Brennen Leigh, Delbert McClinton, Chuck Mead, Wendy Moten, Charlie McCoy and Connie Smith. Williams' grandchildren, Hilary Williams, Holly Williams and Sam Williams, will also perform during the event.
The show will take place at 3:30 PM local time at the CMA Theater within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
