In 2007, some of the biggest stars from the worlds of country, rock, and blues came together to honor Hank Williams Jr. – the singer, songwriter, and entertainer who continues to be an essential force in music since he debuted on the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 11 and released his first hit record when he was 14.
“All my rowdy friends have not settled down,” Hank Jr. said during the two-hour taping that took place at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Among the singer’s friends who performed Hank Williams Jr. songs are Tim McGraw, Shooter Jennings, Alan Jackson, and Brad Paisley. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel and Terry Bradshaw served as presenters.
Truly, Hank Williams Jr. Is A Country Boy Through And Through.
Then there’s one performance that stood out among the rest, making Hank Williams Jr. all smiles and nodding with approval – that’s no other than Toby Keith’s rowdy rendition of his 1982 hit single, “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
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Looking at Hank Jr.’s reaction, it’s safe to say that no one could have done it better than Keith. The legendary singer even confirmed his appreciation with a brotherly hug.
But before Keith took the stage, the father-son duo, Dick and Walt Willy, shared a story of how they once saved Hank Jr. after falling down in more than 500 feet of snow-ridden mountain in Montana. The duo ended their tale in the conclusion that such a life-changing accident only proves that Hank Jr. is a country boy to the core that is made to survive.
Hank Jr. wrote “A Country Boy Can Survive” in 1981, reflecting the changes in American lifestyle and society that elevates the self-reliance of country boys. The song climbed to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and is widely considered as one of Hank Jr.’s signature tunes.
Anyway, make sure to watch Toby Keith’s masterful rendition of the song in the video below.
