Reinstate Hank Petition Crests 50,000 Signatures
The grassroots petition to attempt to get country music legend Hank Williams reinstated into the Grand Ole Opry, also known as Reinstate Hank, has reached an important milestone, as the online petition has now crested the 50,000 signature mark. This does not include the scores of physical signatures collected in the official Reinstate Hank petition books, sent in by volunteers collecting signatures all around the world, and collected at concerts of Hank Williams III, aka Hank3, who started the movement.
In 1952, Hank Williams was dismissed from the Opry with the understanding that he would sober up and then return to the stage that he loved so much. Sadly, he passed away on New Year’s Day of 1953 in the back seat of his blue Cadillac and never made that momentous return. Despite being one of the most powerfully iconic figures in American music, Hank Williams has yet to be reinstated to the Opry.
Hank3 started Reinstate Hank shortly after his last performance on the Opry marking the 50th Anniversary of Hank Sr.’s death. From the stage, the youngest Hank proclaimed, “Keep one thing in mind, after all this time, maybe it’s time that we can get Hank Williams reinstated back in the Grand Ole Opry folks. That would be a dream come true for a lot of people.” When Hank3 asked the President of the Opry Steve Buchanan about the reinstatement, he was told, “We’ll never reinstate a dead guy.”
ShadeGrown
July 31, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
I just now signed the on-line petition myself. I had signed a “reinstate” petition @ a show several years back… It is unbelievable that there is a debate about this. Recognition for all the legends should be a given for ANY institution that wants to have historical significance. Why not honor the greats of country music in any way possible? There is no sense to be made by his omition. It shouldn’t/doesn’t matter if he or anyone else is deceased.
bates
July 31, 2011 @ 2:26 pm
This is great for the Williams family. Makes you wonder how many more will it take for the Opry to give Hank his due.
Jeb
July 31, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
Has Opry even acknowledged this petition even exists?
The Triggerman
July 31, 2011 @ 5:03 pm
I have not seen any public recognition. They were smart to not recognize it at first, because this might give more legitimacy to the cause. Now they just look completely out of touch.
Jeb
July 31, 2011 @ 7:57 pm
It seems to me that if they have ignored this movement up to this point, I’d think that they will ignore it no matter how many signatures it has. 50,000 people would fill the Opry House more than ten times. I think Hank Jr. signing and actively promoting Reinstate Hank is about it’s only chance. He has a much greater influence in Nashville.
Waymore Williams
July 31, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
I have signed the petition and I have sent in written signatures as well. I think reinstating the Hank Williams will be the first step of the long journey of returning country music back to those of us who enjoy it for what it really is.
I once compared my views of country music/nashville to a tree. you have this big beautiful tree that everyone adores. you got the big shiny apples that are Tim, Toby, Kenny, Taylor, and sadly the list goes on. Everybody wants the apples but only a few of us (SCM visitors for example) realize that these “apples” would not be there if it weren’t for the roots. the roots being Hank sr, Waylon, George, Lefty, Merle, and the list goes on. then you have the little saplings (Lucky Tubb, JB Beverley, Rachel Brook, Jayke Orvis etc) that are way more in touch with the roots yet nashville shuns them away only to give more life to the apples up above. I know that Triggerman referenced a tree in a previous article a few days ago.. Im excited to see what he thinks of my analogy.
The Triggerman
July 31, 2011 @ 5:02 pm
Good analogy!
RWP
August 1, 2011 @ 9:31 am
Let it go.Who wants to see Hanks picture in between Carrie Underwoods and Blake Sheltons at the Opry anyway?
Speaking of which,has any of these new pop star Opry members signed it or any member at all for that much?
Mark
August 1, 2011 @ 9:31 am
I’m of the opinion that the Opry, like the music industry, itself, is beyond all hope. As much as they’ve disrespected the older surviving Opry members, at times, I don’t have much hope for them doing the right thing and reinstating Hank.
kookydoright
August 2, 2011 @ 7:31 pm
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/hank_iii/artist.jhtml
eyeballs wide. things are not as they seem.
Denise
August 3, 2011 @ 4:21 am
The whole problem is the lack of respect. Hank Williams was a man. He was a singer/songwriter. He was addicted to alcohol. The Opry shunned him. But the Opry still uses him to this day for promotion, marketing and sales. If he wasn’t good enough then they should stand their ground and say, “We kicked him out and we stand behind that decision.” But they won’t say anything. They won’t even acknowledge what they did. So they want to bury their faces in the sand and go on pretending like they love Hank when they turned their back on him. So . . . I hope the Opry (and others) remember one crucial thing: The truth will always come clean.
A public acknowledgement is really all is asked and an official reinstatement into the institution that still remembers “Cold, Cold Heart” And for y’all that says who cares think about this . . . do unto others as you would have done unto you.
If the Opry wanted to right a wrong I think it would only make them look much better and would heal an open sore. Otherwise, they are looking greedy, uncaring and self-serving. Those are three things that scar their image and make them dead in the water.
Denise
August 3, 2011 @ 8:40 am
I don’t know but something tells me this is an unintentional tort. There was a negligent act. (Throwing Hank out) The cause is open to argument. The injury, which would be against the Williams legacy, was foreseeable as I’m sure it causes emotional pain and confusion and the fact that loss of revenue to the Williams legacy goes directly into Gaylord Enterprises which makes me think that a class action civil suit could be brought against the Grand Ole Opry.
The Bible tells you not to take Christian people to court. The Grand Ole Opry is not exhibiting Christian values.
MustangSally77
March 12, 2015 @ 10:54 pm
If you are a lawyer, sister girl…shame on You!!! Same thing applies if you think you are a Christian. Dang……
RestlessInAmsterdam but Reinstate Hank Worldwide
August 11, 2011 @ 8:26 am
….will Hank Williams finally be reinstated, that´s the question…
WT Hendrix
October 30, 2013 @ 12:53 am
For those who do not know.
Hank had scoliosis from childhood. His spine at times looked like a question mark.
This is why he did not work the saw camp or the fields. He found a way around his illness. Learning guitar and becoming a superstar.
His drinking and drugging stemmed from this.
Today? I do not buy the old Hank story. I have the idea our man Hank slept with and let the wrong women catch him in Nashville.
I bet mg grandads Confederate belt buckle the women. “High society” broads threw themselves at him and they punished him for it.
Not a chance the story checks out over his addiction.
Bocephus. Three. It is time to set the record right.
Hank Sr was not a bumb or trash.
Bocephus knows more than he let on. Why would he and his family not sign?
The Williams family are SOUTHERN royalty. They must be able to take their place!
MustangSally77
March 12, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
WT…Southern women are a whole different breed (I know, I am one). You have two kinds of women in the South…those who nurture, and those who are complete users. Most of us are nurturers, and strong, and southern men love us. However, the southern women who want money….they are the bane of men…and what is strange, is southern men are attracted to them like a bug to a light? They marry those kind of women first, then…marry right. How dumb is that? And you cannot blame their mommas on that….they were raised right but choose loose, worthless women. There are so many more good women in the South…why are the men attracted to the few hussies?
MustangSally77
March 12, 2015 @ 10:37 pm
Went to the Ryman Auditorium 2 years ago. They have a “Hank Williams Sr” room, and are using it for gain. Yes, they tell us the story of Hank being kicked out…but they are using his name for gain. Hank Sr was in pain from Scoliosis…it is a wonder he could be as awesome as he was. He died young…many did. Bottom line, he is still remembered, people still love his music, and the Grand Old Opry is still making money off his name….so WHY is he not in the Country Music Hall of Fame….of all people? Dottie West should be in there too.