The Hank Williams Lineage Continues with Hank3’s Son “IV”

There’s a new performer on the way, and he’s one that has a legitimate claim to arguably the most important bloodline in country music history. That’s right, the son of Hank Williams III is getting ready to emerge, and to do so under the moniker “IV.” And though all we have to work with at this point is snippets and snapshots, he appears to be taking after pops in more ways than one.
The 30-year-old from Nashville is not named Hank, but rather Coleman, and isn’t adopting the “Hank” name specifically, only the numeric “IV” as a forth generation performer in the direct bloodline of Hank Williams as Hank’s great grandson.
“Four writes folk songs,” says his producer, Jason Dietz. “The band is responsible for turning them into something else. We try to keep an essence of their original form, while adding drums, 100 watt amps, fuzz bass and fiddle.”
Jason Dietz is also known as the bass player for the band The Hardin Draw, and has worked with former Hank3 bass player Joe Buck in the past. Guitarist David Talley and fiddler Laura Beth Jewell also of The Hardin Draw are involved in bringing the project to life under what they’re calling “The Strange Band.” At the moment they plan to release a debut single from IV called “Son of Sin” on April 4th, with a debut EP coming April 20th.

The discovery of “IV” is one of the major reasons that Hank Williams III got involved in country music in the first place. Primarily playing in punk bands and installing garage doors for a living, Hank3 was hit with a paternity suit when Coleman was five-years-old, and told by a judge to “get a real job” to help pay child support. Hank3, who is now 48-years-old, had not known about Coleman prior to the paternity motion.
So to help pay child support, Hank3 signed with Curb Records, and emerged as a neotraditional country singer and songwriter in the vein of his grandfather, while playing in metal and punk bands on the side, and forming his own “Hellbilly” style of music. Hank3 released his magnum opus Straight to Hell in 2006, and fulfilled his contract with Curb in 2008 after a contentious relationship. He then went independent, releasing multiple records on his own. Hank3 has been mostly inactive since 2014 after his last tour.
Whenever talking about the Hank Williams bloodline, a bit of disambiguation is always necessary. Hank3 is Hank Williams Jr.’s son, and Coleman, a.k.a. “IV” is Hank3’s son. Hank Williams Jr. also has another son from a later marriage named Sam Williams, who is also a performer. Hank3 is the half brother of Sam, and of Hilary and Holly Williams, who are also performers.
Then there is the case of Ricky Fitzgerald, a.k.a. “Hank Williams IV,” who is also a performer and currently active, and who uses the Hank name on stage. He is the grandson of Lewis “Butch” Fitzgerald, who is the long-rumored supposed illegitimate son of Hank Williams. To take a deep dive into that complex story, CLICK HERE.
It’s also important to point out that Hank Sr.’s real name was Hiram King, which he changed to Hank, thinking it would be better for country music. The ‘Hank’ in Hank Jr. and Hank3’s name comes from their given middle name, not their first name: Randall Hank Williams and Shelton Hank Williams respectively. IV’s official last name is Finchum after his mother, since at birth he was not in the life of Hank 3. IV though says he’s planning to change his last name to Williams.
But just to underscore again, “IV” is not claiming the Hank name, even though hypothetically, he possibly could for the stage. Instead he’s keeping clear of any controversy that could come from it, while still laying claim to his legitimate standing in the Hank Williams lineage. At this point, Hank3 has not publicly acknowledged his son’s new endeavor, but the two are said to be in regular contact.
Though we don’t have any music from IV just yet, you can follow him on Instagram, where he’s posted some small clips and more photos. Though it’s hard to come any hard conclusions at this point, it does appear IV is leaning more towards a rough-and-tumble style of country similar to his father.
Stay tuned.

March 7, 2021 @ 11:58 am
Coleman! Can’t wait to see what he is dishin’!
March 7, 2021 @ 9:02 pm
Also known as Ivy.
March 9, 2021 @ 9:11 pm
Hank jr was 26 when he fell 500ft while climbing with friends and he didn’t loose an eye. His face is so badly scared from 2 years of plastic surgery and reconstruction of his bones around his eyes and jaws. He suffered several serious head injuries. People if you’re going to tell someone’s story make sure you have your facts right.
March 7, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
Wow, didn’t think he had much interest in going into music. Either way, can’t wait to hear what he puts out!
March 7, 2021 @ 6:26 pm
He certainly looks more like Hank Williams son than Hank Jr. Maybe Jr. took after Audry. Can’t wait to hear Four sing…Thanks for this share.
March 7, 2021 @ 8:27 pm
Uh…Hank Williams jr doesn’t even look like he’s suppose to. That’s what happens when you fall off the side of a mountain and have reconstructive surgery
March 7, 2021 @ 9:39 pm
You must not know that Hank Jr fell off a cliff when he was very young 18 I believe his whole face had plastic surgery and he lost an eye .
March 8, 2021 @ 12:04 pm
I didn’t know he lost an eye. I guess that explains why he has sunglasses on all the time.
March 8, 2021 @ 6:33 pm
Actually, the eye popped out of its socket but he didn’t loose sight in it. The eye healed and he can see out of both eyes. I have been a huge Hank Junior fan for about 40 years and had a great opportunity to meet him a few years ago and I asked him if he could see out of both eyes. He took a puff of his cigar and said Yep just ask all them dead deer.
March 28, 2021 @ 12:55 pm
He didn’t lose the eye but it was said to have been dangling out of his head by some reports, and there was a young boy there who saw the horrific scene after the tragic fall, which everyone there said was unfortunate.
March 7, 2021 @ 1:51 pm
Question:
If “IV” did an album of covers of songs by George Hamilton IV, the Jackson 5, Nine Inch Nails, Three Dog Night and the Four Tops, would it be guaranteed to at least make it to the #29 position on the charts?
March 7, 2021 @ 2:51 pm
Clever.
March 7, 2021 @ 4:30 pm
They’d probably remake “96 Tears.” And a whole bunch of songs by the 5 Blind Boys of Alabama.
March 7, 2021 @ 1:55 pm
I don’t care how many IV’s we get, as long as none of them are Sam Hunt IV.
March 7, 2021 @ 2:13 pm
That means there would have to be a II and a III. Don’t you put that on me, Ricky Bobby.
(No offense to his kids)
March 8, 2021 @ 4:38 am
Hank 3 sound is one that I cherish et absolutely amazing Am So glad to see his son doing his own thing & in his own way. Strong creativity
March 7, 2021 @ 2:12 pm
His Instagram page says his first EP is out 4-20.
March 8, 2021 @ 12:06 pm
lol funny numbers /s
March 7, 2021 @ 3:28 pm
Wasn’t even aware Hank 3 had a son
March 8, 2021 @ 7:26 am
Apparently neither did he.
March 7, 2021 @ 3:33 pm
I can’t imagine this being any good. Where’d he grow up?
March 7, 2021 @ 8:30 pm
Straight Outta Hell
March 7, 2021 @ 10:06 pm
Jake,
What if this dude is missing out on being a very successful veterinarian, simply because he thinks he’s supposed to carry on a legacy that he can’t culturally relate to? It’d be a shame wouldn’t it?
March 8, 2021 @ 5:06 am
Looks like a hipster version of his dad. I would be surprised if he brings anything interesting to the Williams brand. Wait and see.
March 8, 2021 @ 6:02 am
We don’t have much to work with, but on Instagram it looks like the right East Nashville artists and industry people are following him (maybe doesn’t do much to debunk the hipster label). But maybe he’s been cultivated and developed? As much I love Shelton, I wasn’t a fan of Three Hanks or Risin’ Outlaw. He didn’t start finding his footing in country music until Lovesick, Broke and Driftin’. I’ll be curious to his sound.
March 8, 2021 @ 8:13 am
…….”Looks like a hipster version of his dad.”…
Yeah it’s like:
“I’m a cowboy”
“No, I’m a Vietnam vet.”
“No, I’m a rambling Folk poet.”
“No, I’m a biker.”
“No, I’m Freddie Mercury.”
“No, I’m an uber-masculine porn actor.”
“No, I’m Gram Parsons.”
March 8, 2021 @ 5:50 am
Yes but that’s hypothetical. Maybe it’s in his heart as much as in his blood, we will see. One things for sure though…the expectations are high. Hope for his sake he delivers, at least partially.
March 7, 2021 @ 5:03 pm
Should be interesting to say the least
March 7, 2021 @ 5:26 pm
Did Hank 3 retire? Does anyone know of any new-ish music from him or any plans for him to tour once things get back to “normal”?
March 7, 2021 @ 5:48 pm
Hes retired. 🙁
March 7, 2021 @ 5:52 pm
There has been no official announcement that Hank3 has retired. In fact he’s said on many occasions he’s looking to get back at it. He had to move a while back and it was pretty tough on him, and lost one of his favorite dogs Trooper, and he’s been laying low since. I hope he gets out there soon, and I hope I have some information to share soon.
March 7, 2021 @ 6:04 pm
6.5 years since touring and hasnt released new music since 2013… I sure hope I’m wrong but doesnt look good boss. Been a fan since he toured the county fairs. Thanks for the reply though
March 7, 2021 @ 8:35 pm
Sure. Perhaps he has retired. Just don’t want folks to get the wrong impression that we know for sure.
March 8, 2021 @ 5:26 am
Hank III and Jamey Johnson are coming out with new music.
Eventually. Someday. Work in progress. Forever in progress.
March 8, 2021 @ 8:00 am
Jamey Johnson is happy getting checks being a glorified cover artist. Not saying its wrong or bad, but I think he is comfortable and unmotivated to try and release new music.
March 8, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
Quote:
(Jamey’s) concussion he suffered all those years ago had put his brain into what he described as a “hyper vigilant” state in which he finds himself unable to focus on anything that isn’t directly related to survival.
“Out went the songwriting, or the focus on songwriting, or even the openness to it even,”
March 8, 2021 @ 3:34 pm
I realize he had a concussion and can’t write himself anymore, but there are plenty of artists that don’t write the music on their albums (see: George Straight). If he wanted to make a new album he still could, obviously he can still sing or play, but just isn’t recording new music. Perhaps he can’t envision himself doing that again, but that goes back to my original point. Concussion or not, he doesn’t seem the need to push himself to put out new music.
March 14, 2021 @ 3:33 pm
He’s had some bad problems with losing his house all those years ago and these different problems but he said he wants to come back to playin music as soon as he can but there’s stuff he has to take care of first
March 7, 2021 @ 11:30 pm
This is exciting
March 7, 2021 @ 11:31 pm
🤘🏻
March 13, 2021 @ 4:33 am
He helped write kicked out of country with George straight since then, so this seems super legit.
March 8, 2021 @ 12:40 am
I really hope Coleman won’t follow his daddy’s footsteps and venture into metal music, which for me personally was awful & cringy. Hank3 is at his best when playing his juiced up outlaw/psychobilly sound. I’m crossing my fingers for twangy honky tonk in the veins of whitey morgan, the dimestore cowboys or the malpass brothers.
March 8, 2021 @ 5:59 am
Typo in title. Lineage*
Interesting to see what comes of this
March 8, 2021 @ 6:10 am
At this point we have no clue what his style is or sounds like. To think hes gonna be great is pure speculation and hype. Odds are against him being particularly successful. Lineage doesnt correlate with talent in most cases. III is an exception.
Look at Shooter Jennings. He has musical chops and skills but his voice isnt even in the same universe as his fathers. Same with John Carter Cash, hes a talented producer and a guitar player, but again, doesnt have a voice anywhere near his dads.
Maybe Coleman will surprise me. We’ll see.
March 8, 2021 @ 6:46 am
I actually like Hank Jr’s music more than Sr’s but I do like Sr’s music a lot- III’s, I never listened and probably won’t- IV, good luck- nepotism runs rampant in some circles. As somebody already said, blood line doesn’t guarantee talent- it opens doors though, ala Shooter Jennings, who I will NEVER pay to see again, hell I can beat on my guitar and holler into a mic- that doesn’t requite talent, it requires nepotism allowances-
March 8, 2021 @ 6:59 am
It’s kind of funny, when Hank3 started out, he sought out Hank Jr’s former bandmates and employees to work with. Now IV is hanging out with Joe Buck.
March 9, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
If IV is hanging with Joe Buck then the EP will be badass. Joe Buck is one of the finest mucisians out there. Now, my interest is peaked
March 8, 2021 @ 8:21 am
Trigger, I do not believe there is evidence to support that Hank Sr. had “King” in his name. Joey Allcorn wrote a detailed article about this awhile ago. Thanks.
March 8, 2021 @ 8:46 am
I’ll have to check out what Joey Allcorn has to say. Generally I would defer to him when it comes to matters involving Hank Williams. I’m not talking out my butt though. My information comes from the Colin Escott biography. If there’s new information, then it’s new information.
March 8, 2021 @ 8:40 am
I was a huge Hank3 fan back in his Curb days and continued to go see him live until he stopped doing shows, but this story seems a little weird and is not giving me a good feeling that it’s going to be very good. With IV’s pic looking like he took his dad’s vest and is copying his style, and having a band re-write his ‘folk’ tunes to come off more aggressive; how much of this act will be coming from a real place and how much of it is going to be manufactured?
I saw Hank 3 live before I ever even knew there was a Hank 3 (as a bass player for Superjoint Ritual), and it sounds like there isn’t any existing music to check out from IV. It’s like they are just marketing him to come out of the gate and replace his father so some people can make some money.
Hopefully I’m wrong, and I certainly don’t mind his band making some money, but that’s the vibe I’m getting right now.
March 8, 2021 @ 11:56 am
What is this about? Please explain.
March 8, 2021 @ 1:05 pm
Basically my comment was about this part of the article: “Four writes folk songs,” says his producer, Jason Dietz. “The band is responsible for turning them into something else. We try to keep an essence of their original form, while adding drums, 100 watt amps, fuzz bass and fiddle.”
Why is the band turning Four’s songs into something else? Is it to better bring Four’s vision to fruition, or is to broaden the appeal or target a certain audience? I don’t know, but just thought that was weird. I would think a band would be brought in to help the artist’s vision, not change it to something else, especially in the underground. But maybe, barely maintaining the original essence is still helping bring the artist’s vision forward?
March 8, 2021 @ 12:09 pm
“Manufactured” and “making money” are not two words I would associate with this project. “Underground” and “DIY” would be. Whether it’s worth our attention or not remains to be seen. We’ll just have to find out one the single and EP are released, and even then, this stuff will be the preliminary first step of this young man’s career. But there’s no label involved, no manager involved, and no publicist involved. The Hardin Draw who are the primary folks behind this are an underground country band who I can’t imagine are primarily driven by money. Yes, there’s a ton of interest in this because it’s Hank 3’s son. But even Hank3 at the moment is not what you would call “a going concern.” This is extremely intriguing within the underground country world. Otherwise, most folks barely know Hank Jr.’s son makes music himself.
March 8, 2021 @ 12:54 pm
I appreciate the additional info. You kind of touched on it, and in reference to hoptowntiger’s comment; emulating Hank 3’s career isn’t going to make anyone rich; but I do think there is an audience that misses Hank 3 and who could be targeted for this project; whether it’s deserved or underserved. And maybe I misunderstood in the article, but it sounded like others are taking IV’s songs and trying to repackage them to be more in line with Hank 3’s music; and that’s primarily what gave me pause. Include the promo pics of him dressed like Hank 3 and flashing a #4 hand sign, and it just seems like they (or IV in particular) are/is really playing up the Hank 3 angle.
But again, as a Hank 3 fan, if this turns out to be great music, that’s all that matters. I’ll certainly be checking it out.
March 8, 2021 @ 2:28 pm
I think your concerns are fair Travis. Maybe that is what’s happening. But it could also be that IV really wants to go in this direction. I was trying to find a picture of III and IV together, and found one from 2014 at a show. IV was decked out in a vest full of patches then too, and was wearing a Weed Eater hat. Perhaps he’s just naturally taking after pops.
It’s hard for these dudes with these famous names. It allows to to cut in front of a lot of folks. But there’s also a ton of built-in scrutiny.
March 8, 2021 @ 12:40 pm
If you’re going to manufacture a sound or career in its likeness, would it be Hank III? Shelton doesn’t even want to be Hank III anymore. Not like he got rich or famous beyond our circle.
March 8, 2021 @ 12:20 pm
Bullshit. I know for a fact that Sheldon (3’s real name) knew damn good and well about Coleman from the beginning of his conception. Bocephus tried to pressure the mother into getting an abortion and she refused. 3 then decided to be a deadbeat dad. He was forced to pay when the mother realized that she would have to take it to court because the Williams family would never do the right thing on their own.
3 has been perpetuating this lie since he was interviewed by Rolling Stone in the late 90s.
March 8, 2021 @ 2:07 pm
I am a die hard Bocephus fan and cannot stand Hank the 3rd and assume the 4th will be the same. Just my opinion, but none are even in the same class as Bocephus or his Daddy.
March 8, 2021 @ 4:13 pm
It’s hard for me to express how uninteresting this is for me. If he ends up either writing good songs or performing well – let me know. Otherwise this is just another in a long list of kids/grandkids who just aren’t high level enough to prompt me or many others like me to purchase a record.
March 9, 2021 @ 8:14 am
It’s like the royal family, but without all the inbreeding.
March 9, 2021 @ 4:37 pm
So when does this come out? I’m so curious.
March 9, 2021 @ 4:40 pm
First single out April 4th, EP out April 20th.
March 10, 2021 @ 9:21 am
I wasn’t feeling too old today … until I realized Hank III has a 30-year-old son.
March 10, 2021 @ 12:34 pm
I hope to hell that IV be close to his pa. I listened to Hank Senior immensely and Hank Jr not too much but I still listened. Really before I even listened to Hank III I was sceptical because I thought he would’ve been playing some new country crap until one day I started listening to him with my pa and I actually liked his sound. Reminded me of real outlaw country and since Jr did that mix in with rock and country I didn’t mind III mixing it in with metal and punk as I listened to both. Better than country rap honestly that stuff is atrocious in my opinion. I just hope IV manages his own tasteful sound the way his pa did. Be nice if the Hank lineage lived up to what it is and continued to do so but only time will tell. I really have hopes for IV but we just gotta wait and see.
March 10, 2021 @ 2:20 pm
Im pretty excited about this!!! I love all the Hanks
March 20, 2021 @ 6:51 pm
Hank3 grew up doing doing metal and punk bands all his life before he ever decided to do the outlaw country stuff. So really Hank III ventured into outlaw country.
March 21, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
Like nails on a chalkboard. No thanks
March 28, 2021 @ 10:11 am
Like Hank and Waylon said n there song (still the most wanted outlaw and There still riding on his name). Hank sr Best period
April 2, 2021 @ 3:12 am
It must be nice to have a rich famous grandfather (Hank Williams) and father(hankJr) to ride on there names, to get your self famous also cause I have heard hank 3 and he stinks and I’m guessing this 4 will to.
April 4, 2021 @ 11:57 am
Rich? Hardly. Hank Sr. was worth about $10,000 at the time of his death, and to quote
Hank III:”I don’t see any money from the Hank estate”.