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Hank Williams Jr. to be Honored as Next CMT 'GIANT' in New Two-Hour Special 'CMT GIANTS' Premiering in November
LOS ANGELES, July 13 -- In the music industry, there are
very few artists who surpass superstar status to become true American
icons. Hank Williams Jr. is one of those deserving few, and his work and
his legacy will be honored in the new special CMT GIANTS, premiering in
November on CMT. Throughout his career, Hank Jr. has helped shape country
music's cultural landscape with his unbridled creativity, from the gut
honesty, and unwavering personal convictions. His music not only reflects
his own life, but the common experiences that unite fans around the world.
Hank Jr. has long been the voice of the common man, serving up
observations on life and society that have made his fans listen intently
and respond with a rousing "Hell Yeah!" as he puts words and music to their
thoughts, hopes and everyday life. Nicknamed "Bocephus" by his famous
father, he was only three when his father died in 1952. Eight years later
his mother was coaxing him on stage to sing his daddy's songs, urging him
to continue the legacy. He made his debut on the Opry at 11 and by the time
he was 14 he was in the studio recording his debut album. His rendition of
"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" became a hit and all eyes were on the artist,
constantly looking for shades of his father's genius.
What followed in the years since has been a whirlwind ride during which
the younger Williams successfully emerged from his famous father's shadow,
forging a career of his own. He managed to create music that resonated with
the same gut-wrenching emotion that marked his father's best work, yet
beyond that he left little room for comparison as he blazed a trail with
such classic hits as "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound," "All My Rowdy Friends,"
"Old Habits," "A Country Boy Can Survive" and "Born to Boogie."
The CMT GIANTS franchise began last year when Reba McEntire was honored
for her stellar career by such stars as Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly
Clarkson, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Megan Mullally,
Wynonna and Dolly Parton, each of whom paid tribute to Reba by lending
their voices to her biggest hits.
CMT GIANTS is produced by Tom Forrest and Tailight TV. Margaret Comeaux
serves as executive producer for CMT.
CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the
leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland
entertainment, reaching more than 84 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its
website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts
and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The
network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure
Country, CMT Mobile and CMT's broadband channel, CMT Loaded.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, is one of the world's leading creators
of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with
137 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television
programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU,
NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT,
NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE
FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks
trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences
through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200
interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and
interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint
ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can
be seen worldwide.
SOURCE CMT
http://www.CMT.com
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