Country music royalty and rock rebel — Hank Jr. and Kid Rock have one of those unlikely but genuinely tight friendships that fans love. They first connected years ago when Kid Rock showed up to one of Hank Jr.’s shows already knowing all his songs, and that mutual respect sparked something real. Over time they became close — so close that Hank Jr. has called Kid Rock like family and even jokingly referred to him as his “rebel son.”
The two have also teamed up musically, most notably on the gritty, fun duet “Redneck Paradise” on Kid Rock’s Rebel Soul album, where their big voices and bigger personalities make for classic Southern rock-country energy.
Outside the studio, they share a love of hunting, fishing, and just hanging out — proving that their friendship goes beyond music into real life brotherhood…
Here’s two songs for you…
🎶 “Redneck Paradise” – Kid Rock (feat. Hank Williams Jr.) Album: Rebel Soul Album Released: 2012
🎵 “The ‘F’ Word” – Hank Williams Jr. Album: The Almeria Club Recordings Album Released: January 8, 2002
The F Word song does not use the F Word… it’s actually Anti-F Word… so enjoy 😁
One thing I noticed growing up as a Hank fan — and still notice today — is that he’s known by a handful of songs that went full mainstream.. and people grabbed onto them… ones like… All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.. Family Tradition.. A Country Boy Can Survive… and a few others.
He kind of got labeled by those songs — like that’s all he’s about. But man… nothing could be further from the truth.
Once you dig in.. you find so much more — beautiful love songs… raw.. well-written.. poetic ones… many are deep… magnificent… also his voice is amazing on so many… in a way you don’t really hear on his more popular ones… real depth that never got the same spotlight.
Today’s picks…
🎶 “Montana Café” • Title track of the album Montana Cafe • Released: 1986
🎶 “Whiskey on Ice” • from the album High Notes • Released: 1982
Hope you enjoy this little dive into the deeper cuts…
Hank Jr 🎶 If It Will It Will 🎶 I Don’t Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)
Early in his career.. the label forced Hank to dress.. sing.. and act like his father.. He hated it…
After the 1975 fall that nearly killed him.. he came back changed — voice.. body.. spirit — and rebuilt himself around Southern rock.. country.. and outlaw truth.. That’s why his music from the late ’70s on feels free and feral — finally his own…
🎵 “If It Will It Will” (1991)
🎵 “I Don’t Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)” (1981) (feat. George Jones) — originally one of his father’s songs from the 1940s…
He recorded many songs with friends over the years — the 2nd one below is with George Jones… Hope y’all enjoy…
In 1975.. Hank Williams Jr.. fell more than five hundred feet down a mountain in Montana — an accident that nearly took his life and forever changed his voice.. his sound.. and his direction…
Out of that fall came a new Hank Jr — no longer living in anyone’s shadow… finally becoming his own man…
Years later.. the scars turned into songs… here’s two of them…
🎵 “I’m for Love” — 1985 🎵 “Queen of My Heart” — 1987
He didn’t just survive the fall — he came back sounding like himself for the first time…
I hope yall enjoy… thank you for stopping by… have a great weekend…
Hey yall… if you check my blog out at all… you already know how much music means to me…
Being a musician and a singer… I love all kinds of sound… I’ve got influences everywhere — punk… rock… outlaw country… even rap… Christian music.. of course… and more… Throw it all in a blender and you pretty much get me… my sound…
But if I’m being real… it all started for me with outlaw country… with Hank Williams Jr… aka Bocephus…
Most people know him… but they usually only know three or four of the big songs… What a lot of folks don’t realize is — he has hundreds of songs that go even deeper than the famous ones…
To me… his music is pure art… straight poetry…
And here’s the part that surprises people — for a guy known for that raw… hard sound… Hank Jr. wrote some of the best love songs I’ve ever heard…
I learned to play guitar from his music… I learned to sing from his music… I honestly know every single one 😁😎…
So… I’m starting something new…
Every Friday… I’m going to feature one Hank Jr. song — a weekly spotlight — to help introduce people to the side of him most never get to hear…
When I really think about it… he’s probably had more influence on me than any other artist…
His music is special… and to most of the world… it’s still a secret…
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 