‘American Idol’ Alum Alex Miller Meets One of His Musical Heroes: Hank Williams Jr.
“till can’t believe I got to meet Hank Jr.,” Miller gushed.
Alex Miller and Hank Williams Jr.; Photo via Instagram
After winning over the hearts of millions with his charm and traditional country sound on the latest season of American Idol, Alex Miller has continued to forge his path in the country music genre and recently had the chance to open up for one of his musical heroes: Hank Williams Jr.
The recent high school graduate made his way to the Wisconsin State Fair to serve as direct support for the country music icon.
“Hank Jr. is a legend, so the fact that I even get the opportunity to do that and was even considered is mind blowing to me. I really do feel honored, and I hope the folks in Milwaukee are ready for me,” Miller told WISN 12 prior to the show.
While in Wisconsin, Miller had the chance to meet Bocephus himself and it’s a moment Miller won’t soon forget.
“Well… Still can’t believe I got to meet Hank Jr,” Miller shared on Instagram. “Thank you @wistatefair for having me this year! What a show!”
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Miller’s love for classic country music came at a young age when he was introduced to artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams while spending time with his grandfather.
“I’ll give credit where credit is due, and I’ll give it to my granddad,” Miller previously shared during appearance on Connect with Country Now, airing on CTRL_MUSIC_, exclusively on Twitch. “He is a walking encyclopedia. He knows all that old stuff and loves that old style of music. That is just what I grew up with and it’s what I know, and he introduced me to it.”
The 18-year-old is often compared to his musical heroes and it’s something he doesn’t take lightly.
“I love all of the old guys and I love all of the new ones too. Getting compared to those is an incredible thing to be said about you and it’s really humbling,” he said. “I look up to all the old guys, though, and of course Luke Bryan and all the new guys too. I love the old stuff, and I love the new stuff.”
Days ahead of his show with Hank Jr., Miller shared a cover of “Family Tradition” on Facebook. The song was written and recorded by Hank Williams Jr. and went on to become one of his signature hits.
Click above to watch Alex Miller’s cover of “Family Tradition.”
The rising star is set to open for Josh Turner at the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday, August 19.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.