A ‘Family Tradition’ – Sam Williams Set To Open For Father, Hank Williams Jr., In Arena Debut

Sam Williams is on the brink of a monumental career milestone as he prepares to take the stage for his first-ever arena opening set. What makes this moment even more special is that he’ll be opening for none other than his father, country music icon, Hank Williams Jr. 

Country music is surely a “Family Tradition” for the Williams family – whose patriarch is none other than Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Williams. The musical bug was passed along to his son, living legend Hank Williams Jr., and now to rising star Sam Williams. 

When Will Sam Williams Open For Hank Williams Jr.?

Sam will open up for his father on Friday, April 5 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama. The concert will also feature Whiskey Myers.

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The singer/songwriter took to social media to share his excitement over this opportunity 

“Family Tradition loading…they said, ‘this is the boy we’ve been telling you about!’ Guess who’s opening for the Icon next month,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, which features several photos of himself and Hank Jr. 

A Bucket List Moment

“This one’s personal. 🥲 A Williams Family affair. First arena opening bill,” he added. 

His post was flooded with comments from excited fans. 

“This makes me so happy ❤️,” one user wrote, while another added, “So glad you get to do this with your precious dad! Would love to be there! We love you Sam! Always have!”

How Many Kids Does Hank Williams Jr. Have?

Sam Williams is one of Hank Williams Jr.’s five children. The “A Country Boy Can Survive” singer is also father to Hilary Williams, Hank Williams III, and the late Katherine Diane Williams, who tragically passed away after a car crash in June of 2020.   

Growing up in a musical family, Sam initially avoided pursuing music. 

“To be honest, I shied away from making music for a long time,” he once explained. “It was never pushed on me, which made it easier, but as a kid, more than anything, I just wanted to be normal, so I was really hesitant to go down that road.”

When Did Sam Williams Move To Nashville?

He initially moved to Nashville to study business in college, but at 19, he decided to change career paths and ultimately turned to music and began writing songs with lauded songwriters such as Lori McKenna and Jim Lauderdale.  

“I discovered that writing songs with other people really brought out something new in me,” he explained. “It wasn’t always easy, but there’s just something so powerful about laying all your cards on the table with somebody else and turning that into art.”

Sam Williams released his debut LP, Glasshouse Children, in 2021. He recently honored his grandfather’s legacy by releasing a recording of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and performed at Hank’s 100th: A Concert In Celebration of Hank Williams, at the Country Music Hall of Fame. and most recently, Sam Williams released “I Hate The Holidays.” The soulful melody serves as a poignant reflection on the challenging emotions often stirred during the holidays, particularly as one ages.   

Collaboration With Carter Faith

Most recently, he teamed up with Carter Faith to record a cover of “’Til I Can Make It On My Own,” a classic country track that was first made famous by late musical icon Tammy Wynette. 

The artists appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry to perform the song upon its release. They also joined forces to release a 70s-inspired music video to accompany the track.