Even decades after his passing, Hank Williams remains a towering figure in country music. His influence still runs deep, and in 1994, Alan Jackson paid tribute in a big way—by taking on one of Hank’s most iconic songs, “Lovesick Blues,” during the Roots of Country TV special.
Before launching into the performance, Jackson shared a special moment with the audience: two members of Hank’s original band, The Drifting Cowboys, were joining him on stage. With steel guitar legend Don Helms and master fiddler Jerry Rivers by his side, Jackson called it “an honor”—and you could feel how much it meant to him.
As soon as he began to sing, Jackson captured the spirit of Hank Williams with a flawless yodel and that signature twang that made the original so unforgettable. It was more than just a cover—it felt like a heartfelt nod to the roots of country music, with the presence of Williams almost hanging in the air.
The Story Behind “Lovesick Blues”
While Hank Williams made “Lovesick Blues” famous in 1949, the song actually has a much longer history. It was originally written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills and first appeared in the 1922 musical Oh, Ernest, recorded by artists like Elsie Clark and Jack Shea. Then came Emmett Miller, who gave it his own flair in the mid-1920s. By 1939, Rex Griffin had also added his voice to the mix.
Hank discovered the song through Miller and Griffin’s versions and decided to give it a shot himself. He first performed it in 1948 during his debut on the Louisiana Hayride radio show. The crowd loved it—but surprisingly, not everyone shared the enthusiasm. His band and even his producer, Fred Rose, were unsure about recording it.
Thankfully, Hank trusted his gut. When he recorded “Lovesick Blues” and released it through MGM Records in 1949, it became an instant hit and one of the most defining songs of his career.
Years later, when Alan Jackson stood on stage and sang that same song, it was more than just a performance—it was a celebration of country music’s roots and a moving tribute to one of its greatest legends.
