Hank’s Children: A Conversation With Jett Williams

One of the legacies not explored in Hank Williams - Still Cookin’ is the fact that Hank sired two children. In 1949, Audrey Williams gave birth to Hank Jr., who was groomed to take his father’s place, following Hank Sr.’s death three years later. But, rather than ascend to the throne of mainstream country stardom, Hank Jr. made a very different career for himself, associating with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and other rebels from the Nashville scene. He may be best known as the singer of the theme song for ABC’s Monday Night Football.

Hank Sr.’s daughter was born in January 1953, as the result of a liaison between Hank and Bobbie Jett. The birth took place two days after Hank was buried and, per a written agreement, the child was adopted by Hank’s mother, Lillie, who named her Cathy. Lillie died two years later and Cathy was again put up for adoption, not knowing who her famous father was. Two decades later, the truth of her parentage came out and she won a legal battle for a share of the Hank Williams, Sr. Estate.

In honor of her parents, Cathy combined their last names and re-christened herself Jett Williams. Today, she tours the country as a musician, paying tribute to the father she never knew. Jett was in Cleveland as part of the 2002 American Music Masters concert held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Before the show, she spoke to ideastream’s David C. Barnett about the experience of finding her father. Her memories of a singer named Hank Williams go back to her childhood in Mobile, Alabama.

Jett Williams: Growing up, I remember, we have the beach down there, in the summer I’d go down with my adopted parents and they’d get draft beer and whatever. Well, I’d collect the nickels for the jukebox and I got to pick, and every other song was “Hey Good Looking.” Those were songs that I cut my teeth on.

Recall the twin discoveries of, first of all, finding you had a father, and then, finding out that father was Hank Williams.

Jett Williams: It’s one thing to find out that Hank Williams is your father. It’s another thing to find out that your Daddy wanted you. Three months before my dad died, he signed all the legal papers - custody papers - taking me. So, to me, that’s the most important: to know that he loved his unborn child and that he wanted me. That he didn’t sign me away. He signed me to him.

Can you give us a thumbnail sketch of the legal battles you went through?

Jett Williams: There were two legal battles. There was a legal battle that was fought in the state of Alabama over the estate of Hank Williams. And then, there was the copyright lawsuit, which was held in the federal courts in NY. So, a lot of people think it was just Hank Jr. and myself suing each other - which is not true - because in the federal case there were nine other defendants, because you have to include the publishers and all the business people and then in Alabama, I was originally sued by Acuff-Rose and Hank Jr.

What bothered me the most was that first it started out that I was “the alleged.” For awhile I thought my middle name was “alleged.” It’s one thing to live a life and when you say something, people believe you, then all the sudden, when you take a public stance, then all of the sudden, you might not be telling the truth. But, the point came where the courts ruled I was really the daughter, and then it came down to, well, it doesn’t matter whether you are. You’re not entitled to anything.

Do you have any relationship with Hank, Jr. at this point?

Jett Williams: We’ve met, we’ve talked, we’ve made a public appearance together. We do business together, because we co-own the estate together. But, as far as having a personal relationship, at this time: no. We go along to get along. But, the thing about it is, you can’t go through what we went through all of our lives, and then all the sudden have this relationship. I told Junior that, when we were both minors, had these people acted properly, he and I would not have to had to go through what we went through to straighten out a mess we didn’t create.

What’s your favorite Hank Williams song?

Jett Williams: “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” When I sing that song or I hear it, I think about my dad. Because, in the song, it’s about missing someone. It doesn’t have a sexual overtone, like you’re singing to a husband or wife or lover, or whatever. It can be anybody you want. And because I never did get to meet him, there’s just a part of my heart that has that hurt.

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