The truth about Hank Williams death may never be known. He checked into the North Louisiana Sanitarium at the fall of 1951, but was unable to quit drinking for good. The new biopic I Saw the Light, in theaters Friday, traces country legend Hank Williams struggles with alcohol, infidelity and the weight of being one of the biggest music stars in the United States, following hits such as his cover of Lovesick Blues (1949) and his own Why Dont You Love Me (1950). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A lonely and troubled man, Williams struggled with chronic pain and substance abuse issues that would hinder his success and ultimately lead to his untimely death at just 29-years-old. Hank Williams Death. Wynette died in the same room where Williams' widow Audrey Williams died in 1975 of alcoholism. But one big thing is left out of the movie: the singers mysterious death. People reported the autopsy findingson Monday afternoon (July 25), four months after Mary Jane's death at age 58. He responded to an ad from Kaiser Shipbuilding, a shipyard company in Portland, Oregon that promised a free one-way ticket, training, free rent, and a steady wage for anyone willing to work. All are shocked about the longtime wife of country music legend Hank Williams Jr., Mary Jane Thomas' cause of death that was released after she reportedly passed away on Tuesday (March 24, 2022) at the age of 61. On February 8, 1999, the Death Car returned to Montgomery with the opening of the Hank . Hank Jr.'s daughters Hilary and Holly Williams from his marriage to Becky White were both severely injured in an auto accident in 2006, with Hilary going into cardiac arrest . That'll just always be a big part of my story.". Williams decided to leave the music business altogether. Within 48 hours of Williams prediction, he had met his maker, but the circumstances surrounding how he died have given rise to one of music historys greatest debates. In addition to sharing the video, Sam made the same claims in a series of tweets. Hank Williams + Audrey Williams' Love Story. has been telling people he was the doorman at the Andrew Johnson, and he says Hank was conscious and joking when he left. Carr had insisted that Williams couldnt have been dead in Knoxville, because they had spoken briefly in the car after leaving town. Thomas was taken to Jupiter Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room. "They . She died from a collapsed lung, TMZ reported Monday. The wife and former model had traveled from Nashville to Jupiter, Florida to undergo liposuction and get previous breast implants removed, People reported. The couple married in 1990 and had two children: a daughter, Katherine Williams-Dunning, and son, Samuel Williams. "My dear Mama Mary Jane was a beautiful soul who forever affected everyone who knew her. Thomas, 58, died on March 22 of a collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery the day before, according to a report from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner as well as an autopsy report, which were obtained by PEOPLE. The hotel doctor gave Williams an injection of B12 and painkiller after he'd already been drinking. He was born in Georgiana, Al., in 1923 as Hiram King Williams, and he died of a heart attack in 1953. Hank Williams first auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry in 1946, but he did not make the cut. Whiskey Riff. Local lore also places Williams at a Knoxville hospital getting a second shot of morphine this in addition to the one administered by the hotel doctor that might have caused a drug overdose. It was something he apparently saw coming. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he recorded 55 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 12 that reached No. My father fell in love with the Daytona Beach beauty the minute he set eyes on her in the early '80s. The couple spent over 30 years . Williams, the son of country music legend Hank Williams, had been married with Thomas for 32 years at the time of her death. As the end of World War II neared, Hank Williams returned to performing, but he had fallen far from his days as a star with his own radio show. She wasdriving an SUV that was towing a boat when it crossed the median and rolled over. by Terry Teachout. Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died from a collapsed lung just one day after having liposuction surgery, officials said. In recent years, a Knoxvillian . But suspicions about this final journey arose immediately. 7/25/2022 2:31 PM PT. Unfortunately, his fast living also contributed to his downfall. July 26, 2022 3:44 PM. Williams picked up a drinking habit as an early teen that he would never be able to beat. Hank Williams was born in September 1923 in a small Alabama farming community about 70 miles south of Montgomery. ", 911 operator: "OK. Was it an expected death, sir? 2022-03-30. Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side," he shared. Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of Hank Williams Jr., died suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 58 following a "medical procedure." Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. is in mourning today after the sudden death of his wife Mary Jane Thomas "following a medical procedure" that was carried out in Florida. He had no intention of staying with Jett, as by this point he was already infatuated with Billie Jean Jones. Where Did Hank Williams Die. Thomas was "sitting up in bed, speaking normally" the next day when she "suddenly" became unresponsive. <p>Her cause of death was ruled accidental.</p> Her . "A family member verified Mary Jane died Tuesday in Jupiter, Florida, and we're told the early indication is that she died as a result of a medical procedure problem - probably a blood clot.". There is no allegation that any of the medical staff involved in the surgery committed any wrongdoing. He thinks Williams died --- the official cause was heart failure --- somewhere between Bristol, Tenn., and Oak Hill on the way to a New Year's Day 1953 show in Canton, Ohio. When the singers death was announced to the waiting crowd at the Palace Theatre in Canton, they sang Williams I Saw the Light in unison. I think he had a profound sadness in him, says Marc Abraham, writer and director of the new biopic. (Carr died in 2013 and, for much of his life, kept silent on his journey with Williams.). Hank Williams died on January 1, 1953, at the age of 29. Daly writes that she herself had been to the house earlier that day and had found Wynette asleep or at least totally unresponsive on the couch, with Richey sitting in a bathrobe, uncommunicative. ", Hank Williams Jr.'s youngest son, Sam, said he was under a conservatorship put in place by the family following the death of his sister Katherine in 2020. In Georgiana, Lillie landed a coveted job at a cannery, according toSing a Sad Song. She was a headstrong, recently divorced mother of a 2-year-old, six months his senior and also a musician. And, Carr claims that he spoke briefly with the singerin the car after they left the Knoxville hotel. All of these occasions, Daly writes, triggered prescriptions for major pain-killing drugs. Mary and Hank, 72, wed in 1990 after meeting in 1985 at one of his music concerts. Billy Dukes Published: July 25, 2022. The resulting operation marked the beginning of Williams' addiction to pain medication, per Sing a Sad Song. Upon his death, his royalties were to be split between his widow, Billie Jean Williams Berlin, and his son, Hank Williams Jr. Hank was supposed to perform in Charleston, West Virginia on New Year's . He claimed his famous father and half-sister,Holly, put him under a conservatorship in August 2020. (Ron Galella). Thomas, pictured with Williams in 1989, traveled from her home in Nashville, Tennessee, for liposuction and breast implant removal procedures. Thomas, who lived in Nashville, traveled to Jupiter, Fla., for the procedure. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Hank Jr is the son of Hank Williams - a revered country legend who had 12 Number 1 singles, including three posthumously. They went on to live the most powerful love story of travel and hunting and raising a family. Years later he had the car restored and displayed it in his Nashville museum. Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more! Marshall convinced Williams to make him his personal physician, for the price of $300 a week. According to station advertising head Irving Waugh, "It got to a point where he'd disappear for weeks at a time. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Katherine died in a vehicle collision in Tennessee in 2020 when she lost control of the SUV she was driving. In his free time, Williams began to perform on the sidewalk outside of Montgomery's radio station, WSFA. Williams would return to Georgiana the following year with more sophisticated interests. HANK Williams Jr's wife's cause of death has been revealed after her tragic passing at age 61. The death of Hank Williams, country music's first huge superstar, is still a bit of a mystery. Cras nunc lectus, tempor sit amet ex sed, malesuada malesuada justo. Hank Williams Jr.'s late wife, Mary Jane Thomas, died on March 22 due to a "collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery" performed the day before in Florida. All rights reserved. 1.4M monthly listeners. The specifics of Williams' demise are unknown. Days after Sam made the claims,TMZconfirmed through court records that Hank filed a petition for an emergency conservatorship in August 2020 for Sam. Most young musicians were leaving to fight in the war, and any remaining potential replacements refused to work with Williams on account of his drunkenness and general unreliability. Published on July 25, 2022 04:52 PM. Due to a misspelling on his birth certificate, his official name was recorded as "Hiriam," according toLovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williams. . They shared daughter Katherine, who died in a car crash in 2020, and son Samuel, a musician. Hank Jr.'s wife of more than 30 years, she was just 58 at the time of her death (other reports cited her age at 61). He underwent a spinal fusion operation at Vanderbilt University Hospital, according to the Guardian, but the difficult recovery only left Williams even more dependent on painkillers like morphine. In the summer of 1952, Hank Williams had a brief affair with a dancer named Bobbie Jett. There, Thomas became unresponsive while sitting upright in bed, according to the outlet. Hank's mother, Lillian Skipper Williams, played the . He was born in Georgiana, Al., in 1923 as Hiram King Williams, and he died of a heart attack in 1953. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A representative for Bafitis Plastic Surgery did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment. About six or seven hours later, on the morning of Jan. 1, 1953, Carr realized his passenger was dead and already beset with rigor mortis, the, Priscilla Presley Shares Emotional Post On Lisa Marie's Birthday, Jay Leno Appears On First Talk Show Since Burn & Motorcycle Accidents, Sam Elliott Reunites With Big Lebowski Co-Star Jeff Bridges At SAG Awards, Florida Man Faces Legal Consequences For Hammer Attack On Shark, Dukes Of Hazzard Car Driven By Cast Members Has Been Totaled, Tom Sizemores Manager Releases Upsetting Update On His Condition, Austin Butler Called A True Gentleman For Helping Winners Up Steps At SAG Awards, Actor Who Plays Jamie On Yellowstone Addresses Rumors Of Behind-The-Scenes Drama. His official cause of death was heart failure, though it is widely believed that he died due to a lethal mix of morphine and alcohol. Katherine Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country music singer Hank Williams Jr. and his third wife, Mary Jane, died in a car accident in . Legal Statement. Williams had already been drinking when he was given a shot of B12 and morphine by the hotel doctor. . The house formerly belonged to country music legend Hank Williams. His official cause of death was listed as heart failure, but there are many who say otherwise. The performance was so successful that the audience demanded six encores from Williams before the show could go on, according to History. In November 1942, he headed back to Alabama, working on and off for the rest of the war at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile. There is a framework of events that is largely agreed upon, starting with Williams being chauffeured to a planned New Years Eve show in Charleston, W.Va. ", 911 operator: "Well, we have been getting several calls and I'm not going to put this over the radio. There is a framework of events that is largely agreed upon, starting with Williams being chauffeured to a planned New Years Eve show in Charleston, W. Va. To have a kid [Carr] turn around, feel his pulse and realize [Williams] was dead, it felt anticlimactic., Besides, Neely adds, No matter which account you pick, there are going to be people who say, Thats not how it happened. , -Hank Williams to wife Billie Jean shortly before he died, Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Hiddleston, who plays Hank Williams, in I Saw the Light.. It was something he apparently saw coming. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Hank Williams Jr.'s youngest son, Sam, said he was under a conservatorship put in place by the family following the death of his sister Katherine in 2020. On July 1, 1990, the couple tied the knot in Missoula, Montana, per the . The autopsy listed seven other findings including mild brain swelling, mild coronary artery disease, and fatty metamorphosis of the liver, according to the outlet. Most accounts have Williams looking and sounding groggy, and hotel porters allegedly had to carry him to the car. Her spirit was gentle and giving. The cause of death for Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., has been revealed. Mary Jane was released from Bafitis Plastic Surgery at around 7pm on March 21 where she was reportedly "sitting up in bed, speaking normally.". Prior to confirmation of his sister's passing, Williams asked followers on Facebook . Hank Williams death remains somewhat of a mystery to this day. Hank Williams performing "Hey Good Lookin' "#HankWilliams #HeyGoodLookin #Vevo Born in 1949 to Williams Sr. and his first wife, Audrey Williams, Hank Jr. was raised by his mother after his father's death when he was 3-year-old. The autopsy determinedshe died of a collapsed lung sustained during the surgery. His official cause of death was listed as heart failure, but there are many who say otherwise. A member of the country music icon's family revealed to TMZ that Mary Jane died on Tuesday, March 22, in Jupiter, Florida.. She entered a legal battle to prove Williams was indeed her birth father. She moved the family first to Garland and then to Georgiana, Alabama, where she successfully ran a series of boarding houses. He was cold." Music was a big part of life in the lumber camps, and Williams received his first exposure to true Southern country music. I think I see God comin down the road.. Daughters Hillary and Holly are Hank Jr's other children with his ex-wife Becky White, who he was married to from 1977 to 1983. They were married from 1977-to 1983. has been telling people he was the doorman at the Andrew Johnson, and he says Hank was conscious and joking when he left. Carr had insisted that Williams couldnt have been dead in Knoxville, because they had spoken briefly in the car after leaving town. All rights reserved. This is Hank Williams, Audrey Sheppard Williams and the . Daly hints that Wynette would deliberately hurt herself in order to gain access to drugs and once hurled herself offstage during a concert to earn a trip to the emergency room. But as Jack Neely, executive director of the Knoxville History Project, explains, local folklore tells a different story. The 58-year-old died one day after she went under the knife for liposuction. Hank Williams became one of America's first country music superstars, with hits like "Your Cheatin' Heart," before his early death at 29. Daly says her mother told her she had been beaten by Richey and concocted the abduction/beating story to explain the bruises. We've received your submission. In his first statement since the death of his wife, Mary Jane, Hank Williams Jr. thanks fans and friends for their prayers. Mary Jane Thomas the wife of Hank Williams Jr. reportedly died after undergoing plastic surgery in Jupiter, Fla. An autopsy rules that her cause of . "Please pray for them so hard! Lemon, Marshall wrote Williams a series of fraudulent prescriptions for drugs including morphine, barbiturates, amphetamines, and chloral hydrate that no doubt contributed to his failing health. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Only George Jones, Daly says, truly loved Wynette, but she writes that his own addiction to alcohol doomed their marriage from the start. Under the name Dr. C.W. The singer, who suffered from a back problem, was given a sedative by his regular doctor who had allegedly purchased a fake medical diploma through the mail and was rumored to frequently overprescribe before setting off with a college student named Charles Carr acting as his driver. But their marriage was tumultuous, and provided much of the raw fodder for Williams' more lonesome melodies, most famously "Cold, Cold Heart." Grace Lenehan Vaughn Published: April 7, 2022. "She grew up competing in baton and cheerleading and was one of Hawaiian Tropic's top models. Due to his bad back, he received a 4-F deferment from the draft, but there was no hope for continuing the band, per Lovesick Blues. The "Family Tradition" singer married Thomas in 1990. To have a kid [Carr] turn around, feel his pulse and realize [Williams] was dead, it felt anticlimactic., Besides, Neely adds, No matter which account you pick, there are going to be people who say, Thats not how it happened. . Breaking News. Williams was born with a mild undiagnosed case of spina bifida occulta, a disorder of the spinal column, which gave him . Sign up to get unlimited songs and podcasts with occasional ads. He picked up music at an early age, gaining unprecedented success with his own radio show when he was still a teenager and achieving a Grand Ole Opry debut at just 25-years-old. 1 (three . Richey recently sold the luxurious Nashville mansion where they lived for $1.2 million. She died from a collapsed lung after surgery. In August 1952, Williams was fired from the Grand Ole Opry for his failure to show up to Opry-sponsored appearances, according to PBS. Wynette's primary physician, famed Pittsburgh liver-transplant specialist Dr. Wallis Marsh, flew to Nashville that night and declared Wynette's death due to a blood clot to the lungs, although no autopsy was performed. The famed country star's wife had suddenly become unresponsive and was "transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.". The only problem was that Williams, still school age, had to arrange performance dates around his school schedule. Mary Jane Thomas and Hank Williams Jr. attend his 2021 Medallion Ceremony, celebrating the Induction of the Class of 2020 at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. ', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She was ambitious, and Williams began to see real success after his marriage, signing a contract first with Acuff-Rose Music and then with MGM Records and releasing many of his most famous hits. They hit it off, and Williams asked Sheppard to marry him almost immediately. Death of Hank Williams. On Saturday, it was reported that Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died as a result of a car crash. Within 48 hours of Williams prediction, he had met his maker, but the circumstances surrounding how he died have given rise to one of music historys greatest debates. Send story tips to tracy.wright@fox.com. The daughters then filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the doctor and Wynette's widower, Richey. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All the while, Williams self-medicated with bouts of drinking binges. The autopsy lists the cause of death as "pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction with autologous fat reinjection procedure.". Thomas, 58, died on March 22 of a collapsed lung that . Sam seemed to be reeling from the death of his sister and the daughter of Hank Jr, first revealing the news of the accident himself on Facebook, writing: "My sister and brother in law have been in a terrible accident. Legal Statement. Mira Sorvino mourns father, 'Goodfellas' actor Paul Sorvino: 'My heart is rent asunder', paid tribute to his mom in a statement to People, Reba McEntire will hit the road this fall with Terri Clark: 'Gals gotta stick together! "I met Ms. Mary Jane Thomas on July 4th, 1984 in Daytona Beach, FL. The Death Car itself, a beautiful 1952 Cadillac, was put to practical use for years after Hank's death by the Williams family. Her death was ruled an accident. Update: While earlier there was only speculation that Mary Jane Thomas may have died of a complication from a medical procedure, a coroner has now revealed the real reason four months after her death. Answer (1 of 6): Randall Hank Williams (AKA Hank Williams, Jr) is alive and well. But, it's the 'still climbing' part that is the most important. Their daughter sadly died in a car accident in 2020. The story follows Williams country music career and the struggles thatthat went along with being a star including his battle with alcohol and infidelity.