Opry’s 100th Anniversary Tribute is Perfect Time to Reinstate Hank

On January 10th, 2026, the Grand Ole Opry will be honoring the legacy of Hank Williams in a special show at the Opry’s original home, The Ryman Auditorium. The show is part of the Opry’s continued celebration of its 100th Anniversary, which was officially recognized back on November 28th. Though the Opry has produced many of these anniversary shows dedicated to certain eras or groups of performers over the past year, this is one of the few that is centered around one specific artist. Along with citing the unprecedented six encores Hank Williams received upon his Opry debut, the Opry says, “Join us as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Hank Williams, whose heartfelt songwriting and unmistakable voice helped define the sound of country music … Few artists have left a mark as deep or as lasting as Hank Williams—a true original whose music still moves hearts nearly a century later.”Scheduled to perform on the evening are the grandchildren of Hank, namely Hilary Williams, Holly Williams, and Sam Williams, with Opry member Terry Clark also slated to perform, and more artists to be announced. Hank Williams III who has not performed in public since 2014 is currently not scheduled to appear, though it remains uncertain if he would appear even if invited. Hank Williams III founded the The Reinstate Hank movement back in 2003 in an effort to get the Grand Ole Opry to recognize his grandfather who was kicked out for drunkenness and missing rehearsals in 1952. Though nobody holds it against the Opry for not putting up with Hank’s behavior at that time, the Opry promised that if Hank could clean up his act, they would welcome him back with open arms. But Hank Williams never got that opportunity. The country legend passed away in the back of his Cadillac on New Years Day, 1953. The Reinstate Hank online petition now has over 62,000 signatures on it, with even more signatures in the physical Reinstate Hank book that Hank3 would take around with him on tour. Holly Williams and Hilary Williams who are scheduled to perform during the Hank tribute on January 10th have also signed the petition. Hank Williams Jr. has been spotted wearing Reinstate Hank T-shirts, and has also voiced support for the movement. Kris Kristofferson, Charlie Louvin, and other top country artists have signed the petition as well. But heretofore, the Grand Ole Opry has refused to give ground on the issue. The Opry manager who was in charge when Hank Williams III first made the request to have Hank reinstated was Pete Fisher. He responded with, “We’ll never reinstate a dead guy.” In 2020 when current Grand Ole Opry manager Dan Rogers took charge, he said about the issue, “Had Hank Williams lived, there is little doubt in my mind that…I would hope he would have returned to the Opry and all would have been great and right in the world. Unfortunately, he didn’t.”When the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Hank Williams came around on September 17th, 2023, Saving Country Music published an open letter to the Grand Ole Opry and Dan Rogers pointing out that this centennial moment would be the perfect opportunity to finally resolve the Reinstate Hank issue, and ceremoniously Reinstate Hank in accordance with the family’s wishes, and in concert with the other events around the world marking Hank’s 100th birthday. That did not happen. Saving Country Music’s open letter stimulated much discussion about the matter many years after it had last been broached publicly. Many fans voiced their support, but others said, “The Opry’s right. Inducting a dead guy makes no sense.” But that entire argument was turned on its head less than a month after the Hank Williams 100th birthday. On October 14th, 2023 as part of a Keith Whitley tribute at the Grand Ole Opry House involving Garth Brooks, Keith Whitley’s widow Lorrie Morgan, and other members of Whitley’s family, they ceremoniously inducted Keith Whitley into the Grand Ole Opry, citing how he was set to be inducted before he passed away on May 9th, 1989 due to alcoholism—eerily similar circumstances to the Hank Williams Opry story. Keith Whitley was posthumously inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member, taking into consideration that his alcoholism get in the way of it happening in life—the same thing the Reinstate Hank movement, 60,000+ signatories, and Hank’s family have been saying for over 20 years now. It was during an Opry tribute to Hank Williams on the 50th Anniversary of his passing in 2003 at a special tribute show at the Ryman Auditorium that Hank Williams III first spoke out about Hank Williams not being a member, and how the symbolic gesture would mean “a dream come true for a lot of people.”

How fitting would it be if during this 100th Anniversary tribute to Hank Williams at the Mother Church of Country Music—where Hank Williams reportedly took those six encores—Hank’s family’s wishes would be finally granted just like they were for Keith Whitley, and Hank Williams was ceremoniously reinstated into the institution to meant so much to him, that his legacy means so much to, and that broke his heart by kicking him out and aided his downward spiral leading to his death on New Year’s Day, 1953. This is the moment during the Opry’s 100th Anniversary that Dan Rogers and the Opry could finally right this wrong, and use it as an opportunity to highlight how it’s a new day at the Opry, and how past grievances and previously-overlooked legends are finally getting their duo. Or, sit back and have to explain how Jelly Roll is a Grand Ole Opry member now, and Hank Williams isn’t. – – – – – – –

Charlie Louvin, Grand Ole Opry, Hank Williams, Hank Williams III, Hilary Williams, Holly Williams, Keith Whitley, Kris Kristofferson, Lorrie Morgan, Sam Williams

I’m guessing they’ll do it–reinstate Hank Williams–because the Opry will be able to turn it into an event–with a sold-out concert and video, streaming, etc.

But I’m hoping they don’t. To me, this “Reinstate Hank” is almost as silly as asking the Louvre to restore the arms to Venus de Milo or the town of Pisa to straighten out the Tower or the National Park Service to fix the crack in the Liberty Bell.

You’re right, there are financial and PR incentives to the Grand Ole Opry Reinstating Hank, and they only have these things to lose by not doing so. Look at all the headlines that came from Keith Whitley’s induction? But this also begs the question why it hasn’t happened yet. That’s what makes it feel personal against Hank.

“To me, this “Reinstate Hank” is almost as silly as asking the Louvre to restore the arms to Venus de Milo or the town of Pisa to straighten out the Tower or the National Park Service to fix the crack in the Liberty Bell.”

Though I appreciate this comparison on an intellectual level, we’re not talking about altering a physical artifact. Hank Williams will always have been fired from the Opry. And if the Opry does the right thing, he will have always been reinstated as part of the Opry’s 100th birthday. To me, that makes the story even more picture perfect.

I think the Opry shows some balls by having a night to celebrate Hank Williams, while ignoring his family’s request to have him re-instated to years now

One byproduct of this who impasse is the Opry has been discouraged from doing Hank tributes over the last 20 years due to the concern they will become drama funnels over the Reinstate Hank issue. They did end up doing a Hank segment on his 100th birthday, but didn’t really promote it publicly beforehand. This is far and away the biggest Hank tribute since 2003 when Hank Williams III first made a big deal about it.

Again, that’s all the more reason to put the issue in the past. Even if you don’t believe Reinstate Hank is a worthy cause, doing exactly what they did for Keith Whitley will be a promotional opportunity for the Opry, and put the issue to bed for good.

I’m torn on this. On the one hand it’s a travesty that Hank is not in the Opry given what a giant he is in country music. And the fact that they’re honoring him for his contributions to country music yet still won’t reinstate him is insulting.
But I do wish he was in simply because an organization dedicated to country music without Hank Williams simply makes no sense. It’s worse than the baseball hall of fame not including the all-time hits leader even with an asterisk or whatever for his violations. Honoring history includes the good and bad.
So while I’d love it if the Opry reinstated Hank because no one deserves membership more, I also think since they’ve gone this long keeping him out, they don’t deserve to be able to capitalize on his name with a celebration.

Source: savingcountrymusic.com