It’s still one of the biggest mysteries in country music.
It’s been more than 60 years. It’s inspired songs, books, movies, and museum exhibits. And we still don’t know exactly what happened on this date in 1953 when Hank Williams’ last ride ended.
Let’s start with what we do know.
By the time Hank Williams got into the back seat of his blue Cadillac on December 30, 1952 en route to shows in Charleston, WV and Canton, OH, his life was far from what you’d expect for the one of biggest stars in country music.
Hank was divorced from his first wife, Audrey (the mother of Hank Williams, Jr) and he had remarried just a few months earlier. He had been kicked off of the Grand Ole Opry and had been relegated to performing on the Louisiana Hayride, where he had begun his career. He was receiving morphine shots for his constant back pain and taking dangerous sedatives to help him sleep.