Tracy Wright is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. The book recounts Wynette's tumultuous life, career and five marriages, including a stormy six-year union with country legend George Jones. 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 . She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Williams, the son of country music legend Hank Williams, had been married with Thomas for 32 years at the time of her death. 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. Katherine Williams-Dunning, daughter of country singer Hank Williams Jr He married Gwen Yeargain from 1971-77, and the former couple had one son, musician Hank Williams III. Following Williams' death, both Sheppard and Jones battled over his estate, each vying over the title of Hank Williams' widow. (AP Photo/FILE). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was as thoughtful and (at times) fiery as you'd expect. Katherine Williams-Dunning, daughter of country music icon Hank Williams, Jr., died Saturday night after losing control of her SUV. Hank Williams performing "Hey Good Lookin' "#HankWilliams #HeyGoodLookin #Vevo His parents meant to christen him Hiram Williams, after Hiram of Tyre, the Biblical king, but he didn't end up becoming Hiram either. Wynette's daughters obtained a court order last year to have Wynette's body exhumed for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. People reported the autopsy findingson Monday afternoon (July 25), four months after Mary Jane's death at age 58. When new wife Billie Jean asked what was the matter, she claimed his reply was, I think I see God comin down the road.. It was never properly treated, and would cause him lifelong back pain. Hank Williams, the country legend and Hillbilly Shakespeare, didn't have the opportunity to live in the world long. Williams was living his dream, but it would only last three years. This story has been shared 119,909 times. While on his . Thomas, 58, died on March 22 of a collapsed lung that . Tom [Hiddleston, the actor portraying Williams] puts across that impending sense of doom. At these parties, adults would hide booze outside, but the boys would easily find the stash, and take nips until they got "dunk as hoot owls on it," recalled McNeil. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! At the time, Carrs nervous account of the final few hours of the journey were enough to raise questions of foul play, especially when some witnesses including a police officer claimed to have, oddly, seen a soldier also riding in the car. Ultimately, that would never happen. Daly charges that Wynette, at the time of her death, had developed a dependence on painkillers, which she injected with syringes. Hank Williams Death Car, Montgomery, Alabama Hank Williams: The Man Who Changed Country Music No cause of death was provided at the time. In his first statement since the death of his wife, Mary Jane, Hank Williams Jr. thanks fans and friends for their prayers. Other findings from the medical examiner include thatThomas a former model who stayed out of the spotlight while married to the singer had mild brain swelling, mild coronary disease and some fatty metamorphosis of the liver that one would associate with alcoholism. The cause of death was listed as accidental. Multiple news outlets confirmed that Thomas, 58 (others stated she was 61), was rushed to a local hospital from the . HANK Williams Jr's wife's cause of death has been revealed after her tragic passing at age 61. But one big thing is left out of the movie: the singers mysterious death. 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. "I met Ms. Mary Jane Thomas on July 4th, 1984 in Daytona Beach, FL. He was also invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry's first European tour, performing at military bases overseas at the end of 1949. When he was sober, Williams was a great performer, but as Williams' drinking problem worsened, Opry executives began to lose patience. I think he had a profound sadness in him, says Marc Abraham, writer and director of I Saw The Light. Well, I need protection from them.. The couple married in 1990 and had two children: a daughter, Katherine Williams-Dunning, and son, Samuel Williams. This was the scene in Montgomery's Municipal Auditorium Jan. 4, 1953 as thousands filed past the open casket of singer-composer Hank Williams who died Jan. 1 . According to station advertising head Irving Waugh, "It got to a point where he'd disappear for weeks at a time. She became an accomplished musician in her own right, performing under the name Jett Williams. The exact cause of death will never be known and what played out over Williams' final 48 hours is . She was private, compared to her country star husband, and although they separated in 2007, they reconciled in 2011. Williams had already been drinking when he was given a shot of B12 and morphine by the hotel doctor. A member of the country music icon's family revealed to TMZ that Mary Jane died on Tuesday, March 22, in Jupiter, Florida.. 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. She died from a collapsed lung after surgery. Published: Dec. 31, 2020, 6:00 a.m. In the summer of 1952, Hank Williams had a brief affair with a dancer named Bobbie Jett. This story has been shared 101,613 times. I Saw The Light, the Hank Williams biopic, will be playing in theaters around the country on Friday (March 25). But as Jack Neely, executive director of the Knoxville History Project, explains, local folklore tells a different story. "I'm certainly not an . The next day, Williams was still unwell, curling up in the backseat and saying all he wanted was to sleep. 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. Mary Jane Thomas the wife of Hank Williams Jr. reportedlydied after undergoing plastic surgery in Jupiter, Fla. An autopsy rules that her cause of death was accidental, and she died due to a collapsed lung that was punctured the day before. Her mother told her, Daly writes, that she pretended to have been kidnapped from the Green Hills Mall and forced to drive out of town, and then claimed to have been beaten and dumped by the side of the road. Williams' mother, Bobbie Jett, was six months pregnant with her when Hank Williams married his second wife, Billie Jean Eshliman. ", 911 operator: "OK. Was it an expected death, sir? Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side," he shared. The performance was so successful that the audience demanded six encores from Williams before the show could go on, according to History. Today you can still visit the spot where Hank's legendary journey ended. Hillbilly Elegist. 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. According to the Guardian, her identity was undisclosed for years. Cras nunc lectus, tempor sit amet ex sed, malesuada malesuada justo. Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more! According to the New York Post, the singer, who suffered from back problems, was given a sedative before departing to a scheduled New Years Eve show in Charleston, West Virginia. In Georgiana, Lillie landed a coveted job at a cannery, according toSing a Sad Song. Officials listed his cause of death as heart failure but noted that body contusions meant he had recently been in a fight. An autopsy report said the cause of death was accidental. She wasdriving an SUV that was towing a boat when it crossed the median and rolled over. Hank Williams became one of America's first country music superstars, with hits like "Your Cheatin' Heart," before his early death at 29. How did country music star Hank Williams really die? - New York Post But one big thing is left out of the movie: the singers mysterious death. Although he attempted at various points in his life to get sober, it never lasted long. He was born in Georgiana, Al., in 1923 as Hiram King Williams, and he died of a heart attack in 1953. Initial reports suggest that Mary Jane may have passed away due to complications from . "Please pray for them so hard! "My dear Mama Mary Jane was a beautiful soul who forever affected everyone who knew her. The cause of death for Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., has been revealed. The late Mary and Hank Jr. welcomed two children; Katie and Sam - daughters Hillary and Holly are Hank Jr.'s other children with his ex-wife Becky White. The only problem was that Williams, still school age, had to arrange performance dates around his school schedule. He claimed his famous father and half-sister,Holly, put him under a conservatorship in August 2020. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of the week, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls. She moved the family first to Garland and then to Georgiana, Alabama, where she successfully ran a series of boarding houses. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Richey recently sold the luxurious Nashville mansion where they lived for $1.2 million. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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The singer's wife was released from the hospital March 21 and was transported to a resort for recovery. Mary Jane was Williams' third wife. Daly quotes the call from the house that finally went to 911 at 8:59 p.m. that evening: Caller: "Yes We've had a death at 4916 Franklin Road. 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. . All the while, Williams self-medicated with bouts of drinking binges. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thomas was released from the facility at 7 p.m. on March 21 and was "sitting up in bed, speaking normally" the next day, the reports said, only to "suddenly" become unresponsive. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ', Contributing:Jessica Bliss, The Tennessean. Thomas, who lived in Nashville, traveled to Jupiter, Fla., for the procedure. Hank Williams' last ride: Driver recalls lonesome end - ajc 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). By the time Carr arrived at Oak Hill Hospital, Hank Williams had passed away. Despite persistent health problems, Hank Williams decided he wanted to go ahead with the performances he had scheduled on New Year's Eve of 1952 and New Year's Day. She could take down a ten-point buck and fix dinner for her grandchildren at the same time! NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 21: Mary Jane Thomas and 2020 inductee Hank Williams Jr. seen during the 2021 Medallion Ceremony, celebrating the Induction of the Class of 2020 at Country Music . The family spent the early years of Hank's life moving around southern Alabama, following the work. Hank felt there was something bad around the corner.. DeadDeath - Death and Obituary Blog . The former model, who was married to American singer-songwriter and musician Hank Williams Jr., passed away on March 22, 2022 aged 58. Thomas, pictured with Williams in 1989, traveled from her home in Nashville, Tennessee, for liposuction and breast implant removal procedures. Driver recalls Hank Williams' last ride - Chron 1.4M monthly listeners. NASHVILLE Country superstar Tammy Wynette, who died at home under tangled circumstances on April 6, 1998, had become hopelessly addicted to powerful painkillers, primarily Demerol, Dilaudid and Versed, according to a controversial new book by one of Wynette's daughters. Most accounts have Williams looking and sounding groggy, and hotel porters allegedly had to carry him to the car. Hank Williams - Hey Good Lookin' (Official Video) - YouTube Just before midnight, Carr set about getting Williams to a planned New Years Day show in Canton, Ohio. But suspicions about this final journey arose immediately. "I'm certainly not an . "She grew up competing in baton and cheerleading and was one of Hawaiian Tropic's top models. By 1942, all the members of the band were drafted except for Hank Williams. His mother became the band manager, booking gigs in dance halls and honky-tonks, and collecting admission money. The official language on the autopsy (per People) is "pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction with autologous fat reinjection procedure." Based on no more than this temporal link, anti-vaccine . The possibility was even suggested in the initial police report. I actually wrote 13 pages for that scene but took them out because they felt superfluous, explains Abraham. The former models cause of death was listed in the official autopsy as "pneumothorax due to perforated parietal pleura during liposuction with autologous fat reinjection procedure," according to medical reports obtained by Fox News Digital. For that reason, the new biopic I Saw The Lightopted to avoid the subject of Williams death. He might have been scrawny and somewhat sickly, but Hank"had a lot of nerve," according to his cousin Taft Skipper inSing a Sad Song: The Life of Hank Williams. With his WSFA wages, he linked up with another young musician, Smith Adair, and formed a band called the Drifting Cowboys, per Sing a Sad Song. Her spirit was gentle and giving. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mary Jane Thomas and Hank Williams Jr. in 2021. 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! . NOVEMBER 21: Mary Jane Thomas and 2020 inductee Hank Williams Jr. seen during the 2021 Medallion Ceremony, celebrating the Induction . 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 Tragic Real-Life Story Of Hank Williams - Grunge.com Hank Williams Jr's Wife Cause Of Death Revealed, Related To Cosmetic Years later he had the car restored and displayed it in his Nashville museum. "I think he had a profound sadness in him," says Marc Abraham, writer . Mary Jane Thomas' cause of death has reportedly been confirmed. The concert was canceled and Carr and Williams instead stopped at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee. During her life, Wynette underwent more than three dozen major surgeries, primarily due to abdominal adhesions. Katherine died in a vehicle collision in Tennessee in 2020 when she lost control of the SUV she was driving. It was 60 years ago today that the legendary Hank Williams passed away in the back seat of his powder blue Cadillac in Oak Hill, West Virginia en route to a performance in Charleston, W. Va. Hank died of heart failure thought to be brought on by the combination of alcohol, pills, and morphine administered for an ailing back, but the death continues to be shrouded in some mystery to this day. Hank Williams Jr's wife Mary Jane Cause of death | SmileTimes Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Mary Jane Thomas Dies | News | CMT Send story tips to tracy.wright@fox.com. by Terry Teachout. Thomas was rushed to a local hospital and died in the emergency room, the report said. The truth about Hank Williams death may never be known. All of these occasions, Daly writes, triggered prescriptions for major pain-killing drugs. Williams. Audrey Mae Sheppard was born in Banks, Alabama in 1923. The Drifting Cowboys were a popular act, but by the age of 16, Williams was already struggling to control his drinking. Mary Jane's cause of death. The Darkness of Hank Williams - Commentary Magazine Hank Williams Jr. Speaks Out After the Untimely Death of His Wife 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. Hank's mother, Lillie, and father, Lon, had briefly settled in a rural area of Alabama called Mount Olive, to start their family. Singer Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Dead at 58: Cause of Death Suspicious Alysse Gafkjen. Unable to fly, and now unable to make it to Charleston on time, Williams hired a driver named Charles Carr to drive him to Canton, Ohio for the New Year's Day show. Hank Williams Jr.'s Wife Mary Jane Thomas' Cause of Death Confirmed . Deep Purple guitarist refused to promote album, label clai Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Harry and Meghan hold the upper hand on King Charles coronation: Source, Hated Tom Sandoval addresses Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. The WSFA radio station was also fed up with his behavior, and in August 1942, Williams was let go from his job at the WSFA for "habitual drunkenness," according to I Saw the Light. 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. Mary Jane's cause of death was announced on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Reps for Hank and Sam did not respond immediately to the Suns request for comment. The $50 million lawsuit, filed by the singer's daughters on April 5, 1999, alleges that the doctor maintained Wynette "on a regimen of narcotic and other addictive prescription medicine.". Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died from a collapsed lung just a day after she had liposuction, officials said. However, when Hank was only six, Lon suffered facial paralysis as a result of what was most likely a brain aneurysm. She died at home, on a living-room couch, with her fifth husband, country music producer and songwriter George Richey, present. The specifics of Williams' demise are unknown. In 1951, Williams suffered another accident, this time while hunting. I think he had a profound sadness in him, says Marc Abraham, writer and director of, Williams had already been drinking when he was given a shot of B12 and morphine by the hotel doctor. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Williams was still set on marrying Jones, so he and Jett devised an arrangement. Hank Jr has forged his own path in the country world and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last November. How did Hank Williams really die? | Fox News 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. In light of the sad news, her brother and county music star, Williams, is now expressing his pain over the loss of his sister. Country music:Reba McEntire will hit the road this fall with Terri Clark: 'Gals gotta stick together! HANK Williams Jr's wife's cause of death has been revealed after her tragic passing at age 61. Hank Williams Jr. and wife Mary Jane Thomas in 1989. 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. 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. Katherine Williams-Dunning was 27. Whiskey Riff. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mary Jane Thomas's cause of death revealed: Hank Williams Jr's - MEAWW Sign up to get unlimited songs and podcasts with occasional ads. Wife of Hank Williams Jr.Mary Jane ThomasDies Unexpectedly Unfortunately, his fast living also contributed to his downfall. The couple spent over 30 years . Some have suggested that Williams may have even died at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, and that Carr had unknowinglydriven several hundred miles with a deceased Williams in the back seat. Music was a big part of life in the lumber camps, and Williams received his first exposure to true Southern country music.