Hank Williams Jr.'s Kids: All About Hank Williams III, Holly, Hilary, Samuel and Katherine

Mar. 15, 2025

Left: Holly Williams and Hank Williams Jr. during 2006 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Right: Hank Williams Jr. and Samuel Williams backstage during the 14th Annual Academy Of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 25, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Terry Wyatt/Getty

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Terry Wyatt/Getty

Hank Williams Jr.’s children — Hank Williams III, Hilary,Holly,Katherineand Samuel — are carrying on their family’s country music legacy.

Despite growing up with a celebrity for a father, Hank’s kids have said that they had a fairly normal childhood.

“My dad did not want to talk about music when he was off the road. He would always say, ‘I’m not Bocephus. I’m daddy,' " Holly toldWATE 6, referencing her father’s nickname. “He wanted to hunt and fish and cook, but he didn’t want to talk about music.”

Hank Williams Jr. with his daughter Holly and son Hank Williams III.Holly Williams/Instagram

Holly Williams/Instagram

In 2020, tragedy struck the Williams family when Katherinedied in a car accidentat age 27. While promoting his debut album,Glasshouse Children, Samuel told PEOPLE he was going “to keep going” in his late sister’s honor.

“That would be really important to her, so that’s really important to me, too,” he shared.

Here’s everything to know about Hank Williams Jr.’s children: Hank Williams III, Hilary, Holly, Katherine and Samuel.

Hank Williams III, 52

Hank Williams III of Hank III performs on stage during Azkena Rock Festival at Recinto Mendizabala on June 16, 2012.Jordi Vidal/Redferns via Getty

Jordi Vidal/Redferns via Getty

Hank and Gwen welcomed their son, Hank Williams III, on Dec. 12, 1972.

Speaking withGlidein 2012, Hank III noted he had “a really normal childhood.” He grew up in Nashville with his mother, but they moved to Atlanta when she remarried.

“I went to public schools, I played sports … it was a pretty average childhood,” he explained. “Most people think I was spending a lot of my time with Hank Jr. on the road and stuff like that, but I would only see him about a week or two out of the year. So I wasn’t really raised around it.”

In an interview withNoise11, Hank III referred to his family’s legacy as both “a blessing and a curse.”

“If you’re involved with somebody that has a famous father or famous grandfather, there’s expectations people have of you and in the end you’re being yourself,” he said. “You gotta satisfy yourself and some of those people get let down.”

Hilary Williams, 46

Hank Williams Jr. with his daughter Hilary Williams.Hilary Williams/Instagram

Hilary Williams/Instagram

Hank and Becky welcomed their daughter Hilary Williams on Feb. 26, 1979.

While appearing onThe Big Planpodcast in 2024, Hilary shared that, growing up, she and her siblings weren’t aware of their father’s fame. “I had no idea he was this massive country singer,” she recalled. “I was just like, well, these are dad’s friends, you know? I didn’t know they were icons.”

“They said I shouldn’t have lived over 20 minutes because I lost six pints of blood,” Hilary told PEOPLE in 2018. She channeled that experience into her debut album,My Lucky Scars. The alternative country-rock record gets its name from “the scars on my body,” she said. “I am very lucky and grateful to be alive.”

While the artist took time off to heal and recover (she had to learn how to walk again), she noted music has always been deep in her bones.

“Because of my dad and grandfather, ever since I can remember I have always been very into music,” she shared. “My dad used to play the guitar and banjo around the house, which piqued my interest of music and as soon as I could talk … I realized pretty early on that music was for me and what I wanted to do with my life.”

Hilarymade her Grand Ole Opry debutin June 2018 and spoke about the “very surreal moment” in an interview withParade.

“Walking into the circle was something I have dreamed of since I was a little girl and started to sing,' she said. “I’ve seen videos of my grandpa on that stage and have been in the audience watching my dad and my sister, I couldn’t wait for my moment as well. I will never forget the audience that night.”

Holly Williams, 44

Hank Williams Jr. with his daughters Holly and Hilary.Hilary Williams/Instagram

Hank and Becky welcomed their second child, daughter Holly Audrey Williams, on March 12, 1981. Her middle name was inspired after Hanks’ mother, Audrey Mae Williams.

Despite having a famous musician for a dad, Holly toldThe Bootshe had “a pretty normal childhood.” Still, she knew from an early age she was destined to be a singer-songwriter just like her father and grandfather.

In her early 20s, Holly released her debut album,The Ones We Never Knew,and subsequent albumsHere with MeandThe Highwayin 2009 and 2013, respectively. She’s collaborated with major artists, includingDierks Bentley, Jewel andKeith Urbanand made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2013.

However, a life-changing car incident in 2006 led Holly to switch career paths. She launched a women’s clothing boutique in Nashville called H. Audrey — a fusion of her and her grandmother’s first names. In 2013, she restored an old gas station and opened White Mercantile, named after her maternal grandparents, Warren and June White, according toher website. The upscale general store sells clothing, books, home products and more.

“Coming from a family of so many creative talents is a reminder for me to always stay true to my artistic vision — whether that comes in the form of a new album, a retail venture, an old house renovation, or a fresh take on really good roasted chicken,” she wrote on her website.

In honor of Hank’s 74th birthday, Hollypenned a heartfelt tributeon Instagram, reminiscing on their good and hard times together and the many lessons he’s taught her along the way.

“He keeps himself healthy with constant nature-loves hunting & fishing more than anyone I’ve ever seen, and taught us, and now his grandchildren, such respect for these practices and the animals involved,” she captioned a carousel of family photos.

She continued, “He was the star of the show at grandparent’s day, and loves every t ball game he can get to! We walked the darkest days of our lives together, when my sister died in a car crash 3 years ago. I’ve seen him at the very bottom, at the very top, and he remains the strongest man in the world, to me.”

Holly and drummer Chris Coleman tied the knot in September 2009. They share four children: daughtersStella June,Lillie Maeand Georgia Grace, and sonArlo Gale.

Katherine Williams-Dunning

Hank Williams Jr. and his daughter Katherine Williams-Dunning.Katherine Williams-Dunning/Instagram

Hank and Mary welcomed their daughter Katherine Williams-Dunning on Oct. 21, 1992. She died in a car crash at age 27 on June 13, 2020.

Hilary commemorated her sister’s memory on her Instagram Stories, writing, “My beautiful little sister Katie. I’ll always love and miss you. 💔 I’ll see you again one day beyond the blue.”

Samuel Williams, 28

Samuel Williams and 2020 inductee Hank Williams Jr. attend the 2021 Medallion Ceremony, celebrating the Induction of the Class of 2020 at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 21, 2021.Jason Kempin/Getty

Jason Kempin/Getty

Hank and Mary welcomed their son Samuel Williams in 1997.

In a 2019 interview withCowboys & Indians, Samuel said he was “very academic as a kid, but I kind of stayed away from music for a very long time.” He briefly attended Belmont University but decided to walk away from school to focus on his budding music career.

As he’s come into his own as a musician, Samuel said he’s learned a lot from studying his dad’s impressive career.

“He tried to be his dad and make his dad’s music and just sing his songs for a long time and he did good at it, but there came a time and place where he had to do what he was put here to do, and that was change the entire genre of country music. That was to take country music from Nashville and take it worldwide,” he toldCowboys & Indians. “He’s an icon internationally and that’s something I’ve learned from him, just to be myself because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

In 2022, Samuel came out as gay in a music video for his single, “Tilted Crown.”

“I felt like I was promoting invisibility, like I wasn’t being visible and wasn’t being myself. I just thought it was the perfect opportunity to just show who I was,” he said during an appearance on Apple Music’sProud Radio with Hunter Kelly.

He continued, “I identify as gay, and I’ve never said that to anybody else. I mean, people at my label know and people in my personal life know, but this is the first time that I’ve ever been, besides a show or two, that I’ve ever been this public about it.”

These days, Samuel is busy releasing his studio albumScarlet Lonesomeand taking care of his son, Tenny, whom he often shares about on hisInstagram.

source: people.com