Full Name: Hiram King Williams. Profession: Singer · Songwriter · Musician. Nationality: American. Born: September 17, 1923. Birthplace: Mount Olive, Alabama, U.S. Generation: Greatest Generation. Chinese Zodiac: Pig. Zodiac Sign: Virgo. Current Age: Would be 102 (as of 2025). Marital Status: Married (Billie Jean Jones; married 1952–1953). Children: 2 (a son and a daughter). Status: Deceased. Died: January 1, 1953 (at age 29). Cause of Death: Heart failure exacerbated by alcoholism and prescription drug abuse. Hank Williams is considered a cornerstone of country music and one of the most influential American songwriters of the 20th century. Born with a mild, undiagnosed case of spina bifida occulta that caused him lifelong pain, he learned to play guitar from the Black street performer Rufus "Tee-Tot" Payne, whose blues influence profoundly shaped his sound. Williams rose to fame on the radio show Louisiana Hayride before joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1949, becoming its biggest star. His songwriting was known for its raw emotional honesty, poetic simplicity, and memorable melodies, capturing themes of heartbreak, loneliness, and celebration. He recorded numerous hits that have become standards, including "Your Cheatin' Heart," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Hey, Good Lookin'," and "Lovesick Blues." His career, however, was plagued by his chronic pain, a tumultuous personal life, and a severe dependency on alcohol and morphine, which made him unreliable and led to his dismissal from the Opry in 1952. He died under mysterious circumstances in the back of his Cadillac while being driven to a concert. Despite his short career, his legacy is immense, influencing countless artists across many genres.