NASHVILLE, TN - The Grand Ole Opry will, on Friday, January 3rd, kick off a weekend of honoring Hank Williams on the 50th anniversary of his untimely death. Hank's daughter Jett Williams will perform during the Friday (3rd) 9:30pm ET show and Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams III will perform together for the first time ever on Saturday (4th) between 8:00 – 9:00pm ET on “Grand Ole Opry Live” on CMT.

Hank Williams, who died at age 29 on New Year's Day 1953, has long been considered country music's greatest singer and songwriter, tallying up 11 #1 singles, 16 Top 5's and 9 Top 10's in his short but legendary career. Williams made his Opry debut on June 11, 1949 at the young age of 26 and was so well received he was brought back to perform six encores. Some of Williams' most famous songs are “Move It On Over,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Lovesick Blues” and “Your Cheatin' Heart.”

"It was a year ago that I made my first performance on the Grand Ole Opry in over 17 years. And boy, it was a sad night as I honored my brother Waylon Jennings. This time I will be honoring my father and who better to be performing with but my own son, Shelton (Hank III)," says Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Willams Jr., like America, has and will survive. With 2003, comes the resurgence of the man and his music, and never has there been a time Hank Jr. and his national anthem of 'country boys can survive' seemed more relevant to world headlines and musical tastes. A renewed Americanism and a pride in self sufficiency as a national art form can only spell out his name in bold relief - be it carved in a tree in rural Alabama or spray painted on a dilapidated ghetto sidewall in Brooklyn.

Hank Williams III, has a unique ability for digging into the family history. His take on traditional country music is authentic and gritty yet, it also comes replete with musical strains reminiscent of Hank Sr., right down to the signature yodeling that Senior made famous. Since his debut album in 1999, Hank III has received critical acclaim for his contemporary maverick talent from such publications as Rolling Stone, The Washington Post and GQ magazine.

Jett Williams, for several years, struggled to validate her birth as the daughter of Hank Williams who died just five days before Jett was born. Hank's little girl fought a legal system determined to prevent her rightful entitlement. Raised a ward of the state of Alabama rather than the acknowledged daughter of one of the greatest names in the music industry, Jett endured eight years of courtroom battles to win back the right to claim her blood lineage. Today, Jett tours to keep the 'legend alive' and makes appearances in support of the Hank Williams estate.