Hank Williams Jr. Pays Tribute to Waylon Jennings at Rare Opry Appearance

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Twenty-four years ago, on February 16, 2002, Hank Williams Jr. made a rare appearance at the Grand Ole Opry to pay tribute to the late outlaw country legend Waylon Jennings. Williams, who had not performed at the Opry since 1980, joined other country music stars like Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt for a special guitar pull honoring Jennings just days after his passing.

Why it matters

Hank Williams Jr. is known for his reluctance to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, having never become an official member despite his legendary status in country music. His appearance in 2002 to honor Waylon Jennings, a major influence on his own music, was a rare and significant moment that highlighted the close-knit community of country artists and their reverence for the genre's most hallowed stage.

The details

For the February 16, 2002 Opry show, Porter Wagoner hosted the tribute to Waylon Jennings, who had passed away just three days earlier. Wagoner and his band performed a medley of Jennings' biggest hits, before turning the stage over to a guitar pull featuring Williams, Marty Stuart, and Travis Tritt. Williams kicked things off with a performance of "The Eyes of Waylon," and he and Tritt also sang "The Conversation." The trio covered other Jennings classics like "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," "I've Always Been Crazy," and "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way."

• Hank Williams Jr. had not performed at the Grand Ole Opry since 1980.
• The tribute show took place on February 16, 2002, just three days after Waylon Jennings' death.

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