Imagine getting to see Hank Williams and George Jones sing together on stage.
Unfortunately their careers only overlapped for a short period of time before Hank passed away in 1953. But George Jones, who began singing on radio stations at the age of 16, grew up idolizing Hank Williams. And when he moved to KRIC Radio in Beaumont, Texas, he finally got the opportunity to meet his hero.
In a 2006 interview with legendary radio host Bill Cody, the Possum recalled a hilarious story about finally getting to sing with Hank Williams – or at least he thought he was going to get to:
“When I was a kid, I first met Hank at a radio station, where he had time to sit down and talk a few minutes with you.
He had to be the nicest guy I’ve ever met in my life. So down to earth, so honestly talking. There was no put-on about him or all this stuff.
He had this big hit song at the time called ‘Wedding Bells.’ I was going to play guitar with him on this radio show. Well he had his guitar and he just started singing…
And I’m standing there on the other side of the mic – that’s when the mic came out of the ceiling. And I’m standing there ready to kick it off, and instead he starts singing. Well that beat me out of the kickoff. You know, I’d rehearsed and rehearsed.
And come to find out, he finished the song and I haven’t hit a note. Not a note. I just stared at him, I was amazed.”
I’m sure Jones wasn’t too upset that Hank never let him get a word in. Because after all, he had a front row seat (or more accurately, a spot on the stage) for a performance from his hero and a country music legend.