Taking it back to 2007.
A late legend singing another living legend’s song. I’ve recently been on a kick of re-watching CMT Giants specials, and I can’t get enough. The TV programs are a phenomenal way to honor those who have paved the way within country music while also hearing some stories and new versions of hit songs through the lens of other artists.
Since only a handful of artists are named CMT Giants, it’s an honor to be selected as one and also to be chosen as a performer for a special. In 2007, Hank Williams Jr. was named a CMT Giant, and the night honoring him was filled with all his rowdy friends.
Although Bocephus is country music royalty, he paved his own way in the genre. Eventually, he distanced himself from his father’s reputation and embraced his outlaw soul to guide his successful career. His spot as a CMT Giant is more than deserved, as he has ten number-one hits, 41 top-ten hits, seven CMA Awards, two Grammy Awards, and tons of other accolades.
The evening was filled with performances from Gretchen Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, and more. But one performance that stands out is Toby Keith’s cover of “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
Watching any Toby Keith performance since he lost his battle with cancer earlier this year comes with a heavy heart, but it still brings so much joy to watch the Big Dog Daddy do his thing on stage.
Leading up to the performance, Dick and Walt Willy, the father, and son who saved Williams Jr. after he fell 500 feet off a mountain, spoke about how impressive Bocephus’ comeback to the stage was following the horrific incident. Then, Keith then stepped out on stage to perform “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
The hit song written by Williams Jr. in 1981 was a perfect choice to perform after talking about his life-changing accident because it was a miracle that he survived. Although “A Country Boy Can Survive” was never a number-one hit from his catalog, fans more than love it.
The audience cheered wildly when Keith approached the microphone as he strummed the opening guitar riff. Toby Keith knocks this cover out of the park, and Hank Williams Jr. appears to agree. Looking at Keith with a grin, he bobbed his head along to the music and nodded when he hit certain notes perfectly, as though he was giving him his stamp of approval.
At the end of the performance, Williams Jr. walks up to the stage and embraces Keith, telling him how good of a job he did. Keith jokingly bows down to him after they exchange kind words.
Everything about this performance for the icon Hank Williams Jr. is, well… Iconic.
Long live Hank Williams Jr., and God bless Toby Keith.
