Arena: Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues (BBC Four Friday 22 September 2023)

Arena: Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues airs Friday 22 September 2023 on BBC Four.

What is this episode about

When it comes to country music, no one compares to Hank Williams. He was only 29 years old when he passed away on the way to a concert he would never play.

Williams, even after more than half a century since his death, is still widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic figures in American music. Even though he didn’t leave any extensive interviews or written correspondence, his influence on modern country music is undeniable, and his performances make us feel like we’re inside his world. The tragic ending to his short life has only added to his allure.

Williams personified the honky tonk spirit with his alluring reflections on love and ruin, and he may have even been its inventor. Poor as dirt and dangerously frail, he fled Alabama in the late 1940s with the reckless abandon of a man who knew his time was short. Because of the depth and sincerity of his singing, he became the first major star in country music before he turned 25. He was an icon to the world and a mystery to those who thought they knew him best when he died four years later, overcome by his own heart. This film seeks to uncover the genuine Hank Williams with the help of his loved ones.

This edition of Arena originally aired Saturday 5 February 2005.

When can we see the episode

Arena: Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues airs Friday 22 September 2023 at 10:30pm on BBC Four

Featured Image Credit: BBC Four