There is a framework of events that is largely agreed upon, starting with Williams being chauffeured to a planned New Years Eve show in Charleston, W.Va. Although he attempted at various points in his life to get sober, it never lasted long. In the summer of 1952, Hank Williams had a brief affair with a dancer named Bobbie Jett. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Her spirit was gentle and giving. ", Hank Williams Jr.'s youngest son, Sam, said he was under a conservatorship put in place by the family following the death of his sister Katherine in 2020. Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died from a collapsed lung just one day after having liposuction surgery, officials said. For that reason, the new biopic I Saw The Lightopted to avoid the subject of Williams death. It was something he apparently saw coming. During her life, Wynette underwent more than three dozen major surgeries, primarily due to abdominal adhesions. 1:44. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The cause of death for Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country singer Hank Williams Jr., has been revealed. The Medical Examiner's report said that Thomas' surgeon said her vitals were normal, and she was given Lovenox, an anticoagulant. HeWilliams Jr. has threechildren from previous marriages: Hank Williams III, Holly Williams and Hilary Williams. In addition to sharing the video, Sam made the same claims in a series of tweets. Hank Williams had suffered from back pain all his life. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Hank was born with a spinal condition, known as spina bifida occulta, which was not well understood at the time. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. At the time, Carrs nervous account of the final few hours of the journey were enough to raise questions of foul play, especially when some witnesses including a police officer claimed to have, oddly, seen a soldier also riding in the car. Their daughter sadly died in a car accident in 2020. She was a headstrong, recently divorced mother of a 2-year-old, six months his senior and also a musician. Under the name Dr. C.W. He was admitted to a Veterans Administration hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, where he remained hospitalized for most of Hank'schildhood. Thomas was rushed to a local hospital and died in the emergency room, the report said. or redistributed. At a time when the music he made was still mostly regional in its appeal, he was well on the way to national celebrity when he died in 1953, and his posthumous fame would grow even greater. The truth about Hank Williams death may never be known. He responded to an ad from Kaiser Shipbuilding, a shipyard company in Portland, Oregon that promised a free one-way ticket, training, free rent, and a steady wage for anyone willing to work. An autopsy report said the cause of death was accidental. On the evening of Dec. 30, 1952, the restless, rail-thin 29-year-old tossed and turned in bed at his home in Montgomery, Ala. Reports are conflicting on Thomas' age but range from 58 . Mary Jane was Williams' third wife. College student Charles Carr had been hired to drive the Im So Lonesome I Could Cry Singerto West Virginia, but winter weather made it impossible to reach the venue. A 19-year-old high school dropout, Jones had recently separated from her husband when she met Williams. Hank Jr.'s daughters Hilary and Holly Williams from his marriage to Becky White were both severely injured in an auto accident in 2006, with Hilary going into cardiac arrest . The famous Hank Williams was dead at 29 from whiskey, hard living, and heart failure. Thanks for contacting us. His real name was Horace "Toby" Marshall, and he was not a real doctor. On December 30, 1952, Williams was in bed at this Montgomery, Alabama, home with new wife Billie Jean. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Breaking News. His shtick as the "Singing Kid" was so popular that he became a regular feature, hosting his own show twice a week. Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more! Williams would return to Georgiana the following year with more sophisticated interests. They divorced in 1952. After the procedure, Mary Jane went to a recovery facility where she was "speaking normally" and sitting up. Due to a misspelling on his birth certificate, his official name was recorded as "Hiriam," according toLovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williams. At midnight, Carr began arranging to transport Williams to an early morning performance in Canton, Ohio. In his free time, Williams began to perform on the sidewalk outside of Montgomery's radio station, WSFA. On Saturday, it was reported that Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country singer Hank Williams Jr., died as a result of a car crash. Mira Sorvino mourns father, 'Goodfellas' actor Paul Sorvino: 'My heart is rent asunder', paid tribute to his mom in a statement to People, Reba McEntire will hit the road this fall with Terri Clark: 'Gals gotta stick together! Afterwards, he began to deteriorate physically, putting on weight and losing his hair. Daly hints that Wynette would deliberately hurt herself in order to gain access to drugs and once hurled herself offstage during a concert to earn a trip to the emergency room. According to TMZ, country musician Hank Williams Jr's wife, Mary Jane, died on Tuesday at the age of 61. But, it's the 'still climbing' part that is the most important. ', Contributing:Jessica Bliss, The Tennessean. has been telling people he was the doorman at the Andrew Johnson, and he says Hank was conscious and joking when he left. Carr had insisted that Williams couldnt have been dead in Knoxville, because they had spoken briefly in the car after leaving town. The WSFA radio station was also fed up with his behavior, and in August 1942, Williams was let go from his job at the WSFA for "habitual drunkenness," according to I Saw the Light. His mother flew him home to Montgomery so he could try to get well, according to Hank Williams, So Lonesome. Today you can still visit the spot where Hank's legendary journey ended. . Some have suggested that Williams may have even died at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, and that Carr had unknowinglydriven several hundred miles with a deceased Williams in the back seat. Mary Jane Thomas' cause of death has reportedly been confirmed. They were married from 1977-to 1983. The house formerly belonged to country music legend Hank Williams. Hank Williams Jr., 73, is the son of country music legend Hank Williams. At the time, a family source speculated that it may have been a blood clot after an undisclosed medical procedure. His mother became the band manager, booking gigs in dance halls and honky-tonks, and collecting admission money. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. It was also something that was suggested by the initial police report. Hank Williams performing "Hey Good Lookin' "#HankWilliams #HeyGoodLookin #Vevo You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The new biopic I Saw the Light, in theaters Friday, traces country legend Hank Williams struggles with alcohol, infidelity and the weight of being one of the biggest music stars in the United States, following hits such as his cover of Lovesick Blues (1949) and his own Why Dont You Love Me (1950). But inclement weather meant they couldnt get to Charleston, so the concert was canceled and they instead made a pit stop at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tenn. Williams had already been drinking when he was given a shot of B12 and morphine by the hotel doctor. Prior to confirmation of his sister's passing, Williams asked followers on Facebook . Thomas, who was married to Williams for more than 30 years, passed back in March. I reached over and touched him. While it is generally believed his mother gave Hank Williams his first guitar, other locals wanted to claim the credit. has been telling people he was the doorman at the Andrew Johnson, and he says Hank was conscious and joking when he left. Carr had insisted that Williams couldnt have been dead in Knoxville, because they had spoken briefly in the car after leaving town. They had a son, Hank Williams, Jr., in 1949. In Georgiana, Lillie landed a coveted job at a cannery, according toSing a Sad Song. Some biographers (including Colin Escott, whose book I Saw the Light provides the basis for the film) have suggested that Williams may have even died at the Andrew Johnson in Knoxville, and that Carr had unwittingly driven several hundred miles with a corpse. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Wynette died in the same room where Williams' widow Audrey Williams died in 1975 of alcoholism. In recent years, a Knoxvillian . Just before midnight, Carr set about getting Williams to a planned New Years Day show in Canton, Ohio. Thomas, who lived in Nashville, traveled to Jupiter, Fla., for the procedure. No cause of death was provided at the time. Answer (1 of 6): Randall Hank Williams (AKA Hank Williams, Jr) is alive and well. That'll just always be a big part of my story.". Miss Spruce Creek High School, Miss Hawaiian Tropic, Miss Mary Jane Williams, my mama forever my everything. She is survived by my father, her two parents Ramona and Bill, her brother Andy, her sister Angela, myself and her three grandchildren: Beau Weston, Tennyson Hiram and Audrey Jane. He was found dead in the backseat of his car, which was parked on the side of the road between Montgomery, Alabama, and Oak Hill, West Virginia. The Drifting Cowboys were a popular act, but by the age of 16, Williams was already struggling to control his drinking. (AP Photo/FILE) The new biopic "I Saw the Light," in theaters Friday, traces country . Thomas, 58, traveled from . The musician wrote: "I am in a conservatorship," in five separate tweets each with one word of the message. His official cause of death was heart failure, though it is widely believed that he died due to a lethal mix of morphine and alcohol. ", Caller: "Uh, it was kind of unexpected, but it was a natural death, yes. He was as thoughtful and (at times) fiery as you'd expect. Her husband, Tyler Dunning, was in the vehicle and survived with critical injuries. But as Jack Neely, executive director of the Knoxville History Project explains, local folklore tells a different story. He's since been able to carry on promotinghis Rich White Honky Blues album and conducting several interviews without interruption. She became an accomplished musician in her own right, performing under the name Jett Williams. "Tammy Wynette: A Daughter Recalls Her Mother's Tragic Life and Death," by Jackie Daly (Putnam), was published on Monday (May 8), the day that depositions were to begin in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the late singer's doctor. Thomas, 58, died on March 22 of a collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery the day before, according to a report from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner as well as an autopsy report, which were obtained by PEOPLE. The 58-year-old former model was found unresponsive on March 22, just one day after undergoing the fat-removal procedure on her back, arms and stomach, People reports. Katherine Williams-Dunning, the daughter of country music singer Hank Williams Jr. and his third wife, Mary Jane, died in a car accident in . He died in 1939, but his musical legacy would live on in Williams. Updated: Sep 18, 2019 (1923-1953) Taste of Country talked to Williams Jr. in June about a wide ranging set of topics. Rest in peace Mama, I will always be the son of Mary Jane.". Carr stopped at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Williams began to feel ill, hiccuping and convulsing, according to Lovesick Blues. About six or seven hours later, on the morning of Jan. 1, 1953, Carr realized his passenger was dead and already beset with rigor mortis, the, Priscilla Presley Shares Emotional Post On Lisa Marie's Birthday, Jay Leno Appears On First Talk Show Since Burn & Motorcycle Accidents, Sam Elliott Reunites With Big Lebowski Co-Star Jeff Bridges At SAG Awards, Florida Man Faces Legal Consequences For Hammer Attack On Shark, Dukes Of Hazzard Car Driven By Cast Members Has Been Totaled, Tom Sizemores Manager Releases Upsetting Update On His Condition, Austin Butler Called A True Gentleman For Helping Winners Up Steps At SAG Awards, Actor Who Plays Jamie On Yellowstone Addresses Rumors Of Behind-The-Scenes Drama. A Justice of the Peace married the couple outside of a Texaco Station in Andalusia, Alabama, before Sheppard completed the required 60-day waiting period following her divorce from her first husband, per Sing a Sad Song. Hank Williams, the country legend and Hillbilly Shakespeare, didn't have the opportunity to live in the world long. Thomas, 58, traveled from Tennessee to Florida for liposuction and a procedure to remove previous breast implants witha breast lift at Bafitis Plastic Surgery, locatedin Jupiter, investigators say in the documentsobtained by USA TODAY. For his part, Hank was always picking up odd jobs, selling peanuts or shining shoes on the corner to make extra cash. Like his first marriage, Williams did not want to wait to marry Jones. Hank Jr is the son of Hank Williams - a revered country legend who had 12 Number 1 singles, including three posthumously. Alysse Gafkjen. Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of Hank Williams Jr., died suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 58 following a "medical procedure." Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. is in mourning today after the sudden death of his wife Mary Jane Thomas "following a medical procedure" that was carried out in Florida. Daly charges that Wynette, at the time of her death, had developed a dependence on painkillers, which she injected with syringes. She played the bass and sang with the reformed Drifting Cowboys, per Biography. Hillbilly Elegist. In his grief, on March 29 . To have a kid [Carr] turn around, feel his pulse and realize [Williams] was dead, it felt anticlimactic., Besides, Neely adds, No matter which account you pick, there are going to be people who say, Thats not how it happened. . Daly writes that she herself had been to the house earlier that day and had found Wynette asleep or at least totally unresponsive on the couch, with Richey sitting in a bathrobe, uncommunicative. He married Gwen Yeargain from 1971-77, and the former couple had one son, musician Hank Williams III. Hank felt there was something bad around the corner.. July 7, 2013 12 AM PT. . Less than 48 hours later, Hank Williams was dead. The autopsy determinedshe died of a collapsed lung sustained during the surgery. The possibility was even suggested in the initial police report. Somewhere around Oak Hill, West Virginia, Carr looked into the backseat and realized Williams seemed rigid and unresponsive. She was released from the facility on March 21 and taken to a recovery facility nearby. Hank Williams died on January 1, 1953, at the age of 29. The singer, who suffered from a back problem, was given a sedative by his regular doctor who had allegedly purchased a fake medical diploma through the mail and was rumored to frequently overprescribe before setting off with a college student named Charles Carr acting as his driver. He made ends meet performing in small medicine shows, pitching cure-alls to crowds from a flatbed trailer. Mary Jane Thomas, Hank Williams Jr's wife of 31 years, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 61. Daly says that the National Enquirer knew about the death long before Nashville authorities were summoned. Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side," he shared. On Jan. 22, 2021, Aaron died in his sleep, according to the Atlanta Braves, his long-time team. The couple spent over 30 years . The former model, who was married to American singer-songwriter and musician Hank Williams Jr., passed away on March 22, 2022 aged 58. And a few, such as country music legend Hank Williams, have expired from other causes while they happened to be in vehicles. But clearly Williams' tragic death got in the way of that plan. Death of Hank Williams. There, Thomas became unresponsive while sitting upright in bed, according to the outlet. While her official cause of death remains unknown and does not appear to be suspicious, it has been reported that she presumably "suffered a complication, possibly a . Mary Jane was a former model for Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion. Quisque turpis dui, rhoncus quis metus a, scelerisque vestibulum turpis. The hotel doctor gave Williams an injection of B12 and painkiller after he'd already been drinking. 3 min read. After meeting in 1985 at one of Williams shows in Washington state, the pair tied the knot in 1990. When the singers death was announced to the waiting crowd at the Palace Theatre in Canton, they sang Williams I Saw the Light in unison. Regardless, they began touring together. New: A Medical Mistake Became Mary Jane Thomas' Cause of Death. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "I met Ms. Mary Jane Thomas on July 4th, 1984 in Daytona Beach, FL. Tracy Wright is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. She could take down a ten-point buck and fix dinner for her grandchildren at the same time! or redistributed. I'm still climbing out of it. Most young musicians were leaving to fight in the war, and any remaining potential replacements refused to work with Williams on account of his drunkenness and general unreliability. The Death Car itself, a beautiful 1952 Cadillac, was put to practical use for years after Hank's death by the Williams family. Singer Hank Williams Jr. and wife Mary Jane Thomas, attends the 2008 BMI Country Awards in Nashville, TNN., on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008. Nobody would know where he was," via Sing a Sad Song. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Williams-Dunning was driving a 2007 Chevy Tahoe while towing a boat Saturday night . Mary Jane, who appeared alongside Williams Jr. when he was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, is survived by the singer, their son, and three grandchildren. In 1951, Williams suffered another accident, this time while hunting. When she was just a senior in high school she married her first husband, James Erskine Guy, but . Within 48 hours of Williams prediction, he had met his maker, but the circumstances surrounding how he died have given rise to one of music historys greatest debates. Due to his bad back, he received a 4-F deferment from the draft, but there was no hope for continuing the band, per Lovesick Blues. And, Carr claims that he spoke briefly with the singerin the car after they left the Knoxville hotel. Just before midnight, Carr set about getting Williams to a planned New Years Day show in Canton, Ohio. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The parietal pleura is a membrane that's bound by connective tissue to the inner surface of the chest wall, and plays a major role in the formation and removal of pleural fluid, according to Science Direct. Sam shared the post as he wrote: "It's my second one not free.". Unfortunately, she died in 1955, just three years after her son's death, so little Jett went into foster care, becoming a ward of the state before she was eventually adopted. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 21: Mary Jane Thomas and 2020 inductee Hank Williams Jr. seen during the 2021 Medallion Ceremony, celebrating the Induction of the Class of 2020 at Country Music . Hank Williams Jr Daughter's Accident Resulted in Her Death. Hank Williams wasn't born Hank Williams. Cras nunc lectus, tempor sit amet ex sed, malesuada malesuada justo. Legal Statement. Hank Williams Jr.'s late wife, Mary Jane Thomas, died on March 22 due to a "collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery" performed the day before in Florida. Katherine died in a vehicle collision in Tennessee in 2020 when she lost control of the SUV she was driving. The pairraised two children daughter Katie Williams-Dunning and son Samuel Williams. I think I see God comin down the road.. Hank Williams Jr. and wife Mary Jane Thomas in 1989. Williams' mother, Bobbie Jett, was six months pregnant with her when Hank Williams married his second wife, Billie Jean Eshliman. Carr called a doctor to Williams' room. I think he had a profound sadness in him, says Marc Abraham, writer and director of I Saw The Light. The Accepted Story of Hank Williams' Death. However, when Hank was only six, Lon suffered facial paralysis as a result of what was most likely a brain aneurysm. The couple were married in Louisiana by a Justice of the Peace on October 18, 1952, but Jones' divorce would not be officially finalized until October 28, 1952, according to Hank Williams, So Lonesome. Legal Statement. Ultimately, that would never happen. Wynette's daughters obtained a court order last year to have Wynette's body exhumed for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. His parents meant to christen him Hiram Williams, after Hiram of Tyre, the Biblical king, but he didn't end up becoming Hiram either. Daly says her mother told her she had been beaten by Richey and concocted the abduction/beating story to explain the bruises. However, he discovered shortly before his wedding to Jones that Jett was pregnant. 7/25/2022 2:31 PM PT. I actually wrote 13 pages for that scene but took them out because they felt superfluous, explains Abraham. About six or seven hours later, on the morning of Jan. 1, 1953, Carr realized his passenger was dead and already beset with rigor mortis, the New York Post writes. Once called the King of Country Music, he died in 1953. She was ambitious, and Williams began to see real success after his marriage, signing a contract first with Acuff-Rose Music and then with MGM Records and releasing many of his most famous hits. Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side," he wrote, referencing his late sister. Daly quotes the call from the house that finally went to 911 at 8:59 p.m. that evening: Caller: "Yes We've had a death at 4916 Franklin Road. The "Family Tradition" singer married Thomas in 1990. When new wife Billie Jean asked what was the matter, she claimed his reply was, I think I see God comin down the road.. They took my grief process, my spirit, my money, my car, my home, and everything possible in order to 'protect me.' Just before midnight, Carr set about getting Williams to a planned New Years Day show in Canton, Ohio. He was born in Georgiana, Al., in 1923 as Hiram King Williams, and he died of a heart attack in 1953. The Medical Examiner's report corrects that and specifies the procedure, statingshe had gone from Nashville to Jupiter, Fla. to undergo liposuction and to remove previous breast implants. Most accounts have Williams looking and sounding groggy, and hotel porters allegedly had to carry him to the car. The 27-year-old was driving a Chevy Tahoe in . This story has been shared 101,613 times. More celebrity deaths:Mira Sorvino mourns father, 'Goodfellas' actor Paul Sorvino: 'My heart is rent asunder'. Whiskey Riff. Country music icon Hank Williams Jr. 's late wife, Mary Jane Thomas, died from a collapsed lung -- and it happened just one day after she'd gone under the knife . Here I have tried to tell the story as briefly as possible using information from a number . Tragedy has struck the Williams family previously. The concert was canceled and Carr and Williams instead stopped at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee. Daughters Hillary and Holly are Hank Jr's other children with his ex-wife Becky White, who he was married to from 1977 to 1983. . Local lore also places Williams at a Knoxville hospital getting a second shot of morphine this in addition to the one administered by the hotel doctor that might have caused a drug overdose. The time of death Wynette was 55 was never established, and no autopsy was performed. Williams Jr. thanked fans for their prayers and support immediately following his wife's death. Mary Jane Thomas and Hank Williams Jr. in 2021. Williams and Thomas also share a son, Samuel Williams. Sign up to get unlimited songs and podcasts with occasional ads. In 1952, Hank Williams had the bad luck of meeting a man who went by the name Doc Marshall. He "knew a good 'patient' when he saw one and he hinted at a 'pleasant' way to handle the problems of exhaustion, depression, insomnia, and all the other assorted ills that tend to beset a harried man," according to Coronet magazine. (AP Photo/FILE). He says Williams was conscious and joking when he left. The autopsy indicates that Thomas' lung collapsed after her surgeon punctured the membrane while completing the fat transfer as part of a breast lift following a breast implant removal. Musician Hank Williams Jr's wife who died on March 22 is reported to have suffered a collapsed lung that was punctured during elective surgery the day before, states a report from the Palm Beach . The performance was so successful that the audience demanded six encores from Williams before the show could go on, according to History. It was never properly treated, and would cause him lifelong back pain. Katherine Williams-Dunning was 27. In November 1942, he headed back to Alabama, working on and off for the rest of the war at the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile. Sam was reportedly heavily impacted by the loss of his sister. Her bloodline was not legally recognized until 1987, and she was not granted rights to her birth father's estate until 1989. The specifics of Williams' demise are unknown. . Thomas, 58, died on March 22 of a collapsed lung that . Mary Jane Thomas the wife of Hank Williams Jr. reportedly died after undergoing plastic surgery in Jupiter, Fla. An autopsy rules that her cause of . RIP MAMA. The house formerly belonged to country music legend Hank Williams. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of the week, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls. The late Mary and Hank Jr. welcomed two children; Katie and Sam - daughters Hillary and Holly are Hank Jr.'s other children with his ex-wife Becky White. By the time Carr arrived at Oak Hill Hospital, Hank Williams had passed away. Based on no more than this temporal link, anti-vaccine . Marshall convinced Williams to make him his personal physician, for the price of $300 a week. ', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But Williams wasn't cut out for shipyard work, and didn't last long in Oregon. The exact cause of death, and what happened in the last 48 hours of his life will perhaps never really be known. Upon his death, his royalties were to be split between his widow, Billie Jean Williams Berlin, and his son, Hank Williams Jr. Hank was supposed to perform in Charleston, West Virginia on New Year's .