On This Day In 1951, Hank Williams Was Topping Country Charts With “Hey, Good Lookin'”

A Hank Williams classic.

“Hey, Good Lookin'” is one of Hank Williams Sr.’s most recognizable songs and was a massive hit during his short career. While Williams easily could have made a catalog full of hits, sadly, he pass away before he even turned 30 during the infamous “last ride.”

Seventy-three years later, country music fans still love and adore one of his number-one hits, “Hey Good Lookin’.” Hank Williams released the hit in June 1951, which would later top the charts in August. Hank Williams “heavily borrowed” aspects of the song from Cole Porter’s Broadway musical Something For The Boys. The musical, released in 1942, carried many similar lines to Williams Sr.’s version.

Don’t believe us? Take a listen and see that the version written in the ’40s is nearly identical to Williams’ version less than a decade later.

Hank Williams, however, recalls that he wrote the song in 20 minutes on a plane ride with Jimmy Dickens and the Grand Ole Opry comedian Cousin Minnie Pearl. Williams wrote the song because he allegedly promised Dickens a hit single, but after he “wrote” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” he decided it was too good to share and recorded it for himself.

Williams recorded the single in March at Nashville’s Castle Studio and released it in June. The song took off, quickly topping the charts and making its mark on the country music industry. In 2001, the single would be inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

Over the years, many other artists have covered the iconic song, such as Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and many others. Seventy-three years later, country music lovers still fire this clever love song.

“Say hey, good lookin’ – what ya got cookin’?

How’s about cookin’ somethin’ up with me?

Hey, sweet baby – don’t you think maybe

We can find us a brand new recipe?”

Hank was taken from us too soon, but the legacy of Hank Williams will live on forever