Campaign Started to Reinstate Hank Williams to the Grand Ole Opry

It is turning into a pretty great year for Hank Williams . First, a major effort is being put forth by Time-Life to release performances from a 1951 radio show that Williams hosted, showing off some of his greatest songs and a number of other songs never before heard performed by the singer.

Now, the Reinstate Hank campaign has been started (www.reinstatehank.org ) to attempt to right the expelling of Williams from the Grand Ole Opry in 1952. Williams became a member of the Opry on June 11, 1949 with his first performance including six crowd-demanded encores.

Three years later, Williams was dismissed from the Opry until he was able to beat his alcoholism. He would then be welcomed back to the stage. A couple of months later, he passed away and never saw his reinstatement.

According to the website, "Despite being one of the most powerfully iconic figures in American music, Hank Williams has yet to be reinstated to the Opry. Now, your help is needed to honor and preserve his legacy. Join the campaign and add your signature to the petition to Reinstate Hank Williams to the Grand Ole Opry."

One of the organizers biggest complaints is that the Opry is using William's likeness and voice in many of their promotions, yet he is not a member in good standing. Blake Judd, the director of the site, writes "The circumstances surrounding the issue are based on policy and discrepancies. Why can't banned members be reinstated post-death? The wheels were turning to reinstate Hank, so why didn't they? Why are dead members technically not considered members once they have passed? Also, what about the Opry's treatment of elder members; the ones' who have kept the Opry alive all these years? Is it right that the Opry can bring them back to the stage as much or as little as they feel "necessary"? Would Hank even want to be a part of the Opry if he were still alive today? These are issues that the Opry needs to address and needs to be addressed to the Opry."

A Reinstate Hank film is also in the works.