After Conservatorship Worry, Sam Williams Appears with Hank Jr. & Sister

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In early February, Sam Williams had the music and entertainment world in a stir after a series of social media posts implied that he was in a restrictive conservatorship under the repressive thumb of his father Hank Williams Jr., and half-sister Holly Williams, and wanted out. Sam Williams is a performer himself, and released his major label debut album Glasshouse Children in August of 2021.

On February 2nd, Sam Williams posted a series of separate tweets, tagging his famous father in them and saying “I am” “in” “a” “conservatorship,” before also posting two separate tweets to a video he uploaded on YouTube (and later made private), with an avatar of himself holding up a piece of paper reading, “I Want Out,” and saying later in the video, “I’ve been quiet for a long time now. I want this out, and I don’t mind people knowing. They took my grief process, my spirit, my money, my car, my home, and everything possible in order to ‘protect me.’ Well, I need protection from them.”

Later it was confirmed that a petition for an emergency conservatorship was taken out over Sam Williams in August of 2020—55 days after Sam’s full sister Katie Williams was killed in a car accident, with Hank Williams Jr. and Holly Williams acting as guardians. A conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian by a judge to manage the financial affairs and/or daily life of another person, often due to old age or physical or mental limitations.

But after the initial posts from Sam Williams and subsequent reporting by media outlets trying to get to the bottom of the matter, not much else happened. Sam didn’t seem to keep up the fight, and refused to comment on the matter further—if he was capable of doing so, or legally able to. Saving Country Music reached out to both Sam’s representatives and representatives for Hank Jr., and no further comments were made. A DM to Sam Williams on Instagram was acknowledged by the 24-year-old, but he conveyed no further information.

The situation left fans of Sam Williams and other folks generally concerned about the nature of conservatorships after the controversy surrounding Brittney Spears wondering what to do, or what to think. Was Sam Williams okay? Should we be lobbying for his freedom? Was the conservatorship warranted for his own safety?

Many of these concerns were also compounded by the recent death of Sam’s mother and the wife of Hank Jr., Mary Jane Thomas, who died unexpectedly on March 22nd in Florida after a medical procedure. If the death of Sam’s sister Katie is what instigated the conservatorship, the death of Sam’s mother could exacerbate his grief.

Though we still don’t have much clarification on the conservatorship matter, there is some positive news to report on the relationship between Sam Williams, his father Hank Williams Jr., and his half sister and fellow performer Holly Williams.

Whether it’s a sign things have smoothed out or was just putting a brave face on for the public, on Friday, April 1st, they all appeared on stage together for the first time since the conservatorship issue, and the death of Mary Jane Thomas.

Hank Williams Jr. kicked off his 2022 tour at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, telling fans beforehand after the passing of his wife, “The family has encouraged me to perform this weekend. Not only is it healing, but I do not want to disappoint my fans who have purchased tickets.”

After randomly launching into the “Cat Scratch Fever” riff, Hank Jr. transitioned into “Family Tradition,” with both Sam and Holly coming out on stage and taking turns on verses. Everyone looked happy to be there, and a good time was had by the crowd.

Sam Williams, his personal life, and a conservatorship that may or may not still be in place is not necessarily the business of the public. As Hank Williams once said, “Mind Your Own Business.” It was Sam making it the business of the public and seeming to want out that made it our business. But here in early April, everything appears to be A okay with the Hank Williams family tradition.

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