Bob Dylan Shouts Out Hank Williams III in New Post
60 years ago this week, Bob Dylan wasn’t hanging out with his fellow folk revivalists in New York City, or with the burgeoning hippies out in California. He was in Nashville, finishing up the recording of his landmark album Blonde On Blonde, utilizing Music City’s legendary musicians like Charlie McCoy and Hargus “Pig” Robbins. Dylan was one of the first to make a pilgrimage to record in Nashville a cool thing. He would do it again for his 1967 album John Wesley Harding, and then in 1969 for Nashville Skyline.
Perhaps Dylan is feeling a little nostalgic for his time in Nashville, or maybe thinking about making a country-inspired project yet again. Via his Instagram page, Bob posted a video of Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel performing Guy Clark’s legendary song “Dublin Blues” on February 21st. In January, Dylan posted a video of Ray Price singing “Invitation to the Blues” to his 1.2 million followers. These are among other recent country-adjacent posts.
Then with Bob Dylan’s latest post, he highlighted Hank Williams III performing his grandfather’s song “My Sweet Love Ain’t Around” from 1948 on The Marty Stuart Show. Hank3’s original appearance on the show aired on March 27th, 2010.
No caption from Dylan accompanied the post. It just seems like something that he thought was cool. Hank Williams III responded with three thumbs up.
Hank Williams III rarely seems to be shouted out by his contemporaries these days, despite being significant to helping seed the independent country revolution we’re currently in the midst of. But music legends from across the spectrum continue to pay homage and tip their hats to him.
In 2025, Ringo Starr said to Rolling Stone, “Just to mess up everyone’s mind and brain in Nashville: How is Hank the 3rd doing? I liked the records he made. It has an edge. I started with Hank the first and I sort of went over Hank the second and got to the third.”
How Hank Williams III is doing is a very good question. He’s been mostly dormant since 2014. After finally breaking free from his contract with Curb Records, he released a succession of independently released albums, including his last full country album, 2013’s Brothers of the 4X4, and toured behind it into the following year.
Then after he was forced to move out of his home/headquarters/recording studio called The Haunted Ranch, and shortly thereafter his favorite dog Trooper died, he’s been almost completely out of the public eye, not releasing any new music or performing publicly.
In 2018, Hank3 did participate in a DevilDriver tribute to Outlaw Country. In 2022, he also released a ton of demos, scratch tracks, alternative takes, and other bits of audio on YouTube, including an entire experimental album called Grandiose Delusions.
But the whereabouts and status of Hank Williams III, and whether he’ll every try to mount a comeback or re-emerge publicly remains a mystery. Saving Country Music has shaken every tree and tried every trick including penning an open letter to try and get him to re-emerge, without being too prying.
Now would be as good of a time as any for Hank3 to return. But anyone who knows Hank3 knows he marches to his own drum. Hopefully someday he will re-emerge to help once again carry the legacy of the Hank Williams name forward.
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March 10, 2026 @ 11:34 am
Godspeed, Shelton. Here’s hoping you’re happy and healthy.
March 10, 2026 @ 12:12 pm
Bob is the real walking talking jukebox(…), he sure knows is country music. Too bad Ringo skipped Hank Jr.
March 10, 2026 @ 1:25 pm
If youve ever listened to theme time radio your know Bob knows a lot of songs, lots of genres and different artists.
March 10, 2026 @ 2:30 pm
I think I’ll country fans that like this should try try and find the video of Hank III, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, and Willie. Man it was such a cool performance and I LOVED each of their contributions.
March 10, 2026 @ 2:44 pm
God Bless 3 and I wish him nothing but the best in his absence. His music changed my and. Lot of other people’s lives.
His shows, the atmosphere and the inclusion of any and all is what acceptance and being seen is truly all about.
Hope you’re alive and well out there 3!
March 10, 2026 @ 6:39 pm
Bob’s Instagram posts are random in both frequency and content. He’s quite an entertaining follow (when he feels like posting).
Speaking of shout outs, uDiscoverMusic mentioned Saving Country Music in a review about Marcus King’s new album. Very cool to see.
March 11, 2026 @ 8:23 am
I think his book Chronicles Volume 1 is such an enjoyable read. I have read it twice. Word is that maybe we’ll get Volume 2 next year or so, but one never knows when it comes to His Bobness.
March 10, 2026 @ 7:29 pm
I wish Hank 3 would come back, he’d sell out everywhere, probably headline some music fests. I saw his father, Hank Jr. in 2023 headline atUnder the Big Sky Fest, he sold that whole place out in 29 minutes. It’d be great to see Hank 3 play there too.
March 10, 2026 @ 8:58 pm
Would love to see Hank Jr.,Hank 3 and Hank IV do some shows together. I’ve seen all 3 live many times and all were great. Maybe this would help give IV some much needed exposure.
March 11, 2026 @ 6:31 am
Hank IV is not related to them. Coleman Williams is Hank III’s son, he performs as IV and the Strange Band
March 10, 2026 @ 11:27 pm
Please come back Hank3! The world needs you.
March 11, 2026 @ 12:13 am
This is one of the most mysterious disappearing acts. I saw 3 twice in 2013. 3-4 hour shows. He showed no sign of walking away at the time. How someone can drop off the face of the earth is just crazy especially in these times. Seems impossible to hide from social media and nosey fans. I see his Facebook and IG posts, but that’s it. I look every couple months expecting him to emerge somewhere, at some point. I had some dealings with his father a couple years ago, but didn’t think it was wise or my place to ask him about his status. Looking forward to his return at some point.
March 11, 2026 @ 8:41 am
I know he didn’t make enough money to live on forever from his own music, is he a trust funder? You’d think if he wasn’t he would have emerged for work at some point.
March 11, 2026 @ 8:11 am
Met editor from people magazine at skinny dennis 1 year partyband asked and he had no info on hank3 …i seen 10 or 12 shows back in 2000s…love hank3 would always see fans from 21 to 70 age at his shows ..he would do 4hr shows man was a legend live ..even git on his bus in chattanooga with his country band …ive asked everyone even bob wayne at eastside bowl last year ..no one knows ..SHELTON i hope you are well ..miss the shit out of your shows with gary lindsey and assjack and joe buck …hope ur all well ..MISS YOU BRO
March 11, 2026 @ 9:58 am
Hank3 can’t come back because he’s insanely racist and beyond derogatory. I love his records, but he has no place in 2026 sadly.
March 11, 2026 @ 11:58 am
Dont think hes a rascist ,quit judging yes he has a rebel flag ,and yes he would face backlash..but honey your not goin to his concerts anyway ..stay in your safe cloud of your life ..some people like a little edge to their music….and southern pride is nothing to be ashamed of ..u fly ur flag others can do as they please ..met him several times ..always grateful to his fans
March 11, 2026 @ 12:04 pm
I dont like hank jr. Talk about a blowhard and always wasted doin half a song and bein beligerent at 3 shows i went to .After he adopted the wet cigarette kid rock was last straw and i dont think he did anything for shelton…always wondered ,not sure though…he hasnt had a hit in 40 years and seems like a jerk,and i grew up on his music
March 11, 2026 @ 7:51 pm
You know who else hasn’t had a hit in 40 years? Most of the great country artists of the last century. By ” hit” do you mean charted on the highly controlled country charts? Hank is still doing shows, still full of himself, and rightfully so. He has many great songs and many awful songs. His lineage and associations with all the greats is undeniable. I’m changing your name to Richard….the short version.
March 12, 2026 @ 7:54 am
A hit or anything after dinosaur and he shouted out jayz ludacriss and kid rock or you can kiss his ass while playin that song so he is a idiot drunk 2 middle fingers up to skank williams jr.
March 12, 2026 @ 10:42 pm
Richard, Hank has been performing sober now for a number of years. I remember the shows were he ripped his shirt off like a pro-wrestler in the 90s. I’m glad he got better. He is still full of bluster, but I’m damn happy he’s alive and still going in his late 70’s. I’m a huge Shelton fan myself. It’s not a soap opera, where you have to pick sides….but I understand you “seen” ’em both, so more power to ya.
March 11, 2026 @ 2:43 pm
Call me deliberately controversial but my personal preference is for Hank V.
March 11, 2026 @ 3:11 pm
Hank v is yet to be born im pretty sure….hank williams sr., hank3 are the best , and havent listen to much of hank iv , he is with shooter jennings and i’m not a fan of his either
March 11, 2026 @ 8:01 pm
Nepo babies are always the best.
March 12, 2026 @ 3:28 am
Not a Dylan fan, like some of his writing, but very very cool he posted Ray & Hank III…I always did appreciate that he was associated with The Band. And honestly, Ringo can sit and spin (to put it nicely) with his backhanded compliment. Despite any of his faults, Jr will always be superior to the likes of him.
Perfect scenario is the idiots running the Opry FINALLY reinstate Hank, III comes to the induction and makes his formal comeback 🤞🏼
March 12, 2026 @ 7:57 am
Never happen hank 3 would never bow down to opry and hank jr. Would never without millions and opry is and always be trash “hank williams aint a member,but they keep him outside their door” opry is part of trashville
March 12, 2026 @ 10:23 am
Cool to see a legend like Bob Dylan give a shout-out to Hank 3. I doubt at this point Hank 3 will return I think he’ll stay in the shadows helping Coleman out as much as possible. Hank 3 may not have had the commercial success that Sr. & Jr. did, but he definitely has left a lasting impact on the industry rather Nashville likes it or not. I miss getting new albums from Hank & getting all that unreleased stuff dumped on YouTube a couple of years ago was a treat I hope whatever Hank is doing now he is happy in life & doing well.
March 12, 2026 @ 7:56 pm
Im not claiming secret knowledge about this so dont take me wrong. As I’ve said here before, just hang around Nashville musicians and mention III. You will hear about serious addictions that wrecked him big time; physically and mentally. Its not a secret in the musician community. Stuff catches up to you, the level he was running on had a predictable outcome.
I hope he’s recovering.
March 15, 2026 @ 7:14 pm
I just saw a set of pics of him holding some rescue dogs from February. He looks fine. Cut his hair.
March 13, 2026 @ 9:22 am
I love Hank III. And I kind of love that he’s disappeared. Whenever I talk about country to my non-country friends, I always compare him to MF DOOM. That he’s this weird genius who was able to straddle the most traditional elements of the music while almost single-handedly dragging it into the new era. The multiple different projects and personas. The through themes and running narratives. And then, *puff* he’s gone, leaving a new generation of artists in his wake who are keeping the genre alive. It’s not his best record but if you listen to “Ghost to a Ghost” I feel like he was telling us all along.
Whatever that guy is doing, I love him. I always will. And if he wants to remain a ghost, more power to him.
March 14, 2026 @ 9:34 pm
God bless Bob Dylan. He’ll be 85 in May and it’s good to still have him with us.