New Movement Believes Bocephus Belongs in the Country Hall of Fame
Navy Buddies Take on Nashville and Advocate for Hank Williams Jr.’s HOF Induction
About this time of year the rhetoric heats up about who could be, and who should be the new inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Though there’s no set time when the announcement of new inductees is made (and it seems to get pushed later each year), when spring starts breaking, it’s about time to start looking for announcements from the Nashville-based institution.
Unlike many other music Halls of Fame who throw their doors wide and accept large classes of inductees each year, the Country Music Hall of Fame takes a much more austere approach. With only three candidates inducted each year under the current system, space is very tight for new names in the Hall of Fame’s rotunda.
Like a similar campaign operated by Will James to push for the induction of Gram Parsons into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Adam Sinsel and his Navy buddy Mike Abernathy have started a grassroots campaign to get Hank Williams Jr. into the institution called Bocephus Belongs.
“I grew up in West Virginia, and through the years it’s become clear to me that the Williams family—Senior, Jr., and Hank3—all have impressive followings in the Mountain State,” says Bocephus Belongs founder Adam Sinsel. “Maybe it’s because Sr. was found dead in Oak Hill, WV, or because Junior sings “We came from the West Virginia coal mines.” Or maybe it’s because Hank III appeared in ‘Wild Wonderful Whites of West Virginia’ and wrote a song about Jesco White
“I enlisted in the Navy when I was 17. That choice, and September 11, 2001, has kept me often deployed abroad and moving around throughout the United States over the last 17 years. Hank’s music is one way I’ve found to stay connected to rural American culture.”
Adam Sinsel became an early advocate for Hank Jr.’s music, calling local stations to request the music over the new generation of country stars coming up. As his career in the Navy continued and took him out to sea and stationed in the Middle East for long periods, he used the music of Hank Jr. to help bring him back a little closer to home.

“In August of 2013, after returning from my last deployment to the Middle East, Hank brought Mike Abernathy and me on his bus and thanked us for our service,” says Adam. “Mike and I knew then that we wanted to do something to raise awareness on this issue, but within a few days the Navy transferred me to California to complete a Master’s degree in Cyber Defense, which kept me very busy for the last 18 months. I am only now finishing that assignment, and finally have time to commit to doing this right. Mike really jumped on board. Having met Hank with me, and being a life-long fan, he was excited to help with the website and handle technical details. Later Ben Sigmund joined our team—another Navy buddy. He’s helped with video editing and social media. Mike, Ben, and I all served together on board the USS BATAAN as young men and deployed multiple times.”
The career stats of Hank Jr. behind the Bocephus Belongs campaign are hard to brush off. 70 millions records sold, 5 total wins for Entertainer of the Year from the CMA and ACM Awards, 6 platinum records and 20 gold ones, 13 #1 albums, and 10 #1 singles. Along with a host of other distinctions, Hank Jr. might be the most decorated artist to not be in the Hall of Fame who has been eligible for an extended period.
Adam Sinsel says the guys that make up Bocephus Belongs are all regular Joes with regular jobs, each has significant others and children, and they all work full time jobs. They fit their Bocephus Belongs duties in between their other life commitments.
“We recognize that it seems insane to dedicate so much time to something that may appear fruitless. However, we all believe that Hank Williams Jr.’s absence from the Country Music Hall of Fame, thus far, is the most obvious oversight in the Hall’s history. Each person we interview has their own explanation as to why it hasn’t happened, but to a person, they all agree Hank should and will be inducted. I’ve always believed that when a man is uniquely qualified to do something that matters to him, he’s obligated to do it. More importantly, we can do it in a way that Hank and his associates cannot because we aren’t tied to the Nashville establishment, and we have nothing to lose. We’ve had insightful conversations with serious Nashville music industry professionals; and received a great deal of positive feedback on our social media efforts. Travis Tritt has been an outspoken supporter, sharing our website details and providing courageous and supportive statements about our mission.”
“Some observers have described what we’re doing as naive and a waste of time,” Adam Sinsel continues. “Maybe. Maybe not. But, we plan to continue carrying out our mission in unique and interesting ways.”
They’re also creating a inspiring story of how normal fans can rally behind a certain cause to do their part in preserving and promoting music that has enriched their lives.
READ: 2015 Country Music Hall of Fame Picks & Prognostications
March 15, 2015 @ 5:01 pm
Most obvious oversight in the Hall’s history? What about Charlie Poole? He’s way more important than Bocephus, yet nobody’s “campaigning” for his induction. Then again, people tend to not lobby for dead people, regardless of their overall importance.
March 15, 2015 @ 5:42 pm
First off, who should be in the Hall of Fame is always subjective based on an individual’s musical experience. These guys found a lot of enjoyment in Hank Jr.’s music and have decided to try and help give back. If you think Charlie Poole should be in, then maybe someone should take some initiative in championing his cause. I don’t think what Bocephus Belongs is trying to do somehow diminishes Charlie Poole or anyone else. What inspired me the most about this story is this is just a group of guys finding their little way to give back to the music. If more people showed this initiative about certain causes, worthy music would find greater support.
March 15, 2015 @ 9:21 pm
I agree Trigger that it is admirable that Adam, Mike and his buddies have taken their time to campaign for a worthy entertainer to be entered in to the Country Usic Hall of Fame. In my case, I may be 46, but when it comes to country, I am a “baby” having been invited due to my passion for music in general, my aptitudeandvision of the industry as an “outsider” looking in, my ability to sell, and my genuine I’ve for ppl w/ God-given talent. However, even I came to realize how much country music had affected my life, and all the various genres continue to impress me more and more. I, too, am a regular “Joe” willing to campaign for individuals who stand out, whether they see themselves as old school or on the cutting edge of something new in country music. I look for sustainability,”real” ppl who write their own music and by doing so performing w/ a passion that makes the music so much more beautiful, and diversity (or “what sets them apart”). I can think of many worthy to enter into the Country Music HOF in my humble opinion. I am also quite amazed that country is the only genre with a museum worthy to stand w/ the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC, but I had to leave DC and NYC to learn that country is the most listened to Usic in the US. I really never knew that. I pray that Adam & his buddies succeed at their mission, and for others who believe it should be someone else, I’m willing to listen and learn why it is they believe other artists deserve such a remarkable honor. I hope that my vision, work, and the artists I support become candidates one day, bc I see something very special and unique abt them. As I’ve said bf, I’ll be happy like a proud “Momma” to live long enough to see that come to be, and the good Lord knows knows whether I’m here or in heaven, I will be sobbing like a baby cheering them on!😘â¤ï¸#TeamBeth
March 29, 2016 @ 4:18 pm
What?!Who in the hell is Charlie Poole?
March 15, 2015 @ 5:03 pm
Well Hank Williams Jr. should be in a Country Music Hall of Fame. He made more that 50 cd/albums a lot of big hits and been in music business since 1961.
March 15, 2015 @ 5:11 pm
He should be in the Hall of Fame, but half of this bro country shit can be traced back to A Country Boy Can Survive. Still a good song though. It’s just sickening too that Bocephus was willing to appear on the remix of Boys ‘Round Here. Bocephus should have more respect for himself.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
Probably “Country State of Mind” more so, but that’s just me.
Also, I don’t think it’s quite fair to trace it all back to that, considering Junior’s oeuvre was more diverse than that. After all, I certainly can’t imagine Luke Bryan singing a song like “I’ve Got Rights.”
March 16, 2015 @ 11:04 am
I’d vote for “All My Rowdy Friends are Comin’ Over Tonight” myself, but the others mentioned have some elements as well.
This stuff was okay back when Hank Jr. was doing it because he was really the only one doing it and it wasn’t every song.
March 15, 2015 @ 5:16 pm
All these dumb-ass little games have nothing to do with music. HOFs, the 5,000 ridiculous awards shows. Every minute spent tugging someone’s tentacle to get recognized as being recognizable is a minute not spent making music. They can stick Steven Tyler, Toby Keith, and FGL in there and it won’t make any difference. Music could care less. Music is bigger than that.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:23 pm
I understand what you’re getting at Sam, but let’s not lump the Country Music Hall of Fame in with the CMT Awards. The Country HOF does a tremendous amount for music, from their weekend workshops to their daily class field trips, to the educational center and many other ways to directly engage people with music, and good music. Classic country music. It also is a museum that houses the largest archive of country music memorabilia anywhere, and does more to preserve country music artifacts than anyone. That’s where Hank’s guitar is, and Bill Monroe’s mandolin. Of course like a lot of country music institutions there’s collusive behavior and other things you can point to that make it less than ideal, but it is a museum and an institution of learning and preservation first and foremost. There’s a lot of genres, including rock, that wish they had such a revered Hall of Fame.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Well said.
While I would like to see a bigger class every now and then I definitely respect that they err on the exclusive side and that makes it an even more special place.
And for the most part the people involved take their mission seriously with respect to the history of country music which is more than can be said for pretty much everything else in the country music industry.
March 16, 2015 @ 6:56 am
Totally agree on your reply to Sam, Trigger. But one point should be made. The place is called The Country Music Hall of Fame[TM] & Museum. The HOF, run by the CMA, is separate from the Museum. It actually rents space there. The Museum is the wonderful place downtown with all those items you mention (also Gram Parsons’ Nudie suit). Its chief historian, John Rumble, is a great guy, and the famous Peter Cooper, formerly of The Tennessean and a musician in his own right, just went to work for him at the Museum. Sorry but just wanted to point out that distinction that many don’t realize.
March 15, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
They forgot to mention the fact that he sang the Monday Night Football theme song for 22 years, making it the longest running theme song in television history.
What annoys me most is the people that run down Hank Jr seem to know the least about him. Not only is he a living legend, but CBCS is one of the most mentioned songs in country music history. It is a hell of a lot deeper than any bro country song could ever hope to be. Thank God for pages like Fans of Hank Williams Jr. They are the only page that keeps me updated on all things Hank. It’s also the only Hank Jr related page that acknowledges the talent of Holly Williams, rather than only constantly boasting about a talentless hack like Hank 3.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Agreed on the people who try to undermine Bocephus, I’ve never understood it. People who do that just don’t know country music. A lot of people say he laid the foundation for bro-country, but he’s a lot closer to his father, Merle or Waylon than he is Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean. No doubt he’s a living legend.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:21 pm
One of my uncles favorite stories was seeing Hank Jr. in the 80’s; he ripped his shirt off & went on to play every instrument on stage by himself for the next two hours. I’m hard pressed to believe Hank wasn’t higher than a kite at the time but his talent was unparalleled.
March 16, 2015 @ 9:18 am
I saw Bocephus in concert a few years ago, and the band left the stage and he played the guitar and then the organ.
This lasted probably 30 minutes.
He put on a spectacular show.
He is a true performer who gives his fans a great show.
I can’t stand the Monday Night Football episode, but apparently he is a fan and ABC asked him to participate.
He has been a tremendous positive influence on country music for many years.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
Hank Jr. is too politically controversial at the moment. It may take a few years until he is inducted into the HOF.
March 15, 2015 @ 8:54 pm
I think this might be his biggest issue in the short term, but at this point the whole Fox & Friends thing feels like ages ago and as time goes on, it will be an afterthought to the music.
March 15, 2015 @ 6:40 pm
I’ve always been a little amazed that he hasn’t gotten in yet. When you look at the list of accomplishments and combine that with the unquestioned impact he has had it really is a no brainer. I would argue that he is the most commercially successful performer not in the HOF in the pre 1989 modern era and it’s probably not even close. In fact the only CMA Entertainer of the Year winners not in the HOF pre 1995 are John Denver (yeah that happened), Ricky Skaggs (who should also be in) and Hank Jr who won it twice.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
Both Hank Williams Jr. and Ricky Skaggs deserve to be in hall of fame even Tanya Tucker and Crystal Gayle should be in. the Oak Ridge Boys and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:10 pm
Had no idea he wasn’t already in… Guess all these music HOFs are useless.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
Count me as one who is surprised to find Jr. isn’t in the HOF. I would think that that decision was a no-brainer. For someone who grew up not liking country and now listens to almost nothing but, Hank Jr. (specifically the songs Dinosaur and Whiskey Bend And Hell Bound) were my gateway drug into the genre. Take all of the accomplishments Trigger mentioned, and the guy was still a heck of a song writer and musician. And, for all that, he has been part of the warp and woof of the story of Nashville for 65 years.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:51 pm
‘my gateway drug into the genre’
Yep that is where his impact on country music is strongest. He brought a ton of people to country music with his live shows and his overall attitude while at the same time not veering too far from the heart of country music. That is how you grow or evolve a genre unlike these yahoos today.
And ‘Blues Man’ is a masterpiece in my opinion. Great songwriting.
March 15, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
Kind of surprised Charlie Rich isn’t in the Hall. I know he wasn’t as prolific as many but for me & my brother he seemed to really encapsulate a great preto of in country music. One of my favorite taverns had his final album paintings & pictures on the jukebox. He was a great one…
March 15, 2015 @ 8:15 pm
Thanks for the mention Trigger. The Gram Parsons Petition (called a “List of Supporters,” I’m told the CMA doesn’t like petitions;) is actually at http://gramparsonspetition.com. A link to my reasoning based on the CMA’s own criteria can be found there also. No need to change the link here, which is to my blog in support of the Petition and more on my related events and other thoughts about Parsons and country music. Keep up the good work in the name of the real thang.
March 15, 2015 @ 8:41 pm
This seems to be a bit of a moot point. He may not get in there this year but he will definetly be there some day. His legacy and influence are undeniable. I love the effort and the dedication of the organisers but I got to believe movement or not in five years he will be there. Long live Bocephus.
March 16, 2015 @ 4:32 am
Deserter,
Great point. If we see something that isn’t right in the world we should just sit on our asses until it fixes itself.
March 16, 2015 @ 4:35 am
Bocephus DOES belong in the HOF!
March 16, 2015 @ 6:48 am
Reinstate Hank first, then we’ll see about Jr. getting his.
http://www.reinstatehank.org/
March 16, 2015 @ 8:09 am
Hank Jr absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame. I apologize for going a little off-topic, but I’ve seen this “Reinstate Hank” campaign before, and it makes no sense. The Grand Ole Opry is a group of living people who perform on the show. When a person dies, they are no longer members. Just like in a play, or tv show. When you die, you are not part of the cast anymore. Jimmy Dickens passed away several months ago, so now he is not an Opry member. Hank Williams cannot be reinstated as an Opry member. He’s been dead for over 60 years.
March 16, 2015 @ 7:23 am
my gateway drug into the genre”™
Yep that is where his impact on country music is strongest. He brought a ton of people to country music with his live shows and his overall attitude while at the same time not veering too far from the heart of country music. That is how you grow or evolve a genre unlike these yahoos today.
And ”˜Blues Man”™ is a masterpiece in my opinion. Great songwriting.
March 16, 2015 @ 11:14 am
Same here. Bocephus is the artist who turned me on to country music when my tape case was filled with offerings from AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Culture Club. I think a lot of folks my age would feel the same way.
When I realized that the schlock that I had been used to hearing on my parents’ radio in the 1970s and ’80s had mostly vanished and been replaced with artists of substance like George Strait and Randy Travis I decided to stick around.
I was just kidding about the Culture Club tapes, by the way.
March 16, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Really cool thing these guys are doing for Jr.,but how can the hall ever be taken serious when Hank Williams isn’t a member! Yet they display and trade on hiss name everyday! There is nothing more to consider till they reinstate Hank Sr.
March 16, 2015 @ 11:16 am
Hank Williams has been a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1961.
I believe you’re thinking of the Grand Ole Opry. Different entity.
March 16, 2015 @ 11:28 am
I love what these guys are doing and would love to see hank in the hall of fame even more…. its a shame hes not already in there.
March 16, 2015 @ 4:05 pm
Wow, he’s not there? I am surprised. Hank Junior’s entire career has been about extra kindness tossed his way, undeservedly. I say, let him sweat a little.
March 16, 2015 @ 6:27 pm
If Hank Jr. wants to get in the H-o-F, I think his managers should approach the hall and let them know that he’d like to do the Artist in Residence tenure if it’s offered.
When they changed that gig from something for non-stars like Buddy Miller into a vehicle for past and present headliners and even superstars like Connie Smith and Kenny Rogers, it became something of an entryway to induction. I think recent A-in-R’s Ricky Skaggs and Alan Jackson are due. After them, why not Jr.
The knock on Jr. is that he’s kind of nasty and an asshole.
If he did the A-in-R gig and showed that he could be sober and decent, tone down the politics and focus on the music–from Jimmie Rodger and Hank Sr. to his own vast catalog–and show off his talents in that area, I bet that would cause a lot of voters to come over to his side.
March 16, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
It’s hard to read too much into the “snubs” of an organization like the Country Music Hall and Fame though they’re fascinating. I bet Hank Jr. gets in eventually. Unfortunately, the HOF has to use its selections to get media attention, and profiling him so soon after the latest kerfuffle will probably bring the wrong kind of attention. Since the point of talking about HOF inductions is usually to offer lists of people we think *should* make it in, I will add that I’d rather see the organization induct some lesser known female singers who’ve also put in a number of years — Rosanne Cash, maybe — since the last couple of years have been awfully heavy on the dudes.
Lastly, this is my first post here, and I just wanted to say that I’ve been following and enjoying the site for a while. Thanks for keeping it going!
March 16, 2015 @ 10:06 pm
Thanks for reading Dusty!
March 16, 2015 @ 10:56 pm
@ lucky old son You should do your home work before spewing your bs. Hank jr donated most of the items for the family tradition exhibit at the hall of fame wish was supposed to run a year and a half and ended up running for 4 years because it was the most successful exhibit in the hof history. Hank jr also played a couple shows at the hof during the exhibit one of wich the hof charged 500 bucks ahead admission and it sold out and Hank donated the proceeds to the hof and hes also played the all for the hall gig that vince gill puts on… More than that Hank jr is not a asshole do you personally know him? Ive met him on several occasions always been good toward me.. Did you ever stop to think about he may be labeled a ass cause he is very much his own man and don’t suck music rows dick and he marches to his own drum. He has done more than his share for the hof
March 17, 2015 @ 7:23 am
I love your pick of John Hartford, but surely Gram Parsons should come first. Bottom line as usual, three picks a years is just going to push the deserving further behind. As Peter Cooper and others have said, there needs to be a “batch induction.”
March 17, 2015 @ 8:06 am
Hank Williams, Jr. will be in the Hall of Fame without doubt. It will just take time. He is who he is. He’s “Hank, Jr.”. He is without doubt a Country Music Legend. Anybody who has been a CMA Entertainer of the Year twice, will have a bronze plaque in Hall of Fame at some point. But let’s face it he’s loud mouth and very vocal and political, and while he has every right to be that way, we’ve got to realize those 200 or so voters doing the electing are human and opinionated as well and may just mark a “Kenny Rogers” or a “Ronnie Milsap” over Hank, Jr., and that is what has been happening I’m sure. The same thing kept Faron Young and Webb Pierce from seeing their inductions while they were alive and Porter Wagoner and Jean Shepard only receiving theirs in the very twilight of their long careers. And I’m certain this is what is keeping Dottie West out so long as well. While every human being and American has their own right to say what they want, and act as they like (within reason), the realization is there that feathers will be ruffled. Look at the “nice guys and gals”; Vince Gill, Eddy Arnold, Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell. Most of them arrived in the Hall of Fame in their late 40’s and early 50’s. While the Hall of Fame is exclusive, yes, It is more political than anything. Country Music, for the most part (especially the Nashville scene), has always been the “good ole boy” system. I’m certain Hank, Jr. is on the Veterans ballot this year. Probably along with Dottie West, The Browns, Jerry Lee Lewis and comedian Ray Stevens. All are worthy.
March 18, 2015 @ 2:23 pm
The problem is that Hank Jr. should have been in years ago before he said what he did on Fox and Friends. He is probably the biggest Country Music superstar of the 1980’s and then saw great commercial success in the 1990’s (Monday Night Football.)
March 17, 2015 @ 8:57 am
Of course Hank, Jr. should be in. What he did between the 60’s and early 90s’ should have him in there already. Most of his production since then has been spotty, to say the least, and his political stuff is mostly cringe-worthy. But, I don’t see how his political opinions should stand in the way of his legacy. Kris Kristofferson’s political opinions didn’t keep him out.
A real travesty, and one of the reasons that I can’t imagine ever really taking this HOF seriously, is that an artist like Jerry Reed wasn’t inducted while still alive. Jerry Reed is the GREATEST country guitarist of all time, not to mention he was an excellent singer and songwriter. On top of that, he was an excellent actor, and his movies kept country music and culture at the forefront of American cultural consciousness for over a decade.
March 17, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
I apologize for hijacking the thread, but a couple of the comments here mentioned the Opry, which prompted me to remember that the Grand Ole Opry’s big 90th Anniversary show is coming up. It looks to be a good one. I’m sure it’s way too late to get tickets, but I’m gonna try to listen live. And for anyone who’s not within the reach of WSM’s 50, 000 watt signal, you can also listen live on WSM’s website.
Anyway, the show will be on 3/24, and will feature Brad Paisley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Elizabeth Cook, Asleep at the Wheel, The Quebe Sisters, and more to be added. Sounds fun.
There are also a few other shows coming up that look interesting:
3/28 – Sturgill Simpson, Oak Ridge Boys, etc…
3/31 – Aaron Watson, Eric Paslay, Charlie Daniels Band, Easton Corbin, etc…
4/3 – Will Hoge
4/4 – Rhiannon Giddens
March 21, 2015 @ 9:30 am
He’s not already in the HoF? That needs to be remedied ASAP. I don’t agree with the man’s political views, but the value of Hank Jr.’s music cannot be denied.
April 28, 2015 @ 10:33 pm
I could really get behind this if he wasn’t such a douche in real life. And I don’t mean his political stance, I’m fine with that, but his downright shittiness. He lives here in Montana part time and I know well over a dozen people that have met him in one respect or another. They all say the exact same thing. I used to love him until I met him. At least Sheldon don’t take after his daddy in treating his fans like shit. I would rather see him than his dad get it, even there is no question that Bocephus is talented. Hey, when you are a shitty person, don’t expect me rooting for you.
August 13, 2020 @ 6:33 am
Mission accomplished, lads!