Upon graduating from high school in 2002, Justin Moore joined his uncle’s Southern rock band and moved to Nashville from his hometown of Poyen, Arkansas. Six years later, his self-titled album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country chart.While Moore may have left Nashville behind, he certainly didn’t abandon his country music career. The “Small Town USA” singer has racked up 13 No. 1 songs, most recently dropping the album This Is My Dirt in 2023. More, 40, recently revealed the country singer he believes deserves more credit.
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Justin Moore Compares This Country Singer to Elvis Presley
Hank Williams, Jr. proved long ago that he was more than just a famous name. The Grammy winner once charted nine albums simultaneously on the Billboard Hot Country Songs rankings. While it may seem outrageous to label Bocephus as underrated, Justin Moore would like a word.
“For all the awards and accolades he’s gotten over the years, I do think he’s been overlooked at the same time,” Moore said during an interview with Music Row Minute that aired Jan .15.
Moore conceded that his take sounded “ridiculous” in light of all the “Family Tradition” singer’s mountain of accomplishments. Still, he insisted, ” don’t think people realize how talented he is.”
Praising Williams’ vocal range, Moore continued, “There’s not been an artist who’s been a better musician overall than him, ever, in the history of country music. There’s not been a better songwriter ever in the history of country music, in my opinion. And he deserves all the credit that he can get for his artistry.”
[RELATED: How Hank Williams Jr. Stepped Out From Under His Father’s Legendary Shadow]
The “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” singer went even further, calling Williams “the Elvis Presley of the music that I wanted to make.”
“He played every instrument, he wrote his songs, and he sang about how I was growin’ up and all that stuff,” he said.
20 Years Ago Today: A Bold Burglar And a Missing Jewelry Safe
On Jan. 19, 2005 — several years before Justin Moore arrived on the country music scene — Hank Williams Jr. was sleeping in his Paris, Tennessee home when a neighbor crept in and made off with about $500,000 in jewelry.
Williams and his family had no idea where to start when they discovered the missing safe. However, police later picked up 22-year-old Ryan Daniel Binkley on unrelated drug charges. Binkley told his mother to look in his room for jewelry to sell so she could cover the costs of a defense lawyer and bail. When his mother did so, she found a ring from the CMA engraved with Hank Jr.’s name.
As Williams’ manager, Merle Kilgore, said, “The real miracle is that Hank Jr. didn’t shoot that kid.”
Featured image by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
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