Audrey Williams, Hank Williams’ first wife, passed away on November 4, 1975, due to heart failure.
Audrey Mae Sheppard was born on February 28, 1923, and met Hank Williams in 1943. They married on December 15, 1944, and their tumultuous relationship was marked by both passion and strife, partly due to Hank’s alcoholism and the pressures of his rising fame. Audrey tried to establish her own music career, often performing with Hank, but she did not achieve the same level of success.
Despite their personal challenges, Audrey played a significant role in Hank’s career, encouraging him and even managing his early career. The couple had a son, Hank Williams Jr., who would also become a famous country music singer.
Their marriage was fraught with difficulties, and they divorced on May 29, 1952. After Hank’s untimely death on January 1, 1953, Audrey was involved in a legal battle over his estate. She later married a man named James Smith and remained in the music business, running the Hank Williams Music publishing company.
Audrey continued to be a prominent figure in the country music scene until her death in 1975. Her legacy is intertwined with Hank’s, and she is often remembered for her influence on his life and career.