Hank Williams Jr. courtesy Webster & Associates
Hank Williams Jr. released a new single Keep The Change to his fans yesterday, and close to 150,000 have responded in just over 24 hours.
Fans, friends and media are all downloading the free song, which has received placement on such notable websites as Hannity.com, Alan.com (Alan Colmes), KidRock.com, countless radio stations and many others.
“Artists have launched tens of thousands of email-for-download campaigns but Hank’s ‘Keep The Change’ is the fastest growing campaign we’ve ever seen!” – Ian C. Rogers, CEO, Topspin.
Hank discussed the popularity of the song on ABC’s The View, where he was questioned about last week’s now-famous controversial remarks from Fox & Friends. Those comments resulted in ESPN pulling his musical intro to their Monday’s football telecasts. Left-leaning hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar of The View, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, and Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh from the other side of the political landscape all came to his defense last Monday.
“Hank has always been provocative … and said provocative things”, said Whoopi. “What kind of standards are we holding folks to when we say ‘Oh no, you can’t say…’ We can’t say ‘listen man, that’s not a good thing to do’ so instead we pull… Is that the right thing?” “Those among us who are without sin, cast the first stone,” Goldberg said.
“He was making a comparison…” said The View co-host Joy Behar.
“I think every American has the right to voice their opinion,” said co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
“I don’t think you should be kicked off tv just for expressing yourself,” said Bill Maher on his HBO weekly show Real Time, in reference to Hank’s comments last week. “I am defending this guy.”
“What? They pulled the song?? We count on him to gauge our nation’s football readiness. If anything just give ‘em a slap on the wrist,” said comedian Jon Stewart. “By the way ESPN… you’re shocked? By Bocephus’ comments? You know, he’s been at ESPN for twenty years – have you met him? … It’s Bocephus, man. He’s got a song about how things would be better if the south had won. The guy fell 442 feet off a mountain, cracked open his skull so bad he had to hold in his own brain and survive… Don’t act all ‘oh, my goodness’ when he says something down-home and gritty. That’s what he’s there for.”
Williams decided early last week to end the relationship with ESPN, making the trip to New York today to discuss his reasoning and the topic with various national outlets.