Hank Jr. Rowdy On Monday Nights Again
Posted by Webb on 08/19/2008
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This fall ESPN will crank up the volume and cue the rowdy friends the only way Monday Night Football knows how -- with Hank Williams Jr. For an unprecedented 20th season, the legendary singer will perform the anthem that ushers in the NFL's weekly primetime showcase game, a ritual that has earned him four Emmy Awards (1991-1994) and national acclaim among legions of football fans.
Williams first performed "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night" - based on his hit song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" - in 1989 during the 20th anniversary season of MNF on ABC. Through the years, the MNF open has featured Williams in a variety of settings -- cruising the highway in a convertible with Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, tapping with famed dancer Savion Glover, even flying through outer space. After performing alongside an all-star band the past two years on ESPN, Williams will be a solo act this fall, welcoming fans to the weekly MNF game with a house-party theme.
Williams describes how his MNF role came about: "The story I got was that the son of one of the producers of MNF had my tape in his tape player. The producer said, ‘What is that?' The truth is usually stranger than what you can make up and that is how it went down. When it comes on for that 60 seconds, it hits you right in the face and makes you go, ‘WOW!' It really gets people in a good mood and pumped up and ready for the game. It has been a wonderful ride. I have had a lot of fun doing it, and I'm going to have a lot more fun."
The new MNF open will debut prior to kickoff of ESPN's season-opening doubleheader on September 8 - Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (7 p.m. EST) and Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders (10:15 p.m.).
Here’s a chronological history of William’s MNF performances:
1989 20th Anniversary of MNF - Hank's bus ride to the party 1990 Huge concert 1991 MNF boogie (Americana version starts with Bingo game) 1992 MNF Boogie #2 (multiple vignettes - Hank gets fans ready for game) 1993 Hank on riverboat (Giants/Saints opener and Wild Card game) ** 1994 25th Anniversary of MNF -- The Audition/Hank's Rowdy Friends return Set at huge drive-in theatre with Hank arriving in convertible with Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders 1995 MNF Symphony 1996 MNF Invasion (Hank sends in the MNF Troops) 1997 Bring on Da' Game (tap dancer Savion Glover performs with Hank) 1998 MNF goes galactic 1999 MNF universe (Hank in outer space) 2000 MNF Video Mosaic 2001 MNF Wall of Video 2002 Hank's version of the Madden Bus 2003 Duets - Hank performs with different musicians (Steven Tyler, Brittany Spears, Snoop Dog, etc.) 2004 MNF Parade 2005 MNF Car Factory (Trucks decked out to represent each team) 2006 All Star Band #1 (with Joe Perry, Steven van Zandt, Little Richard, Clarence Clemons, etc.) 2007 All Star Band #2 (with Brian Setzer, Richie Sambora, Gretchen Wilson, etc.) 2008 MNF House Party
** MNF open for other games in 1993 included multiple Polygram recording artists
