On This Day in 1951, Hank Williams Was at No. 1 With a Song He Recorded After Deciding It Was “Too Good” for Little Jimmy Dickens
On 13 August 1951, Hank Williams reached No. 1 on the country chart with “Hey Good Lookin’”, where it spent eight non-consecutive weeks. The song became one of country music’s most celebrated recordings and remains notable for its origin: Williams had initially written it for fellow Grand Ole Opry performer Little Jimmy Dickens before deciding to record it himself.
Williams and Dickens regularly toured together after Williams joined the Opry, and the song was reportedly written within about 20 minutes during a flight after Williams promised Dickens a hit. Williams later joked that the song was “too good” for Dickens, reflecting their playful friendship; Dickens eventually secured his own chart-topper in 1965 with “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”.
- “Hey Good Lookin’” topped the country chart in 1951.
- Hank Williams originally wrote it for Little Jimmy Dickens.
- Dickens gained his own No. 1 hit in 1965.