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in 1943. Despite the objections of Hank's mother and bandmates, Sheppard was added to the band as an occasional singer and upright bass player. In
December 1944, the two were married 10 days after the finalization of Sheppard's divorce from Guy. The ceremony was performed by a justice of the peace
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to Artie Mae (nĂ©e Harden; 1903–1976) and
Charles "Shelton" Sheppard. She grew up on a farm owned and worked by her parents. Sheppard married her first husband, James Erskine Guy, when she was a high-school senior. On August 13, 1941, their daughter Lycrecia was born. Sheppard and Guy separated
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On
December 31, 1951, after allegations of mutual infidelities and the resumption of her husband's health problems, Williams called from a hotel and told Hank to be out of their Tennessee house by the time she returned. Replying to her with a seemingly prophetic statement, Hank Williams stated,
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wrote "Her duets with Hank were like an extension of their married life in that she fought him for dominance on every note." Having recorded several duets with her husband, Audrey was featured on the recordings of "Lost on the River", "I Heard My Mother
Praying for Me", "Dear Brother", "Jesus
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Remembered Me", "The Pale Horse and His Rider", "Jesus Died for Me", "Help Me
Understand", "Something Got a Hold of Me", "I Want to Live and Love", and "Where the Soul of Man Never Dies".
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491:, a problem he brought with him to their marriage from the beginning. Williams left her husband: she gave him the choice of alcohol or her. They eventually reunited.
516:, $ 30,000 to relinquish the title of "Hank Williams's Widow". Both women had been using the description professionally. Billie Jean agreed to Williams's terms.
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Soon after their wedding, Williams took over as her husband's unofficial manager, a position previously held by his mother, Lillie
Williams. The couple visited
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In June 1952, the couple divorced. She was awarded the house, their son, and half of her ex-husband's future royalties on the condition that she never remarry.
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Audrey is referenced in the song “Everything She Ain’t” by Hailey
Whitters in the line “Audrey to your Hank”.
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Williams and her son Hank Jr. became estranged after he turned 18. She never remarried. She died of
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Williams, however, began to push for her own spot in the limelight. Country-music biographer
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in 1947, with Fred Rose becoming the singer's official manager and record producer.
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In early 1948, tension grew in the
Williams marriage when Hank started to again
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Publishing. The meeting resulted in Hank
Williams recording two singles for
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In 1953, months after Hank Sr.'s death, Williams paid his second wife,
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On May 26, 1949, Williams gave birth to the couple's only child,
908:"Elizabeth Olsen to Play Hank Williams' Wife in Upcoming Movie"
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and in the Hank
Williams Jr. song, "The Conversation" with
783:"Paying Tribute: A Visit with Hank and Audrey Williams"
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56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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506:"Audrey, I won't live another year without you."
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562:Audrey is referenced in "Mrs. Hank Williams" by
144:Audrey and Hank Williams during the early 1950s
549:Audrey is referenced in "Tangled Up Roses" by
387:(February 28, 1923 – November 4, 1975) was an
546:song: "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town."
594:played Audrey in the 1983 television biopic
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391:musician known for being the first wife of
882:Sing a Sad Song: The Life of Hank Williams
452:with the intent of meeting songwriter and
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746:"7 Nov 1975, Page 79 - The Tennessean at"
597:Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
971:20th-century American singer-songwriters
906:Jonathan Bernstein (12 September 2014).
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835:Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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54:adding citations to reliable sources
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986:20th-century American women singers
976:Alcohol-related deaths in Tennessee
956:American country singer-songwriters
610:played Williams in the 2015 biopic
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436:at the officiant's gas station in
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807:"Hank Williams | Audrey Williams"
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578:played Audrey in the 1964 biopic
981:Drug-related deaths in Tennessee
961:People from Pike County, Alabama
885:. University of Illinois Press.
483:Marriage difficulties and family
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991:Singer-songwriters from Alabama
528:on November 4, 1975 at age 52.
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21:Audrey Williams (archaeologist)
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951:American women country singers
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781:Parmer, Braxton (2021-12-31).
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691:"I'll Let the Telephone Ring"
672:"They're Begging You to Stay"
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748:. Newspapers.com. 1975-11-07
419:Audrey Sheppard was born in
385:Audrey Mae Sheppard Williams
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879:Williams, Roger M. (1981).
542:Audrey is mentioned in the
19:For the archaeologist, see
16:American musician (1923–75)
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415:Early life and marriages
656:"Leave Us Women Alone"
395:singer and songwriter
150:Background information
604:as Hank Williams, Jr.
500:Shreveport, Louisiana
496:Randall Hank Williams
520:Later life and death
344: 1944;
315: 1941;
195:Nashville, Tennessee
50:improve this article
787:Braxton's Broadcast
581:Your Cheatin' Heart
532:Cultural references
160:Audrey Mae Sheppard
831:"Hank Williams Jr"
768:accessed 7-22-2015
683:"Little Bocephus"
438:Andalusia, Alabama
892:978-0-252-00861-0
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592:Allyn Ann McLerie
514:Billie Jean Jones
405:Hank Williams III
401:Hank Williams Jr.
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302:James Erskine Guy
175:February 28, 1923
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919:15 September
917:. Retrieved
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861:. 1990-04-01
859:Sun Sentinel
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726:Find a Grave
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576:Susan Oliver
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476:Colin Escott
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444:Music career
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424:soon after.
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271:Years active
190:(1975-11-04)
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48:Please help
43:verification
40:
946:1975 deaths
941:1923 births
625:Discography
544:Johnny Cash
469:MGM Records
243:Occupations
106:August 2024
935:Categories
865:2024-08-26
840:2024-08-26
816:2024-08-26
792:2024-08-26
752:2022-06-05
732:References
644:US Country
461:Acuff-Rose
260:Instrument
249:Songwriter
229:honky-tonk
171:1923-02-28
156:Birth name
76:newspapers
616:opposite
600:opposite
584:opposite
457:Fred Rose
450:Nashville
433:Andalusia
275:1937–1975
588:as Hank.
389:American
365:Children
252:musician
630:Singles
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291:Spouses
214:Western
209:Country
90:scholar
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648:Label
640:Title
280:Labels
264:Vocals
219:gospel
202:Genres
197:, U.S.
180:, U.S.
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699:1966
680:1955
669:1965
653:1951
637:Year
537:Music
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224:blues
97:JSTOR
83:books
921:2014
887:ISBN
407:and
346:div.
317:div.
234:folk
185:Died
165:Born
69:news
724:at
663:MGM
459:of
431:in
284:MGM
52:by
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