Hank Williams Jr. opens up when questions turn to his music

Onstage and on record, Hank Williams Jr. brags about being a rabble-rouser who says exactly what he's thinking. "I'm from the old school/But I made up my own rules," to quote a lyric from his last album.

In interviews, it's a much different story. Ask the country legend to elaborate on some of his more outlandish statements and he clams up faster than greased lightning.

The 66-year-old singer, guitarist, pianist and fiddler agreed to an interview with The Dallas Morning News before his concert Saturday at Verizon Theatre, but only if he could give his answers by email. And when the questions turned to the strange things he's said in the past, his typing came to an abrupt halt.

For example, we brought up his infamous September 2012 concert at the Fort Worth Stockyards when he went on a tirade about President Barack Obama two months before the presidential election: "We've got a Muslim for a president who hates cowboys, hates cowgirls, hates fishing, hates farming, loves gays, and we hate him!" Williams said onstage in Fort Worth.

So we asked Williams if he called Obama a Muslim merely to create a stir. Or does he truly believe the president is secretly a Muslim?

"No comment at this time."

OK. How about a more general question. What's your response to listeners who say musicians should leave their political opinions out of their music?

"No comment at this time."

Do you regret comparing Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox & Friends a few years ago, which resulted in ESPN taking your song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" off Monday Night Football?

"The past is the past," he replied. "Right now I'm just focusing on my music and my new album coming out."

Turns out, his next album is one of the few things Williams will actually offer an opinion on in the interview.

In April, he signed with Nash Icon Records, a new Nashville label that's also home to country veterans Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Ronnie Dunn. When asked about the as-yet-untitled CD — due out later this year — Williams is finally eager to talk.

"All I've got to say is be ready ... because Bocephus is coming with all of my rowdy friends," he wrote, referring to his nickname. "This new album is going to be something truly magical.

Country and Western singer Hank Williams Jr. at the start of the Texas Stadium closing... — Country and Western singer Hank Williams Jr. at the start of the Texas Stadium closing ceremony after the Cowboys game against Baltimore.(2008 file photo)

"Be on the lookout for some old stuff mixed in. We recut [the 1987 chart-topper] 'Born to Boogie' with some very special guests. And just remember this phrase: 'You've Got to Dress Like an Icon.'"

He'll also talk briefly about his musical approach — specifically, about his anything-goes style of mixing Southern rock, blues, R&B and folk with the traditional country sound made famous by his dad, Hank Williams Sr. Little Hank was just a toddler when his father died in 1953, and in the years to come the family's Nashville home became a mecca for fans and musicians alike.

"Growing up on Franklin Road in Nashville, I had everyone from Johnny Cash to Fats Domino swinging by my house to talk with my mom about my dad. So I had some pretty diverse influences, and I think that shows in my music," he said.

That's about as forthcoming as he gets.

Onstage, he's extremely vocal about his dislike of gays, liberals and anything to do with Obama. Performing in concert Sunday in Syracuse, N.Y., he called the president's hometown of Chicago a hellhole — actually, he used a more derogatory word — and claimed he'd never perform in the Windy City for any amount of money.

But offstage, when he's not surrounded by cheering fans, he's learned to button his lips.

Ask him to clear up any misconceptions people might have about him or his music, and he answers with utmost diplomacy.

"I just play the music that I'm gonna play and don't really worry about how people perceive it," he said. "I'm just going to keep on doing what I've been doing."

By Thor Christensen, Special Contributor. E-mail him at thorchris2@yahoo.com.