Which Hank Williams recording became his first major number-one country hit in 1949?

Hank Williams’s “Lovesick Blues” became his first major number-one country hit in 1949.

The song was written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills and had been recorded by other performers before Williams made his famous version. His recording used a distinctive yodeling vocal style and an energetic arrangement that helped it stand out on country radio and jukeboxes.

Williams’s version was released by MGM Records in 1949. It spent 16 weeks at number one on Billboard’s country chart, a remarkable run that made the performance a defining moment in his career. The success also helped establish Williams as one of country music’s leading stars.

Listeners sometimes attribute the songwriting entirely to Williams because the recording is so strongly identified with him. He did not write the song, although his performance became the best-known version. “Lovesick Blues” was later recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry.