BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
Hank Williams Jr. will return to asking, "Are you ready for some football?" every Monday night during the NFL season. But this time, he's joined by Florida Georgia Line and Jason Derulo.
While this is Williams' 24th season performing the opening anthem – and first since 2011 – it's a debut opportunity for FGL and Derulo, who will help Williams sing his, "All My Rowdy Friends are Coming Over Monday Night."
Williams’ tune was used from 1989 until week three of the 2011 season, when ESPN parted ways with the singer after he made disparaging comments about a golf outing with former President Barack Obama, John Boehner, Joe Biden and John Kasich.
At the time, Williams told the Associated Press, “[ESPN] stepped on the toes of the First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore me, my song, and ‘All My Rowdy Friends’ are out of here. It's been a great run."
The song will return for the Sept. 11 doubleheader between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings (6:55 p.m.) and Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos (10:15 p.m.).
The three artists recorded the audio tracks last month and filmed the opening video together on June 4 at the Marathon Music Works in Nashville.
