Just because my dad’s a millionaire doesn’t mean I am,” says Holly Williams, daughter of outlaw country musician Hank Jr. and granddaughter of country icon Hank Williams. “My dad is like a lot of parents who said, ‘Listen, I’ll support you until you’re 18 and buy you a car, but you need to make it on your own.’”

With a premier clothing store—the Nashville-based H. Audrey—and her third album—The Highway, which she released on her own label—Williams has definitely set out on her own.

Her well-received performances at this past 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., featured many songs off her new album, including “Waiting On June,” a powerful tribute to her grandparents.

“It’s nice to play before so many people,” says Williams as she stands alone at her merchandise table after one such set. “I find they’re totally respectful and I can feel a groundswell building. They see I’m working hard to make my own music and they support that.”

Even a fan’s request for a song made famous by her grandfather didn’t dampen Williams’ enthusiasm.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” she says privately of the request (which she declined). “People love the music of my grandfather and my dad. I do, too. I love to hear
them requested. But I make my own music.”

That mission began in earnest with The Highway. A near-fatal car crash outside of Tunica, Miss., made Williams rethink her priorities as she watched her sister Hilary, who was also involved in the accident, undergo more than two dozen surgeries.

“In a way, I feel as if this is really my start,” says Williams, who recently recovered from vocal polyps. “I wasn’t prepared for the amount of work involved in all of this, but I’m ready to do it. I love every aspect of it.”

That includes constant travel to gigs by herself or with her husband, who also works as her guitarist.

“I feel like I’ve finally found my real fan base,” she says, “not people who expect me to wear a cowboy hat and try to be my dad.”