Hank Williams’ granddaughter plays Smith’s Olde Bar tonight

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Talk about filling some shoes. Mercury Nashville recording artist Holly Williams has to stand along with not one, not two, but three pairs of big ol’ cowboy boots in her family. Her grandfather was Hank Williams, considered one of the greatest country songwriters and singers of all time. Her Daddy, Hank Williams, Jr., (AKA Bocephus), is a legend in his own right, having escaped his father’s shadow and forging a successful but controversial career of his own. Then there is her brother (Shelton) Hank Williams III, who has made a name for himself with both his primitive country style, and his punk band, Assjack.

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So what can Holly Williams do to make her own niche? After listening to her new CD, Here With Me, it sounds like she does what the Williams clan does best: write great country songs and perform them with a depth and emotion that underscores her heritage. At a time when the Nashville machine is cranking out pretty little pop stars and calling them country, Holly Williams is a tall, attractive blond with charisma and natural talent that doesn’t need charm school, choreographers, or a committee of songcrafters to find the &-;perfect radio tune” to make her a star. I would bet that Williams wants people to listen to her songs and give her a fair chance, mot because of the family name, and not because of her good looks. But because she plays real country music.

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(Photo by Autumn de Wilde)

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Holly Williams, James David Carter. $12 advance, 9p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522.