It's not hard to believe the Coastal Conservation Association enlisted Hank Williams Jr. for its third annual Concert for Conservation, given all the hunting and fishing talk in "A Country Boy Can Survive" alone. What is hard to believe is that it's been some 13 years since Bocephus has performed in the Houston area. (What happened to all those "Texas Women," Hank?) Regardless, all will be forgiven if he plays his version of Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns & Money," because CCA has already invited his rowdy friends .38 Special and Wade Bowen to join him Saturday.

At the career stage where occasional awards-show appearances are the extent of his dealings with Nashville, the ever-outspoken Hank Jr. is still making decent records of unfiltered Southern rock and honky-tonk -- 2012's Old School, New Rules is a prime example -- and not embarrassing himself over the so-called liberal agenda nearly as much as Ted Nugent lately. Rocks Off was lucky enough have a chance to email Bocephus some questions earlier this week, and he was gracious enough to answer.

Rocks Off: What NFL team do you root for? Hank Williams Jr.: The Pittsburgh Steelers are my team. I have been friends with the Rooney family for a long time. They have been very good to me over the years. I have sang the anthem, attended Super Bowls with them, and just have a friendship with their whole organization.

Why has it been so long since you played Houston? I only do 25-30 shows a year, so I pick and choose where I perform carefully. You don't want to play the same places over and over and have the fans get tired of seeing you. So I spread out the shows and keep them wanting more. I performed in Houston several years ago and am glad to be coming back!

Were you especially close friends with any of the other so-called outlaws, a la Willie and Waylon? Yes, Willie is a longtime friend. Waylon was family to me.H e took me on tour when I was just a kid and showed me what the touring life was all about. Jessi [Colter, Jennings' widow] still keeps in touch and we are very close friends.

That whole group of artists from George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and more were all good friends. As a matter of fact, June Carter Cash was my godmother. Not many people can believe that, but June and momma were very close friends.

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