Hank Jr. Surrenders

Tue., Apr. 4, 2006 2:25 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Hank Williams Jr. put the honky tonk on hold Tuesday as he surrendered to Memphis authorities in an assault case.

The Grammy- and Emmy-winning country music star turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest for allegedly roughing up a waitress two weeks ago.

His publicist says Williams, 56, cut short a hunting trip after authorities issued the APB and, with his attorney in tow, surrendered to the Shelby County sheriff's deputies at 9:30 a.m. Williams was booked on a charge of assault to commit bodily harm.

He is accused of harassing Holly Hornbeak, 19, as she was waiting tables at the Peabody Hotel lobby bar shortly after midnight on Mar. 18. According to her complaint, Williams cursed her out, then lifted her off the ground and put her in a choke hold in an attempt to kiss her.

Williams was in town visiting his daughters, who were being treated at a nearby hospital for seriously injuries sustained in a car accident. He moved his family to another hotel while investigators probed Hornbeak's claims.

"There was a disagreement in the restaurant area, and she claims there was an altercation and he assaulted her," sheriff's spokesman Steve Shuler told E! Online.

Williams' rep, Kirt Webster, issued a statement Tuesday claiming the country crooner was an innocent "victim of greed" and accusing Hornbreak of attempting to extort money from the entertainer.

"[Williams] received a demand letter dated on Mar. 21, 2006 from Ms. Hornbeak's attorney for an outlandish amount of money for settlement," the statement says. "Upon Mr. Williams' unwillingness to meet her demands, Ms. Hornbeak has now filed a complaint with the Memphis Police Department in an apparent effort to seek monetary compensation."

Webster quotes the letter from Hornbeak's lawyer, Dale Thomas, as saying: "Please be advised that if we cannot settle this matter expeditiously, I am prepared to file a lawsuit against Mr. Williams in the Circuit Court of Shelby County requesting a sum substantially in excess of that currently demanded."

Thomas could not be reached for comment. As of press time, no suit has been filed, according to court representatives.

Meanwhile, Williams' younger daughter, 25-year-old Holly, was treated for broken bones, cuts and bruises and has been released from Memphis Regional Medical Center. Daughter Hilary, 27, has endured three separate surgeries to reconstruct her hip and repair damage to her colon, but is expected to recover. She will likely to be transferred to a Nashville hospital in the coming weeks.

While his personal life is troubled, Williams is going strong on the career front. He was just named the recipient of the Johnny Cash Visionary Award to be presented at the 2006 CMT Music Awards. Williams will be honored for keeping his father's honky-tonk style alive with such chart-topping hits as "Family Tradition" and "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," the latter of which was famously adapted for Monday Night Football opening, "Are You Ready for Some Football?" The CMT Awards airs live on Apr. 10.