The son of a WWII veteran, Hancock joined the United States Marine Corps immediately after winning the contest and was shipped to recruit training.

During a six-month deployment at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, he wrote one of his most well known songs, "Cold Lonesome Wind" from Thunderstorms and Neon Signs.

When Gilmore was unable to do the second run of the play, Ely brought Hancock in, saying "This guy sounds just like Hank Williams, he'd be perfect."

Maines has produced all of Hancock's albums, dating back to his 1995 debut, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, released on Deja Disc Records.

He was forced to cancel several months' worth of tour dates due to the wreck, but by the end of the year he was fully recovered and back on the road.