Report: MNF scraps Hank Williams Jr. and his rowdy friends

The legendary Little Richard will replace Hank Williams Jr. on the opening of ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Hank Williams Jr. is out — again — as the musical opening number for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” per a report Tuesday.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand says the NFL made the call for what seems like an obvious reason: “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night” will not resonate for games that will be contested in mainly empty stadiums.

ESPN dropped the Williams song in ’11 after the singer compared President Obama to Hitler and described Joe Biden as “the enemy” during a television interview.

The audible brings in a song by a rock ‘n’ roll legend who passed away recently. “Rip It Up” by the incomparable Little Richard will be played. The song will feature Little Richard’s vocals and instrumentals from a Virginia-based band called Butcher Brown.

Not sure a classic like this needs much help.