Actor Tom Hiddleston sings as Hank Williams in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - British actor Tom Hiddleston gave a once-in-a-lifetime performance when he hopped on a Nashville stage to sing classic Hank Williams' tunes.

Hiddleston surprised guests at an after-party on Saturday night at a downtown bar following a premiere of the Williams' biopic, "I Saw the Light," in which Hiddleston portrays the iconic country singer who died at the age of 29 in 1953.

Like a seasoned professional, Hiddleston cracked jokes in between songs in a mix of British and Southern accents and even gave a quick encore. He told the crowd he was deeply grateful for the role and thanked all the musicians that helped on the film, including executive music producer and singer Rodney Crowell.

The film is scheduled for release in March.