Waylon Jennings Interview Part 1, American Singer-Songwriter & Country Music Outlaw

Waylon Jennings, American singer-songwriter and musician, discusses country music's history, the Outlaw Movement, his wife Jessi Colter and his book “Waylon” on this episode of NPT’s original literary series A Word on Words with John Seigenthaler. Part 1 of 2, this interview, pulled from NPT's archives, was originally filmed in 1996.

▬▬ About Country Music: A Nashville Story ▬▬
Country Music is Nashville’s story and NPT is dedicated to sharing the many stories that form this unique American art form.

▬▬ About A Word on Words with John Seigenthaler ▬▬
In Nashville Public Television’s A Word on Words, renowned journalist John Seigenthaler held in-depth and informed discussions with writers, historians and others. Guests over the series’ 40-year run (1972 to 2013) is impressive and includes Ann Patchett, Billy Collins, Rep. John Lewis, astronaut Alan Shepard and Rodney Crowell.

The show’s host may have been its most fascinating subject, however. John Seigenthaler served as editor of The Tennessean, founding editor of USA Today, assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and chair of the selection committee for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. He was a passionate advocate of the First Amendment and founded the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in 1991.

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NPT provides, through the power of traditional television and interactive digital communications, quality educational, cultural and civic experiences that address issues and concerns of the people of the Nashville region, and which thereby help improve the lives of those we serve.

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▬▬ Chapters ▬▬
00:00 - A Word on Words Intro
00:23 - Introduction of Waylon Jennings' Book Waylon
02:20 - Importance of Education
04:45 - Childhood
06:52 - Early Role Model
11:04 - Roots in Music
14:22 - Single Minded Purpose, Birth of Outlaw Movement
17:55 - Early Music Carrier, Willie Nelson
20:44 - Marriages
25:17: - Marriage to Jessi Colter
27:17 - A Word on Words Credits

#waylonjennings #countrymusic #outlaws

[pedenmk]

Ahh Waylon Jennings. Here's one man I've listened to most my life. I remember my mother listening to Waylon and after she passed I cleaned out her belongings and in her desk drawer was Waylons obituary. She had cut the article out of the Indianapolis stat NEWS. I remember how saddened she was at his passing. Rest in peace MR Jennings I hope you made it to the good Lord in the next life. Great program gentlemen thank you.

[pierredelange]

Waylon Jennings. The real deal. Period.

[Rip_in_son]

youd never think waylon was a massive star hes so humble

[mags]

What a genuine legend. Never will be another one like him🤠🇺🇸

[waylonobsessed]

I just got a degree at 56, and I totally agree with Waylon. Anyone who understands algebra ought to be in a treatment center

[wearystranger-]

Waylon never claimed to be a perfect person he was honest to his core and he said exactly what was on his mind
I Loved his music and his straight forward honesty he is truly one of the best legends of our time
I will always be a fan because Waylon earned the respect he demanded
I could listen to him tell his story's forever he was never boring
If you don't like country music it's because you've had an easy life
People like Waylon actually lived the music he sang about today's generation have never worked hard or struggled like country folks did in the 30s 40s 50s
It's just too bad that the Waylon's of our world get old and pass away

[suewalker]

Feel sorry for whomever gave thumbs down.That shows they have no idea what a country music legend is. And are losing out on the greatest country legend that ever lived. RIP Waylon your are loved and always will be. In January 2021

[rexoates]

His brother James drove me all over Littlefield and showed me where they played, worked and lived.

[amandacaunt]

What a beautiful person he was but he is still with us with his music love him

[rexoates]

To really understand Waylon, you have to go back to his roots in poverty in west Texas cotton fields with music being his escape from hopelessness. His brother James drove me around Littlefield and shared so many things. He’s a legend and always will be.

[fattymagee]

Living legends are a dying breed and we don’t have may left miss ya Hoss

[stevehera]

Man I was laughing and loving every story he told!

[richpaydirt]

I was raised on rock music in the 70’s. Waylon is the reason I even gave country a listen and branched out to “outlaw” music.
Love that guy! I have every recording of his that I know to exist.

[bold]

One of a kind ! People like him come along once in a generation.

[aprilstafford]

Waylon Jennings's sterness shows exactly how we've become so docile.

[nathanmaaka]

Waylon Jennings was undoubtedly a fabulous talent and a fabulous honesty with a voice that could make a phone book sound good and if higher education was a fault it was infinitesimal in comparison to his fabulous ability to entertain with one of the greatest male voices in the music industry!

[gracieg]

Oh my gosh. I love Waylon. My husband looked like him so much. I love waylon music and my husbAnd did too. He used to wear a hat like waylon had. Dress like some of the things waylon wore. Anyway I miss my husband I lost him to cancer in 2001. So seeing waylon is good for me.

[eamonngaynor]

What a down to earth man he may not have come from wealth and privalage but the riches was in his voice and his songwriting ability which proves that you don't have to come from a wealthy parents to make it big RIP legend

[sloppyjoe]

Waylon was the BEST! A way with words, down to earth, the kind of man you cant help but respect and want to hang out with.

[dadnelson]

Not enough O's in cool for this man, nobody will ever come close, RIP Hoss, we all miss ya dearly