Hard-Living Facts About Waylon Jennings, Country’s Iconic Outlaw
Country music maverick Waylon Jennings may have been a good ol’ boy, but he was also a fighter who battled his demons, the law, the Nashville establishment—and one gut-wrenching event that would change his life forever.
1. He Lived Life On The Edge
For a country music superstar, Waylon Jennings lived a very rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, dodging disaster, addiction, and destruction at every turn.
He narrowly avoided a fateful flight, survived a $1,500-a-day habit, and, despite a few close calls, never spent time in the slammer.
A true outlaw who never played by the rules, Jennings somehow lived to tell the tale—barely.
2. He Was A True Texan
According to Jennings, “When you’re born in Texas, you think that you’re a little bit taller, a little bit smarter, and a little bit tougher than anybody else”—and this definitely tracks despite his humble beginnings. He was born on June 15, 1937, to farm laborers Lorene and William Jennings, who lived and worked on a cotton farm near Littlefield, Texas.
Unfortunately, this Texas swagger would land Jennings in a whole mess of trouble.
3. He Struck A Chord
Even though his family was dirt poor with the floors to match, Jennings’ mother bought him a used guitar when he was eight and taught him to play “Thirty Pieces of Silver”.
He was good enough to perform at local events and even won a TV talent show.
By 14, he already had a weekly 30-minute radio show. But just as his star began to rise, his future seemed to be tanking.
4. He Was Not A Star Student
It seems hard to imagine students getting beat on the behind while the rest of the class watched, but this was de rigeur in those days—especially for Waylon Jennings. One time when the principal was coming toward him with a paddle, Jennings decided that enough was enough and snatched the paddle away from the dumbfounded man…
